Buoyed

Three massive buoys, each about four stories tall and angled as if they’re floating in a sea of grass, create a surreal and happy space where everybody belongs regardless of their differences. The Eindhoven, Netherlands–based designer created Buoyed with great optimism for the future. Each of the buoys includes cultural references emphasizing the goodness of diversity and inclusiveness. “It’s about the journey we’re making together in life and at Coachella,” she explains. “When you’re at a festival for a few days, you’re in a bubble, making a journey. Everybody becomes one.” The off-white buoy is the most elegant with its slim neck and 15-foot diameter base. Butterfly wings spread from its shiny steeple and illuminate at night. The blue buoy combines an igloo form with a patchwork dome atop a Dutch-style windmill, and its 18-foot diameter base offers a walk-through passage. The green buoy is the largest, with a 24-foot diameter base whose soft stucco rim allows for comfortable seating. Its cage-like body climbs to a dramatic union dome topped with a plume of palm leaves. Together, the buoys create a fantastical space to meet, interact, and bond. At night, LED lights activate their silhouettes, while the daytime offers a softer experience, like a calm sea. Van Eijk is one of the most accomplished names in Dutch design. She works in a whimsical but rigorous fashion with ceramics, textiles, metal, wood and glass, as well as furniture and lighting design.