Bubbletecture - Sharon Francis

A fascinating and fun guide to more than 200 inflatable designs

Although inflatable objects have been around for more than 200 years, architects, artists, and designers keep rediscovering this deceptively simple - often playful, and occasionally bizarre - technology.

Bubbletecture brings together inflatables in every conceivable size, shape, and hue across the realms of architecture, design, art, and fashion. From inflatable dresses and hats to buildings employing cutting-edge technologies, from ingenious chairs, lights, bowls, and even egg cups to children's toys and provocative art installations, Bubbletecture demonstrates that inflatable design is simply irresistible.

Architects featured include OMA (Rem Koolhaas), BIG (Bjarke Ingels), and Arata Isozaki, and design stars such as Snarkitecture. It includes work by cutting edge artists such Yayoi Kusama, Christo, and Anish Kapoor and by well-known fashion-designers such as Balenciaga, Yohji Yamamoto, Comme des Garçons, and many more.

Following in the footsteps of Nanotecture, Mobitecture, and Pet-tecture, this guide is a must-have for designers, architects, and artist, both professional and students, as well as anyone who has every blown up a beach ball!

Sharon Francis is an architect with more than twenty years' experience in private practice in the UK, Hong Kong, and the USA. She has taught at three Australian universities and contributed to several architecture- and design-based books. She currently lives and works in New York City.