Dirigible Space Enclosure

ARCH 269X

Wednesdays., 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

Room 104 Wurster

Credits: 3

Jean-Paul Bourdier

Teacher/Critic: Christopher Lee

This class will focus on building a model of a large dirigible space enclosure (half a mile-diameter flying in the form of a flying saucer) that would serve, among other things, to support international events (conferences, games, etc.) or to organize emergency intervention around the world (bringing hospitals, emergency shelter, food, etc.) after natural (or man-made) disasters. More modestly and in the meantime, our model, which will be at least 20 feet wide, filled with helium to lift at least one person, may serve as a luminous beacon hovering either above the campus or at the end of the Berkeley pier above the East Bay.

The goals of this class are:

· first to provide a hands-on experience of working with membrane construction, light materials and Lighter Than Air technology;

· second, to get acquainted with the history of airships and utopian and contemporary LTA designs;

· third, to critically reflect on super mobility, speed and building simultaneously for air, water and earth (our model would also naturally float);

· fourth to transfer the above knowledge into architectural design, particularly in regard to the future of mobile homes, the experience of light at night (it could be florescent green) or the potentials of large mobile enclosures;

· fifth, to experience the various dimensions of flying designs; and

· finally, to train us to cope with the unpredictable aspects of managing and scheduling a team, collaborating with a wide array of specialists, fundraising, negotiating donations, and realizing what seems to be an impossible dream.

http://greendirigible.com/ will give you examples of various dirigibles I designed and some samples of transported inflatable structures for international events, hospitals, schools, and dwellings.