It’s been described as “somewhere between a womb and a cathedral,” sounds like a variety of rice, and looks like something out of a sci-fi film, but what exactly is ARBORIA?
The pop-up inflatable structure is a ‘luminarium’, a colourful walk-through maze of winding paths and soaring domes that takes its lead from Islamic architecture and Gothic cathedrals. ARBORIA is the twenty-second structure created by Alan Parkinson of the world-renowned Architects of Air. It celebrates the patterns and forms of trees, baring luminous trunks, leaves and branches, naturally lit through the structure's coloured, translucent PVC. Fitting the theme, a sound-experience originating from the Ecuadorian Cloud Forest will be on continuous loop in the space.
Having recently toured throughout Germany, Switzerland and the UK, the structure will now make its way to Auckland for the first time. ABORIA will pop up in Aotea Square in Auckland from Thursday 24 September through until Sunday 11 October.