I like to consider myself a bit of an expert when it comes to inflatables. From river tubes, to furniture, professional house bouncing, all the way to large scale inflatable installation. Over the years I've had my share of experiences with poly based fabrics and findings. Polyvinyl, Polyethylene, Polypropelene, Polyamory... that one is a little different. Anyways.

Since the mid 90's I had an infatuation with inflatables, particularly furniture, and will never forget the somersaults my heart did when "Claire's Boutique" started selling such items. Everyone was crazy about the stuff. Why was it so cool? I tugged on my moms clothes extra hard trying to convince her that I absolutely NEEDED to have some. If I recall correctly we ended up getting an average sized blue chair that went to my sister and was later handed down to me after she lost interest. I personally never outgrew the fad. As a young adult I stumbled upon a Wholesale Toy Outlet online and ended up ordering enough chairs and matching baby chairs (as ottomans) to fill my entire apartment. I had so so many and recently donated the surplus still packaged.

Did you ever make a fort out of painter's plastic as a kid? We stuck to simple forms that nonetheless terrorized whoever's living room had the least supervision; but, the possibilities really are endless with light, portable, compact, and easily manipulated materials.

Cue Switzerland, making my wildest childhood dreams a reality for the annual Bund Schweizer Architekten/Federation of Swiss Architects event. Held this year inside of a fully inflatable nightclub, Shelter, where everything you would expect in any other venue animates into reality with air. The firm behind the project, Bureau A, also recently opened 'SwissNex' in San Francisco and 'The Club' just this weekend in Lisbon, Portugal. Imagining the swankiest inflatable joint puts my ex-living room game to shame. Of all their fascinating and innovative creations 'Shelter' has to be a favorite!