| Name | Patterned Air |
| Location | anywhere |
| University | Politecnico di Milano |
| Level | 2025 I 4th Semester |
| Type | Academic |
| Group | 2 People |
| Course | Design of Ultra Light Weight Building System |
| Supervisor | Prof. Alessandra Zanelli |
| About | The research explores inflatable structures as a novel architectural typology—lightweight, flexible, and affectively interactive. Tracking their history, materiality, and computability, the article situates inflatables at the forefront of current debates surrounding biomimicry, spatial psychology, and digital fabrication. Fundamentally, the study is a contrast between two design methods: pattern-based construction, involving precision and control over fabrication, and balloon-based modeling, where intuitive form-finding is prioritized over predictability. Through the use of computer simulation software (Weaverbird, Kangaroo in Grasshopper), the study proposes a hybrid technique combining the benefits of both methods to produce inflatables that are structurally stable, material efficient, and psychologically engaging. Beyond technical design, the piece positions inflatable shelters as potential responses to the issues of climate crisis, displacement, and rapid urban change under contemporary conditions—highlighting their deployability, low-impact footprint, and capacity to generate comfort during periods of uncertainty. |