Over 4 days in August 2021, thousands of people entered the Dodecalis Luminarium and enjoyed a magical journey through the winding paths and vast domes of the monumental, inflatable sculpture at Corporation Park.
Handcrafted by a team of five Inflatable Makers, the Luminarium left visitors with a sense of wonder at the beauty of light and colour. The designs of the Luminaria are inspired by natural forms, geometric solids, Islamic and Gothic architecture.
Each new creation, hand-built in Nottingham, is a maze of winding paths and inspiring domes and will typically occupy an area of 750-1000m2.
With no artificial light inside or outside the Luminarium, the cleverly designed structure’s walls, varied in thickness and colour, allow natural light to filter through, creating a sensory experience like no other.
A Luminarium design integrates architectural functionality with an effort to achieve an ever more fitting frame to present the phenomenon of light. Each design of a luminarium offers discovery, calm and a sense of wonder to visitors.
As part of the project, we teamed up with You Good Studio and Source Creative to create a free activity booklet inspired by the Dodecalis Luminarium.
Visitors could pick one up during the exhibition and try out activities ranging from painting and origami to hands-on STEAM challenges.
Now you can download the booklet as a PDF and become a mini architect at home!
About Architects of Air
Architects of Air was founded by Inflatable Maker Alan Parkinson in 1992. Since then, more than 3 million visitors in over 40 countries across 5 continents have been welcomed into Architects of Air’s monumental luminaria, immersed in radiant colour that comes simply from daylight shining through the luminarium’s fabric.
The Luminaria, inspired by Islamic Architecture and Gothic Cathedrals, are handmade by a small team based in Nottingham.
Photography by Robin Zahler.
Film by Jake Owen Powell.