performa 17 brings to life francois dallegret’s iconic environment-bubble

the ‘environment-bubble’, a widely influential blueprint designed by canadian architect francois dallegret in 1965, has been brought to life as part of performa 2017 in new york city. the unrealized inflatable structure, will roam around the city of new york hosting public dance workshops in collaboration with choreographer dimitri chamblas.

the environment-bubble was a widely influential concept in the 1960s,
all images © 2017 françois perrin, unless otherwise stated

initially envisioned as a flexible, temporary dome that would transform our modes of living, the ‘environment-bubble’ was one of dallegret’s mechanical drawings, included in an article critiquing the american home in the 1960s. spotlighting the inability of the then-ideal structure to protect against the elements as well as general waste of energy, dallegret presented the structure as a perfectly clean, cybernetic paradise.

françois dallegret, the environment-bubble: transparent plastic bubble dome inflated by air-conditioning output showing architecture as a ‘fit environment for human activities,’ from reyner banham, ‘a home is not a house,’ art in america (april 1965) © 1965 françois dallegret

for performa 17, the environment-bubble has been realized with support by canada council for the arts. dallegret has collaborated with french-american architect françois perrin and choreographer dimitri chamblas, to turn the inflatable structure into an active site of intellectual and physical engagement with free daily dance workshops, open to the public.

the environment-bubble has been realized for performa 2017 with support by canada council for the arts

performa 17, which runs until november 19 describes the clear plastic bubble as ‘an active site of intellectual and physical engagement‘ with free, daily dance workshops, open to the public. co-curated by charles aubin and françois perrin the environment bubble has hosted performances at brooklyn bridge park, empire fulton ferry lawn, presented in partnership with calarts dance.

performa 17 describes the clear plastic bubble as ‘an active site of intellectual and physical engagement‘