plastique fantastique inflates bubble around landmark in helsinki

berlin-based collective plastique fantastique has created an inflatable structure called ‘superKOLMEMEN’, located in one of the busiest squares in helsinki—kolmen sepän aukio. built during helsinki design week, the temporary pavilion is an urban intervention that converts the daily-life scene of the city center into a playful environment, changing the view and the perception of the landmark and the area.

superKOLMEMEN is located in one of the busiest squares in helsinki–kolmen sepän aukio

‘superKOLMEMEN’ by plastique fantastique pops up temporarily for one week in helsinki, where the daily life scene happens around the square. the studio has inflated a structure around the landmark, allowing people that pass by to sit, walk around, gather, talk, relax, dance or enter it to attend different cultural experiences that extend the summer fever to autumn. the overall look is that of a bubble that surrounds the three smiths statue, perceived as if they were floating on the plastic inflatable structure.

birdeye view towards the square 

the statue symbolises hard labor

street view 

there are various programs inside organised by helsinki design week

interior view

project credits:


concept: marco canevacci, yena young

team: mirjam dorsch, stephanie grönnert, antonia joseph, julia lipinsky, christoph tettenborn

photos: simone serlenga

sound: marco barotti, marco madia

thanks to: kari korkman, petra majander, reetta turtiainen, martina wuoristo-huhta

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: juliana neira | designboom