World's First Inflatable Music Hall Set to Tour Japan

 The world’s first inflatable music venue is due to open in Japan next week. The Ark Nova, a portable concert hall designed by British sculptor Anish Kapoor and Japanese architect Arata Isozaki will be touring areas affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Made of an elastic material designed for quick inflation and deflation, the bright bulbous structure seats about 500 people and will make its debut in the town of Matsushima where it will host the Lucerne Festival.

The purpose behind the project is to bring some comfort and joy to the areas heavily hit by the disaster.

“We felt that the site in Matsushima, amidst the destruction of the tsunami, needed a temporary structure and an inflatable seem to be appropriate,” Kapoor told the Telegraph.

Michael Haefliger is the Artistic and Executive Director of the Lucerne Festival and was the driving force behind the Ark Nova.

“The images of March 11, 2011 have left their mark on all of us,” Haefliger said. “I felt a strong desire to make a contribution to overcoming the consequences of the catastrophe, within the scope of what we have to offer.”

The Lucerne Festival will run from Friday until October 14 . For more information on the festival and the Ark Nova visit ark-nova.com/en.