Australian architect Nic Brunsdon has created a giant sphere that inflates and deflates throughout the day for this year's National Gallery of Victoria Architecture Commission in Melbourne.
Called (This is) Air, the project is designed by Perth-based Brunsdon in collaboration with technology company Eness to mimic the natural rhythm of breathing.
The spherical structure stands over 14 metres tall in the garden of National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) when fully inflated, then releases gusts of air to allow itself to be morphed into various shapes.
(This is) Air is the National Gallery of Victoria Architecture Commission for 2023
The structure repeats this "breathing" cycle throughout the day, with each one running for 15 minutes. Brunsdon's idea for the project was conceived during the global pandemic when the air we breathe became the agent that transmitted the Covid-19 virus.
"I want to reflect the collective memory about air and its role in our lives," Brunsdon told Dezeen. "I want to say something universal but highly specific."
The fully inflated sphere is over 14 metres tall. Photo by Tim Carrafa
The project aims to invite visitors to consider humanity's connection to and dependency on air, by making it seen, heard and felt in a physical form.
"A sphere is a universal object and shape, it felt right in the space which is geometric and sharp, it's one surface, one volume and one structure," said Brunsdon.

Re...