Compound Camera No. 3 inflatable pavilion mimics dragonfly vision

 

Pneuhaus creates Compound Camera No. 3, an inflatable pavilion composed of 221 camera obscura cells that project multiple views of the surrounding environment onto its translucent inner surface. Inspired by the compound eyes of dragonflies, the installation explores how different perspectives can coexist within a single structure.

 

Each cell contains a glass double-convex lens, with its proportions and focal length determined by optical calculations. The pavilion combines concave and convex surfaces to direct views outward and inward, referencing the arrangement of a dragonfly’s ommatidia, which are oriented to observe different parts of its surroundings.

inflatable pavilion by pneuhaus mimics dragonfly’s vision through 221 camera obscuras - 1Compound Camera no.3 utilizes 221 lenses to create a large camera obscura | all images by Lachlan Turczan unless stated otherwise

 

 

Touchable Camera Obscuras Allow Visitors to Change Lens Focus

 

Made from urethane-coated nylon, glass lenses, and air, the structure requires no rigid frame. A baffle layer separates and aligns its inner and outer membranes, while the soft surface allows visitors to press individual cells and adjust the focus of the projected images by hand. The result is an immersive viewing environment in which hundreds of images form without screens or digital sensors.

 

Covering more than 700 sqft, the pavilion can be installed in a few hours and withstands winds of up to 40 mph. Its curved entrance leads into a larger atrium, creating a sequence of spaces that expands and contracts as visitors move through the installation.

 

‘Today, most imagery reaches people through flat, backlit screens,’ shares Pneuhaus’ design team, ‘Compound Camera no.3 offers a quieter, more physical counterpoint: vision one can walk into, touch, and adjust by hand; a reminder that seeing can still be soft and playful rather than solely high-tech and mediated.’ The project builds on Pneuhaus’ earlier Compound Camera, created nearly a decade ago with 109 cells projecting views from a single point. The third iteration moves beyond the original dome to explore a more distributed, insect-like form of vision.

inflatable pavilion by pneuhaus mimics dragonfly’s vision through 221 camera obscuras - 2complex concave and convex curves combine to create a gently sloping structureinflatable pavilion by pneuhaus mimics dragonfly’s vision through 221 camera obscuras - 3drone view of Compound Camera no.3 at Peavey Plaza, Minneapolis | drone image by Stefan Stefanizyn