In 2011, Japan was hit with a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and a huge tsunami that left incredible destruction. In efforts to restore hope and normalcy among those affected, the Ark Nova was created.  

Michael Haefliger, artistic and executive director of Lucerne Festival envisioned a way to ease the devastation of the natural disaster through art and music. He then collaborated with renowned architects Anish Kapoor and Arata Isozaki to build Ark Nova.  

Ark Nova is the world's first inflatable concert venue, resembling a giant jellybean. As a part of the Lucerne Festival, the venue will tour the areas that experienced destruction from the earthquake and tsunami. Various performances and workshops will be held in the concert hall. 

Kapoor and Isozaki both devoted their time for free to construct the mobile venue. Kapoor is best known for creating Cloud Gate (commonly known as "The Bean"), the centerpiece of Chicago’s Millennium Park. Famous Japanese architect Isozaki is recognized for his unique avant-garde approach to architecture.His most notable works include the Art Tower Mito in Japan and the D38 Zona Franca in Barcelona. 

Kapoor said, "I am honored to have been asked to design Ark Nova for the Tohoku area. The structure defines a space for community and for music in which colour and form enclose. 
I hope that the devastation can be overcome by creativity. Music can give solace and bring community together and in so doing can help us to see we are not alone."

The first drafts of Ark Nova were sketched in 2011 and have dramatically changed since. Ark Nova’s outer surface is comprised of an elastic shell that is easily inflatable. Part of the venue’s appeal is that both the set up and clean up are quick for easy transportation. Measuring up to 18 meters in height, the concert hall will be able to accommodate up to 700 audience members.

Currently, the movable music hall is in Matsushima, Japan. It will travel to different locations that are still recovering from the natural disasters that struck the country. If Ark Nova is a success, inflatable venues could become the norm for relief concerts.

Every step of Ark Nova’s construction has been well thought out, even the name. "We named the Project Ark Nova, or 'new ark', with the hope that it will become a symbol of recovery immediately after the great earthquake disaster," said the designers.

Learn more about the Lucerne Festival here

Reach Staff Reporter Kelly Masuda here