Submitted by Jieling Xiao, 2025
Location
London, UK
Designer
Loop.ph
Year
2015
Visual Credit
Loop.ph
Description
Loop.pH envisioned a future where water scarcity necessitates alternative bathing practices. This inflatable dome combined architecture, technology, and olfactory design to create a multisensory public space. Drawing inspiration from Buckminster Fuller’s ideas on sustainable living, the installation replaced traditional water immersion with aromatic mists, offering a communal space for relaxation and connection. The structure, part greenhouse and part pneumatic bubble, aimed to revive the social aspects of communal bathhouses while addressing environmental concerns.
Highlights
Inside the dome, visitors encountered a dynamic olfactory environment that evolved throughout the day. The scents were complemented by the presence of potted plants and the natural materials of the structure, such as birch plywood arches.This combination created a multisensory experience that engaged visitors’ senses of smell, sight, and touch. The aromatic fog was designed to be absorbed through breathing and skin contact, enhancing the immersive quality of the space.
Scent characteristics
Central to the experience was the use of nebulizing fog machines that dispersed scented vapors throughout the dome.These mists, developed in collaboration with medicinal herbalists, were tailored to different times of the day:
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Morning: Grapefruit, lemon balm, and peppermint for invigoration.
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Afternoon: Bergamot, juniper berry, and parsley for rejuvenation.
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Evening: Chamomile, lavender, and basil oil for relaxation.
Reference / Acknowledgement
Jessica Maris. 2017. Inflatable dome on the banks of the River Thames is filled with aromatic fog. https://www.dezeen.com/2015/06/04/inflatable-dome-banks-river-thames-loop-ph-filled-aromatic-fog-horticultural-apothecary-experience-london/ (accessed on 21st May 2025)
Smellscape Catalogue: 