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Inflatable igloos

This little bubble, the brainchild of Pierre Stephane Dumas, not only looks great, but it serves as the perfect compromise. For those who like to sleep under the stars but would rather not be exposed to everything that Mother Nature might throw at them, here's the BubbleTree. The BubbleTree is a prefab cabin with a difference – it's inflatable. A bit like an air mattress, but much bigger, and decked out with beds, chairs and occasionally wooden floors. It's inflated and keep rigid using a silent pump and an airlocking door. French designer Dumas says he was inspired to create the tents because 'having a night under the stars or seeing the sun rise and set is not something that many people experience anymore. A normal tent or camper van means people miss out on these things.' There are several variations on the theme: a completely transparent bubble called the CristalBubble, a more modest version, with see-through roof and concealing walls, called Cocooning; and a suite called the Bubble Lodge. (And just in case you're wondering, there is also a bubble tent that can be suspended in trees – which is how this little igloo got its name.) Unfortunately, BubbleTrees don't come cheap. If you'd like to stay in one (in locations across France), the price is about $600 a night. If you'd prefer to buy your own, the price tag is about $12,000. RM

2011 Mar 6 3 responses. share this

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