Residents of Roosevelt Island and the eastern edge of Manhattan may soon see a colorful new addition to the Long Island City skyline in the form of a hot air balloon. The sculpture isn’t pure whimsy, either — it would be tethered to the ground, becoming an incredible one-person swing for children.
Australian architect Jesse Lockhart-Krause submitted the “Ballon Swing” for the park’s fourth annual Folly Competition. The event is sponsored by the Architectural League of New York and Socrates Sculpture Park and each year “invites emerging architects and designers to propose contemporary interpretations of the architectural folly” with “full-scale projects and installations that thoughtfully use space, material, and/or process to create a physical experience.” Lockhart-Krause outlines the project here:
Though Lockhart-Krause’s proposal has garnered media attention, its success depends on the competition’s jury. The winner will be announced in May, and will receive $5,000 towards the project’s construction.
(Image: Jesse Lockhart-Krause)
