as an alternative to traditional tents, german duo frackenpohl poulheim (thorsten frackenpohl & andré poulheim) have
designed 'the cave' for hamburg-based company heimplanet. this system offers a highly efficient and stable structure - an inflatable
geodesic dome. with the help of theIDG (inflatable diamond grid), it allows for pitching in less than a minute. the IDG is a 
self-supporting airframe formed out of 5 modular double-layer air beams. they can be divided into five separate air chambers to 
provide a stable stance even in case of damaged parts. inflating the tent with a normal hand pump takes less than minute. to deflate
simply release all five valve openings and the air will remove itself on its own. its round ground design offers space for three to 
sleep and up to six to sit together. the five point-symmetrical roof slope that offers several run-offs for rain. the IDG also allows 
for great stability in wind up to 120km/h. 

'the cave' was presented at the central exhibition space of DMY berlin 2012, located in the former city airport berlin tempelhof.

close up of IDG 




clockwise: outer tent, inner tent, ground concept, grid 



dimensions






first prototype 



prototype connecting frame to tent