An idea becomes reality
A mobile, air-filled and air-supported room made of fabric that you can take anywhere.
The world is in disarray. Actually, it always has been, but it feels particularly true right now. We see it in the news. And in the figures on the situation of children and adolescents. Crisis is the new normal. What helps? Creativity. Trying yourself out. Daring something new. Experiencing community. What is needed? Space. Ideally everywhere. In disadvantaged areas as well as in the single-family neighborhood. In the east and in the west.
Waldo, a whale for children and adolescents
A cooperation with the NGO ART HELPS.
Bringing hope and direction to the children's universe with creative workshops. From Cologne to Kiev, from Berlin to Belo Horizonte. The airy space has the shape of a whale and is intended to provide protection for all participants, as it once did for Jonah in the biblical story.
May we introduce: this is Waldo.
Waldo consists of approx. 780 square meters of fabric and 338 individual parts.
Waldo does not collapse because the pressure inside is 0.5 bar higher than outside.
Waldo is white because it creates a calm, peaceful atmosphere inside.
Waldo comes from Switzerland - typical for a whale to come from a country without access to the sea ;-).
Waldo has “portholes” which allow you to can see the world from a completely new perspective.
Waldo is a whale because its creators were inspired by the biblical story of Jonah.
Waldo consists of approx. 780 square meters of fabric and 338 individual parts.
Waldo does not collapse because the pressure inside is 0.5 bar higher than outside.
Waldo is white because it creates a calm, peaceful atmosphere inside.
Waldo comes from Switzerland - typical for a whale to come from a country without access to the sea ;-).
Waldo has “portholes” which allow you to can see the world from a completely new perspective.
Waldo is a whale because its creators were inspired by the biblical story of Jonah.
All news about Waldo
A whale makes its global debut
Every year in early summer, experts in global trade and logistics come together at AEB's headquarters for “get connected”. As the name suggests, the event is a place for interaction and connection. The perfect occasion to unveil the whale as a creative airy space. The structure filled the entire atrium. Its windows provided completely new perspectives on a familiar building...A whale made of fabric
Weeks of concentrated manual work have resulted in a giant whale made of fabric – an impressive piece of art and technology. It was produced in a complex process on three industrial machines. While two machines tirelessly assembled the main body, the third produced all the brackets and reflective strips. The project was characterized by precision, improvisation – and occasional surprises...
There's room for improvement
For Waldo to make an impact, we need stamina. And the following:
SPREAD THE WORD: Share this page with your family, your team, or your friends.
URL: www.aeb.com/air
DONATE: Every amount helps to unleash the potential of even more young people.
ATTEND: Would you like to take part in a workshop to design the space?
SUGGEST: Do you have an idea where kids could benefit from such a workshop?
STAY TUNED: The AEB newsletter provides you with all the information about the campaign throughout the year.
The inspiration: The CREATIVE POP-HUB
This air whale for Ukraine gave us the idea.
The creatives at ART HELPS are partnering with the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts to experiment with temporary spaces. The giant whale has been at home in Ukraine since October, providing a space for workshops in places where such spaces are hard to find. Our version draws inspiration from the original but takes the idea to a new level. The aim is to create a completely new sense of space, partnering with the wonderful team at ART HELPS to offer the first workshops not tied to a specific location.
Want to know more?
Every idea, every question, and every cent help us.
Just get in touch with Mareike.
More information about ART HELPS can be found on their website www.arthelps.de and on their LinkedIN profile
More information
Mareike Biermann
AEB events organizer and your contact for questions about the annual campaign