Pope's stage

For us – as Canobbio Textile – this project was unique. Called upon to create a sort of truly massive air-supported cushion, we had the chance to express our expertise and extensive know-how on pneumatic covers.

“The World Youth Day was held from 15th to 21st August 2005. A pilgrimage of young people from all over the world to the area around Cologne, with prayers and shared activities.
For the Vigil and Final Mass, an area (Marienfeld) measuring about 2 km wide and 1.5 km long, comprising a 10 m high hill on whose top the so-called “Cloud” – a pneumatic structure for the Pope – was placed, was set up.
The structure is a modular trestle system used for the Rock ‘n Roll stages extended by an elliptical ring to which the upper cushion is connected and to which the upper part of the side cushions is also connected.
The pneumatic structure was divided into 5 single cushions: 1 large one set above the grid and measuring 39 m by 32 m and 4 smaller ones that form the boundary area measuring 22 m or 27 m long and 6 or 6.5 m wide. The cushions are attached to the edge with extruded locking sections. The total volume of all cushions is approximately 2500 m2 and the internal pressure amounted to 300 Pa.”