092008_ideatosteal.jpgThis year's Venice Architectural Biennale showcased some of the most exciting new ideas in architecture. We had our eye on something pretty simple and only vaguely architectural. It's the kind of idea that makes us say: why didn't we think of that?

This outdoor design is by Gustafson Porter, landscape architect and designer of London's Diana Memorial water feature in Hyde Park. Using helium balloons to float shade cloths effectively created an elegant outdoor room and could be a great way to decorate for an outdoor party. It's festive, it means less time spent on ladders and it means there's a limit to how late people can stay since the balloons will likely start losing their loftiness by the wee hours of the morning.

To see more about the Biennale check out this great article from The Guardian. Image from The Guardian.