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Equal parts disco ball, beach-spanning parasol, solar-energy collector and nightlight, this massive floating orb proposes a futuristic landmark for the rocky point where Rio de Janeiro’s legendary Copacabana and Ipanema beaches meet. Like a low-orbiting planet made of two Mylar balloons – one small and helium-filled, nested inside a larger one filled with hot air – this multi-purpose addition to Zona Sul’s local solar system would provide beachgoers with a roving patch of shade to take the edge off the midday sun. At night, Aéreo would use energy collected from adhesive solar panels to illuminate Ipanema’s lampposts, as well as its own surface.

Project: Aéreo

Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

School: Harvard University, U.S.

Team: Caio Barboza and Sofia Blanco Santos

People’s Choice: A+ Award for Student Work
Aéreo
In this year’s AZ Award submissions, design students in the U.S. and Poland caught the jury's eye with projects that include an inventive baseball field and a concept for a wild water park.

Explore more Award Winners

2020
People’s ChoiceA+ Award for Student Work
School
University of Toronto, Canada
Team
Siqi Wang and Shawn Dylan Johnston
2018
People’s ChoiceA+ Award for Student Work
Location
Maasai Mara, Kenya
School
Ryerson University, Canada
2019
Award of MeritA+ Award for Student Work
School
Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Canada
Team
Roya Aghighi with Frank Ko and Addie Bahi of AMPEL UBC and Sunjoo Joo and Jae-Hyeok Lee of Botany Lab UBC