Every patch on a community quilt tells a story. Stitched together, the resulting anthology reveals diverse perspectives as well as the common threads that bind neighbors. Bubble is cast in this spirit, piecing together moments of Bentonville’s culture and urban fabric into something new.

Each element of Bubble’s design takes inspiration from something unique to Bentonville. Its parallel fins echo the skylights of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The polygonal frames are inspired by the shapes found in the design of the surrounding park. Meanwhile, the bolted-panel construction—made of separate pieces that are put together on site—nods to Buckminster Fuller’s Fly’s Eye Dome, which you can visit at Crystal Bridges.

A playful object when seen from afar, Bubble invites you into a patchwork world of color as you approach. Its gateways frame the surrounding context in a novel way while also offering a place to sit and meet friends old and new. Bubble was designed by Hou de Sousa, an art and design team led by Nancy Hou and Josh de Sousa.