Yanqi Wang
"When it's windy, I don't come up here". That's what visitors told us about the grass rooftop of the TU Delft Library, a place made for breaks, yet often avoided when the wind picks up. But in the Netherlands, wind is not something we can design away. So in Fledgling, we ask a different question: instead of sheltering people from the wind, how can we turn it into something to enjoy, even for those who dislike it?
Should we redesign nature, or our relationship with it?
Fledgling was developed through four tests and two prototype iterations, followed by a final test. We explored how wind, body position, comfort, movement, and vision could create a feeling of flying. We started with observations of how people experienced wind while climbing the rooftop, followed by tests with kites, bubbles, and foam gliders to explore different wind experiences and emotions.
An indoor skydiving study showed that larger body surfaces catch more air and lift more easily. When we asked people to draw themselves flying, everyone drew a body lying flat. Two prototypes turned this idea into an experience. The first used a wooden frame and harness, but the pressure was uncomfortable. A hammock-like support spread the pressure across the body, while elastic cords let the arms float and move freely. A final test compared forward vision, sky-reflecting mirror glasses, and covered eyes. Surprisingly, covered eyes produced the strongest feeling of flying.
Fledgling turns an uncomfortable part of being outdoors into something people can enjoy. On the rooftop, wind is part of Dutch everyday life, so the project doesn’t try to block it. Instead, it makes the wind part of the experience. However, the feeling of flying depends on the real outdoor environment. The tests took place mainly indoors and could not fully recreate the rooftop's strong, changing wind, open view, height, and sky. The experience may therefore feel different outdoors. Wind, weather, height, and landscape are not just the setting; they are part of what makes the experience possible.
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