The world's first inflatable concert hall arrives in Japan's disaster-hit north eastern coast

A giant purple structure believed to be the world's first inflatable concert hall is to open on Japan's disaster-hit north eastern coast. British sculptor Anish Kapoor and Japanese architect Arata Isozaki created the unusual Ark Nova, a balloon made of a coated polyester material that has been erected at a park in the town of Matsushima. The structure, which organisers say is a world's first, measures about 18m and 35m wide when fully inflated with room for about 500 guests.