THE NORDIC TIPI
Anyone who has ever revelled in the spectacle of a tipi - made famous by Native Americans - will be enthused by these traditional structures.
The structures are supplied by Tipis-4Hire, the Stunning Tents Company, the Simple Sensational Tent and Events Company, Urban Tipi, PapaKata, World Inspired Tents and Beautiful World Tents.
Tipis4Hire director Graham Hood says: "As awareness of the giant Nordic tipis grows in the UK, more event organisers are appreciating the flexibility, quality and space that these tents can offer to all manner of events - bringing something special to the visual impact of the venue, as well as weatherproofing as only the Swedes know how to."
In August the Nordic tipis were used as hospitality structures at the V Festival in the backstage Louder Lounge areas organised by agency Itch. Hood adds: "The tipis defied the worst of the summer weather to provide much-needed respite from the festival crowds."
The tipis added authenticity to a recent Western-themed event held in Birmingham. It featured US-rock-themed tribute bands and took place in the car park of the National Motorcycle Museum.
L'Oreal booked a Kungsornen Nordic tipi for an internal launch event for its new range of scents in October. Held in Nottingham, the tipis were used as meeting space for up to 40 people.
Hood adds: "The lure of something different is what attracts people to the Nordic tipis for their event. Each giant Nordic tipi offers space for up to 70 people and they can be joined in a multitude of shapes to make room for hundreds of people. Our smaller Kungsornen tipis cater for more intimate gatherings for up to 40 people and can also be joined to the giant tipis."
For an innovative teambuilding event, the tipis can be transformed into a camping site, providing a unique atmosphere and providing a great talking point when workers return to the office.
PODPADS
Another interesting alternative to sleeping accommodation is a Podpad. Despite the space-age name, the quirky structures look more suited to an Enid Blyton story than to a trip to the moon.
The structures were created by project manager Robbie Falconer, exhibition stand designer Tim Leyshon and professional woodworker and amateur film-maker Roland Everson.
The company launched in 2005, when it provided Podpads at Glastonbury and was voted the best place to camp. In September, agency Countrywide Special Events used the pads for an internal corporate client's event in the New Forest for 48 delegates. After the first day's activities of orienteering, archery and shelter building, the pads were set up as a village with individual names of delegates on each door. Podpads also provided delegates with sleeping bags, blankets and pillows.
The pads were spotted at the Lowlands Festival in August in Holland by Dutch theme park Walibi World, which snapped them up for its two-week Halloween festival. Podpads director Falconer says: "From 5-24 October, Walibi World created a haunted village. The story behind it was that villagers had caught the plague 70 years ago and it hadn't been entered for years. Pads were decorated with cobwebs and visitors were shocked to find realistic-looking corpses in the odd pad."
Other music events to feature the Podpads include The Big Chill in August and Bestival in September.
The products are available with single, double or twin beds in each pad. Bedding can be provided as an added feature. A basic Podpad comes pre-decorated with ground sheet, fitted carpet, interior eight-watt florescent light, shelving with a mirror and a lock on the front door.
The structures are weatherproof and environmentally friendly as each pad's internal light draws its energy from a solar-powered wooden sunflower. Ventilation is provided by three sliding tinted acrylic windows complete with curtains.
Falconer adds: "We do have plans to increase stock in the future. We were extremely busy over the summer and in our quieter season we can offer extras such as decorated roofs and doors. We also hope to attract more corporate events and outdoor celebrations. Weddings would be a perfect event for Podpads as guests have an easily accessible site to use as accommodation instead of venturing out to different hotels at the end of the night."
AMAZING TENTS
To add a futuristic feel to an event, Amazing Tents can provide 'span' structures, that are shaped like spaceships.
The tents are available in four sizes. The Saddlespan is based on a single unit and the starting block for Amazing Tents structures. It has the capacity for 900 people and can be used as a stage cover or concert backdrop.
Amazing Tents director Steve Haddrell says: "Our most popular structure is the Trispan, as it has the wow factor. It is shaped as a clover and is 1,400 sqm. It has been used for fashion shows because a runway can easily be fitted into the centre. With a runway there is still a capacity for 1,200."
The company has been around for three years and Haddrell is joint partner with Daniel Hyde, who previously worked for a tents manufacturer. Haddrell has experience in event management, and the two together bring relevant expertise from both fields. Haddrell says: "We are more than a tent company as we can look at the bigger picture and suggest ideas of how to use the structure."
It works with agency Smyle and has provided structures for the Cartier International Polo party in July and a party and concert for BMW at the PGA Championship Golf in May.
The other structures include the Duospan, which has a capacity for 1,800 and the largest tent, the Quadraspan, which is shaped like an X and has a capacity for 3,600 people.
THE DOME COMPANY
If the objective is to create an unusual, clean and contemporary design, the Dome Company can provide the solution with its geodesic domes.
The igloo-shaped structures were recently at Olympia for the Metro Ski and Snowboard Show in October and on the site of the Great North Run in Gateshead in September and October.
The company provided a 17.5m dome in Gateshead Saltwell Park for the run. Within the dome was the world's longest photographic exhibition, called the Running Line. It was 13.1 miles long and featured 141,000 pictures taken with throwaway cameras by spectators at last year's event.
Director Gil Gillilan says: "We started The Dome Company in 1990 and have provided structures for a wide range of companies, from corporates to local authorities. Our structures were at the V Festival and we did a recent opening of the Silverburn shopping centre in Glasgow in October."
The structures are available in 20m, 17.5m and 10m diameters with white covers. The 17.5m dome can be fitted with a black cover and push-bar theatre doors. Its smaller dome is 7m and a 5m version can be created if required.
Gillilan adds: "We have a team of 10 full-time staff at our Suffolk base. We all offer a range of different skills and can provide advice on theming to lighting. The structures are great for an organiser who is looking for a site that looks a little bit different. They are also suitable for performance events as each one has a loading capacity to withhold heavy lighting or staging."
INFLATE
Inflatable structures can provide a quick and simple solution to structure needs. Inflate produces bespoke and 'off-the-shelf' structures for companies such as Redbull, Smirnoff, Lastminute.com and Sony Ericsson.
Its director Simon Coulter says: "In May, Ford launched its new Mondeo at the Valencia Cup in a specific designed Inflate structure.
"Also in May, we launched a 24m Trident Dome at Creamfields Music Festival in Lisbon and a generic 14m dome was cleverly transformed into the Sony Ericsson Monster Dome in both Hyde Park and Leeds during the O2 Wireless Festival in June."
Inflate offers a wide range of structures. Its Turtle GT has the shape of the amphibian's shell and can be extended by adding multiple central hubs. The capacity for a seated event is 97 and 388 standing.
The Trident structure is the biggest in Inflate's range and has a 20m diameter floor space. Its capacity for standing is 1,496 and seated is 374.
Inflate's structures can also be seen at Thorpe Park's conference centre, Lake View. The inflatable meeting pods can accommodate 20 delegates theatre style and 10 boardroom style.
BACONINFLATE
Another company that specialises in inflatable structures is Baconinflate. It has provided the O2 Chill space at venue The O2. The structure reflects the telecomms brand's above-the-line O2 bubble concept.
Agency Sledge briefed Baconinflate to create an oasis-like area to offer visitors a peaceful place where they could get away from The O2's busy London Piazza.
Baconinflate managing director Gary Bennett says: "The O2 Chill is a three-pronged inflatable bubble centred around a wooden base. It has a capacity for 40 and features soft lighting and chilled music. The comfortable seating enables people to lay down and relax. As a visitor enters, they are provided with earphones to plug into one of 20 sockets within the Chill to listen to relaxing music."
He adds: "We have become a temporary structure agency, providing a solution for a growing client list who understand the huge potential of modular branded investment. Three distinct areas of our business enable Baconinflate to stand alone. We offer a creative studio, manufacture and production and complete operational management."