Here’s more design goodness from Spain. Madrid-based architect Carolina González Vives of Fisheye Architecture has designed the ‘floating’ Cloud Observatory, a cooling system to counter the urban heat island effect.

Her “outdoor restaurant and chill out” space sits atop an urban rooftop, using the building’s own evaporation to cool it, therefore eliminating or reducing the need for costly and energy-consuming air conditioning.

Constructed of ‘floating’ plastic cloud-like structures, it can be easily fitted to the existing environment and also provides shade from the sun.

Vives sees her cooling system as an alternative to reflective surfaces such as white roofs, urban gardens, or green roof systems.

The Clouds Observatory cools by capturing the dense water vapor rising from the hot building below, then using the evaporation from the collected vapor to cool the surrounding areas.

Definitely a place to chill.

h/t Springwise.

All images from Cloud Observatory designer Carolina González Vives’ website.