Mojave Air and Space Port in the California desert (photo right) is a focal point for innovative aircraft and spacecraft design. An airport action group wished to pursue the idea of a museum to house the airport's unique collection of aircraft and spacecraft and create a major visitor attraction. The museum design followed a loose-fit approach in which a collection of individual exhibit hangars and halls of different shape and size were grouped beneath a continuous floating roof canopy (image below). Each hangar or hall was identified with corporate sponsors and philanthropists to boost interest in investing in or donating to the museum's development. The loose-fit layout also permitted flexible construction phasing - an important feature where funding was going to be unpredictable. Exhibits ranged from a large four-engine bomber to small kit-built sport planes. The desert site is challenging with continuous sunshine, high temperatures and occasional very strong winds. The undulating canopy shaded the buildings and outdoor pedestrian aisles and provided an architecturally unifying and eye-catching element. Airflow over a wing - the basis of flight - provided the motif for the canopy structure of helium-filled tubes and an outer fabric skin, tethered in place by an extensive web of cables. Large hangar doors provided exhibit access on the north side. Mesh screens and rotating louvres supplied filtered protection from the sun on the south side.