Does the geodesic, parametric world of dome design represent a new era for ultra-efficient construction? Or is it just inflated nonsense? These five dome projects might be sitting on the answer.

The geodesic Roskilde Dome is based on the chemical structure of carbon molecules, giving it strength and stability while remaining efficient with materials. Photo: Kristoffer Tejlgaard

Dome life: is the arched architecture of domes construction’s hidden treasure? | Novità

The geodesic Roskilde Dome is based on the chemical structure of carbon molecules, giving it strength and stability while remaining efficient with materials. Photo: Kristoffer Tejlgaard

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Houses and buildings are one of the first subjects children learn to draw. The simple arrangement of squares and rectangles with a triangle on top is easy and efficient, and quickly identifiable. Once we graduate from drawing to building, however, perhaps there is a better way. These five examples of domed buildings, pavilions and installations support the thinking that there is an easier way to do it, when you think outside the square.

The Roskilde Dome structure, made entirely from plywood, stood soundly at the eponymous music festival for four days, before needing a lick of paint for the final four. Photos: Kirstoffer Tejlgaard

Dome life: is the arched architecture of domes construction’s hidden treasure? | Novità

The Roskilde Dome structure, made entirely from plywood, stood soundly at the eponymous music festival for four days, before needing a lick of paint for the final four. Photos: Kirstoffer Tejlgaard

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Roskilde Dome 2012 in Roskilde, Denmark, by Kristoffer Tejlgaard

A geodesic dome like the one designed by Kristoffer Tejlgaard for the Roskilde Festival, ‘is a construction that optimises the use of resources,’ claims the architect. By imitating the mathematics of chemistry in nature, the molecular structure of the Fullerene allotrope – named after the architect and designer R. Buckminster Fuller – is recreated to provide the ‘strength and stability to construct large spaces using a minimum of building materials,’ explains Tejlgaard.


The geodesic Roskilde Dome is a perfect example for other briefs to follow


With Buckminster Fuller’s focus on using resources with environmental efficiency now shared worldwide, and the method’s ability to build a hardwearing structure from plywood that will stand up to the demands of an eight-day music festival, the geodesic Roskilde Dome is a perfect example for other briefs for semi-permanent structures to follow.

The coconut-like ceremony domes of Son La are based on traditional Vietnamese-crafted bamboo baskets. The double-layer structures sit under thatched roofs that trace the skyline. Photos: Hiroyuki Oki

Dome life: is the arched architecture of domes construction’s hidden treasure? | Novità

The coconut-like ceremony domes of Son La are based on traditional Vietnamese-crafted bamboo baskets. The double-layer structures sit under thatched roofs that trace the skyline. Photos: Hiroyuki Oki

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Son La Ceremony Dome in Vietnam, by VTN Architects

If the Roskilde Dome is said to use nature to ensure strength in its dome construction, then the Son La Ceremony Dome in Son La, Vietnam, goes one step further. Inspired by the structure of traditional bamboo baskets, the up-to-15.6-metre-tall supersized domes feature a double-layered bamboo structure underneath thatched roofs, giving them the look of a row of neatly formed coconuts.

With bamboo a familiar local material, the five domes – designed and built as community spaces such as a large ceremonial hall, entrance foyer and restaurant – harmonise with their natural environment, ‘The skyline created by the different heights of the domes was inspired by the surrounding mountain line,’ explain VTN Architects.

A parametric gridshell of steel was used to support the 7,000-sqm glass roof of the Chadstone Shopping Centre, the largest enclosed shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere. Photos: CallisonRTKL

Dome life: is the arched architecture of domes construction’s hidden treasure? | Novità

A parametric gridshell of steel was used to support the 7,000-sqm glass roof of the Chadstone Shopping Centre, the largest enclosed shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere. Photos: CallisonRTKL

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Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne, Australia, by CallisonRTKL + The Buchan Group

Domes don’t always need to take on a building’s full structural requirements to have a big impact. The Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne, Australia, was able to open its visitors’ views up to the blue heavens by installing a parametric gridshell domed roof along its spine.


The lattice framework and double curvature of the roof uses 3D parametric modelling to gain its strength


‘A seamless celebration of engineering and architecture,’ announce the shopping mall’s architects, The Buchan Group, the project features ‘a dramatic gridshell glass roof’ as its centrepiece, soaring over the ‘largest and most popular enclosed shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere.’ The lattice framework and double curvature of the 31m-high, 7,000 sqm roof uses 3D parametric modelling to derive the strength and structural capacity required for such a project.

Each luxury forest-gazing Dômes Charlevoix accommodation was easily erected in their isolated location thanks to their light, transportable construction materials. Photos: Maxime Valsan

Dome life: is the arched architecture of domes construction’s hidden treasure? | Novità

Each luxury forest-gazing Dômes Charlevoix accommodation was easily erected in their isolated location thanks to their light, transportable construction materials. Photos: Maxime Valsan

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Eco-Luxurious Dômes Charlevoix Accommodations in Petite-Rivière Saint-François, Canada, by Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes

With 900,000 sqkm of dense forest, South Quebec offers a wide range of tourist-friendly locations and activities for travellers looking for adventure, whatever the season. The area also suffers, however, from its isolation. With campsites and trails only accessible via thin, dirt roads, construction is difficult.

Dômes Charlevoix is a collection of three eco-luxury accommodations built into the trees, a short walk from the road. The lightness of the domes’ geodesic steel frames allowed the required construction materials to easily be transported onto site, before a grey canvas was draped over the top, creating cosy atmospheric capitonné-effect surfaces. ‘Each one is located on the mountainside,’ explain the architects, ‘set on a wooden patio and houses a spa overlooking the natural setting.’

Second Dome was workspace provider Second Home’s inflatable experiment in London Fields. The blow-up pavilion is extremely quick to erect, adjust and dismantle. Photos: Iwan Baan

Dome life: is the arched architecture of domes construction’s hidden treasure? | Novità

Second Dome was workspace provider Second Home’s inflatable experiment in London Fields. The blow-up pavilion is extremely quick to erect, adjust and dismantle. Photos: Iwan Baan

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Second Dome in London, UK, by DOSIS

If speed and ease of construction are a hindrance to a project, and only a temporary structure is required, there are even easier and speedier ways to do it. Looking for ways to create ultra-flexible ‘pop-up’ temporary pavilion spaces, Second Home tasked architecture practice DOSIS with the challenge, and the result was more ‘blow-up’ than ‘pop-up’: a 400 sqm network of inflated bubbles that spread across London Fields like a fallen drop of water.


Second Home is a temporary pavilion that’s more ‘blow-up’ than ‘pop-up’


Used as a home for free community events for local families, the ‘reconfigurable space can transform within minutes,’ explains DOSIS, ‘automatically responding to wind and pressure,’ the network of domes need extremely low amounts of energy for their fabrication and assembly.

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