Next year marks the 50th anniversary of Expo 67, a seminal World’s Fair in Montreal. One of the most famous buildings for the event was the Biosphère, a geodesic steel dome designed by architect Buckminster Fuller. The building still stands as an environment museum.
To honor the building, the anniversary of the Expo, and the city’s 375th birthday, Studio Dror, led by designer Dror Benshetrit, has created another geodesic dome.
The concept calls for a 150-meter-wide aluminum dome with vegetation wrapped around the frame to serve as a sound buffer. Located at Parc Jean-Drapeau on Saint Helen's Island, the new dome can hold events like festivals, concerts, food markets, and art installations throughout the year.
The dome will be a companion to the nearby Biosphère (though it will be approximately twice as wide). Benshetrit said he was inspired after a tour of the island.
“I started thinking about Fuller’s geodesic dome, a lonely orphan in the Montreal skyline, and what it takes to form a movement, and our concept was born,” Benshetrit said in a statement. “We propose a second, enlarged dome for the western tip of the island that ushers Montreal into the future. Poetically engaging Bucky’s existing structure in a visual dance, interacting much like the sun and the moon, the Biosphere is no longer alone; it has a partner.”
The firm said the dome will be able to accommodate up to 60,000 guests within two years of its completion.
Next year is big for Canada, as along with all of Montreal’s celebrations, the nation itself is turning 150 years old.
Concerts, fairs, and food markets can be held at the new dome. Click image to enlarge.
The new dome (far left) and the Montreal Biosphère at Parc Jean-Drapeau. Click image to enlarge.
Related Stories
| Apr 24, 2014
Unbuilt and Famous: LEGO releases box set of Bjarke Ingels' LEGO museum
LEGO Architecture has created a box set that customers can use to build replicas of the LEGO Museum, which is not yet built in real life. The museum, designed by the Bjarke Ingels Group, will commemorate the history of LEGO.
| Apr 24, 2014
Gothic-style dance center breaks ground at University of Southern California
The program for the three-story building will include a dance/performance studio, five dance studios, instructional classrooms, performer support spaces, costume storage, and faculty and administrative offices.
| Apr 23, 2014
Mean and Green: Top 10 green building projects for 2014 [slideshow]
The American Institute of Architects' Committee on the Environment has selected the top ten examples of sustainable architecture and ecological design projects that protect and enhance the environment. Projects range from a project for Portland's homeless to public parks to a LEED Platinum campus center.
| Apr 16, 2014
Upgrading windows: repair, refurbish, or retrofit [AIA course]
Building Teams must focus on a number of key decisions in order to arrive at the optimal solution: repair the windows in place, remove and refurbish them, or opt for full replacement.
| Apr 15, 2014
12 award-winning structural steel buildings
Zaha Hadid's Broad Art Museum and One World Trade Center are among the projects honored by the American Institute of Steel Construction for excellence in structural steel design.
| Apr 15, 2014
Chipperfield's sparkling brass-clad scheme selected to be new home of Nobel Prize
The distinctive building, with its shimmering vertical brass elements and glass façade design, beat out two other finalists in the Nobel Center architectural competition.
| Apr 11, 2014
First look: KPF's designs for DreamWorks in the massive Shanghai DreamCenter
Two blocks of offices will be centerpiece of new cultural and lifestyle district in the West Bund Media Port.
| Apr 11, 2014
Start your engines: Ferrari plans to build first ever hotel
Clad in the carmaker's signature "Ferrari red," the hotel will resemble the grill and hood of one of its iconic cars.
| Apr 9, 2014
Colossal aquarium in China sets five Guinness World Records
With its seven salt and fresh water aquariums, totaling 12.87 million gallons, the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom theme park is considered the world’s largest aquarium.
| Apr 9, 2014
Steel decks: 11 tips for their proper use | BD+C
Building Teams have been using steel decks with proven success for 75 years. Building Design+Construction consulted with technical experts from the Steel Deck Institute and the deck manufacturing industry for their advice on how best to use steel decking.