Shaded Dome

The Shaded Dome™ is a double-layered, air-supported membrane structure that provides a smart, cool and adaptable venue facility, meeting the highest standards in comfort, sustainability, flexibility, accessibility, safety and security for its visitors. The Shaded Dome™ has been specifically designed to protect the venue from often demanding climatological conditions, like those that may prevail in desert climates. This innovative concept has been developed by Royal HaskoningDHV, ZJA Zwarts & Jansma Architects and Poly-Ned. Summum Engineering’s Diederik Veenendaal was asked to provide consultancy on the structural engineering of the system, initially under previous employment at Witteveen+Bos.

The Shaded Dome™ is a semi-permanent facility; an environmentally controlled dome in which a pleasant microclimate is created. The structure consists of an air-supported inner membrane layer, that supports and prestresses the outer membrane layer via an array of internal struts. The internal cavity creates a constant airflow that in turn enables a comfortable indoor environment for both venue and visitors. The Shaded Dome™ is efficient in material use, re-usable and self-supporting in energy needs. The Shaded Dome™ has an unprecedented flexibility in size and shape. The floor plan and overall shape can be freeform and footprints can be extended up to 20.000 m², the size of almost three football pitches. The Shaded Dome™ has a limited transport volume, and can be constructed and dismantled in a matter of days.

Diederik Veenendaal was asked to offer technical support and consultancy on structural models and their assumptions to RoyalHaskoningDHV. The models specifically served as the basis for a second pilot structure erected at the grounds of Poly-Ned.

Read more at the official website.

Core team
ZJA Zwarts & Jansma Architects
Royal HaskoningDHV
Poly-Ned

Structural consultant
Diederik Veenendaal, Hans Laagland | Witteveen+Bos
Diederik Veenendaal | Summum Engineering