Immersive Domes: A Tale of Art, Engineering and Architecture
Immersive domes are one of Lumen & Forge’s specialties. We have designed and installed domes for multiple clients and purposes across the US. But where do domes come from? Why is the shape popular? Here is a little bit about the history of domes.
Early History of Domes
The dome is an architectural feature, but it also has traditionally had important symbolic, religious significance, a physical representation of the sky and the infinite. But before it became a symbolic feature, it had a practical purpose. Domes evolved from the arch and, at first, were mainly used for relatively simple ceilings or roofs. In the ancient Middle East, India, and the Mediterranean they were solid, often made of earthen material (like adobe) or fired clay brick that could be placed on top of a hut or tomb, but, being solid, they were too heavy for larger structures.
The Romans were the first to figure out how to construct the soaring domes that we recognize today. It was actually a pretty simple solution, they built half of a sphere (the dome), using masonry, which rested equally on the walls around the perimeter. Although the walls that supported the dome had to be heavy, they were durable. The Pantheon in Rome is still standing, a towering dome, open at the top to let in natural light, over an enormous open space. As they did 2000 years ago, people still wander around the great hall under the dome.
After the fall of Rome, the Byzantines (the Eastern half of the Roman Empire) invented a technique for raising domes on piers, opening the resulting space to more light and access from four directions. This technique also allowed for even higher domes than the Pantheon.
Ancient Domes – Al Aqsa Mosque
Recently: Building on History
More recently, the invention of reinforced concrete slab construction has made the construction of domes even more popular. Because these reinforced slabs can be curved in many ways, the distinction between the construction of domes and vaults has been minimized. It’s now a matter of preference more than anything else.
Before the ‘materials revolution’ of more recent times, the geodesic dome was the last great leap in the design of these unique structures. Invented and patented in Germany in 1925, this beautiful and revolutionary concept was popularized by Buckminster Fuller in the late 1940’s and 50’s.
World’s Largest Projection Dome by Lumen and Forge
The Changing Role of Domes
In the last fifty years, but particularly since the beginning of the 21st century, the role of domes has broadened, mainly because of a revolution in materials that has been accelerated by the growing symbiotic relationship between computers and those materials. Over time the dome went from simply protection against the elements to a static visual element (domes that were no longer just great architecture, but great art, with paintings by Michelangelo and others) and now, it has become a dynamic element in the experience of the architecture that is mapped and projected and, indeed, choreographed – integrated with music, dance, and so on. Domes have become truly immersive experiences.
Domes today can be enormous and temporary, made of materials unimaginable to previous generations. And they can be put to multiple uses, not just as protection from the elements or to provide a huge, open space, but as tools for us to appreciate art via cleverly designed projection mapping or as advertising by providing an immersive experience of a product or of space or the bottom of the ocean or of a rolling prairie.
The combination of an ancient architectural principle, the dome, modern materials, techniques of projection mapping, and the concept of immersive, three-dimensional experience within a dome environment is revolutionary.
So, where will these concepts take us next?
Domes in the Middle Ages
For a period, during the Middle Ages, the light, vertical style of Gothic architecture became more popular than the classic Roman/Byzantine dome. Vaulting was simpler and less expensive that building a dome, but the dome style remained an important element of public architecture, again because of its symbolic value.
The Industrial Revolution
As the era of iron and then steel construction began, from the late 1700’s, domes returned to popularity. They were again competitive as an architectural feature and the renewed popularity of classical Mediterranean civilization among the wealthy of Europe meant a renaissance of interest in classical forms such as the dome.
Interior Dome at Galleries Lafayette
Materials: Changing the Way We Build
The earliest domes in the Middle East were made of adobe (mud-brick) and then with baked brick and stone but their spans were limited. Wood was used to provide for wider spans because of their lighter weight and flexibility. Wood was the principal material for constructing domes in the Middle Ages, sometimes covered with copper or lead sheeting.
Brick domes were popular until the Industrial Revolution. They were supported by wooden ties or chains of iron to resist roof stresses.
As our understanding of structural forces improved in the 19th and early 20th centuries, iron and steel beams, cables, and pre-stressed concrete eliminated the need for external support and allowed for the construction of thinner domes. Lighter domes, of course, meant that the span of the dome could be increased, and this eventually led to the age of truly large domes (often with moveable roofs) like the Astrodome in Houston and the Superdome in New Orleans.
Modern Dome Construction – Geodesic Dome
There is something truly fascinating about domes. Whether it’s the way they seemingly touch the sky or their elegant lines, they are a sight to behold. And while they have been around for centuries, dome structures are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Us at Lumen & Forge are finding new and innovative ways to use domes, and customers are clamoring for this once-classic design feature.
At Lumen and Forge, we bring purpose to dome structures. Firstly, we offer state-of-the-art immersive experiences that use domes as projection surfaces. Their circular shape creates an all-encompassing environment that feels more like an experience than an event. The dome structures provide a seamless projection that morphs around you, encapsulating you in the visuals. Our structures vary in sizes and can be catered perfectly for your event.
We offer our customers the ability to provide unique experiences to their audiences. Our domes work great as private dining areas or even karaoke rooms. A more practical use for domes is as greenhouses, where the structure allows for efficient heating and cooling throughout the year. If your interested in learning more, contact us now! The opportunities are endless, and we are here to help you utilize domes, whatever your needs may be.
Immersive Domes: A Tale of Art, Engineering and Architecture
Immersive domes are one of Lumen & Forge’s specialties. We have designed and installed domes for multiple clients and purposes across the US. But where do domes come from? Why is the shape popular? Here is a little bit about the history of domes.
Early History of Domes
The dome is an architectural feature, but it also has traditionally had important symbolic, religious significance, a physical representation of the sky and the infinite. But before it became a symbolic feature, it had a practical purpose. Domes evolved from the arch and, at first, were mainly used for relatively simple ceilings or roofs. In the ancient Middle East, India, and the Mediterranean they were solid, often made of earthen material (like adobe) or fired clay brick that could be placed on top of a hut or tomb, but, being solid, they were too heavy for larger structures.
The Romans were the first to figure out how to construct the soaring domes that we recognize today. It was actually a pretty simple solution, they built half of a sphere (the dome), using masonry, which rested equally on the walls around the perimeter. Although the walls that supported the dome had to be heavy, they were durable. The Pantheon in Rome is still standing, a towering dome, open at the top to let in natural light, over an enormous open space. As they did 2000 years ago, people still wander around the great hall under the dome.
After the fall of Rome, the Byzantines (the Eastern half of the Roman Empire) invented a technique for raising domes on piers, opening the resulting space to more light and access from four directions. This technique also allowed for even higher domes than the Pantheon.
Ancient Domes – Al Aqsa Mosque
Domes in the Middle Ages
For a period, during the Middle Ages, the light, vertical style of Gothic architecture became more popular than the classic Roman/Byzantine dome. Vaulting was simpler and less expensive that building a dome, but the dome style remained an important element of public architecture, again because of its symbolic value.
The Industrial Revolution
As the era of iron and then steel construction began, from the late 1700’s, domes returned to popularity. They were again competitive as an architectural feature and the renewed popularity of classical Mediterranean civilization among the wealthy of Europe meant a renaissance of interest in classical forms such as the dome.
Interior Dome at Galleries Lafayette
Materials: Changing the Way We Build
The earliest domes in the Middle East were made of adobe (mud-brick) and then with baked brick and stone but their spans were limited. Wood was used to provide for wider spans because of their lighter weight and flexibility. Wood was the principal material for constructing domes in the Middle Ages, sometimes covered with copper or lead sheeting.
Brick domes were popular until the Industrial Revolution. They were supported by wooden ties or chains of iron to resist roof stresses.
As our understanding of structural forces improved in the 19th and early 20th centuries, iron and steel beams, cables, and pre-stressed concrete eliminated the need for external support and allowed for the construction of thinner domes. Lighter domes, of course, meant that the span of the dome could be increased, and this eventually led to the age of truly large domes (often with moveable roofs) like the Astrodome in Houston and the Superdome in New Orleans.
Modern Dome Construction – Geodesic Dome
The Changing Role of Domes
More recently, the invention of reinforced concrete slab construction has made the construction of domes even more popular. Because these reinforced slabs can be curved in many ways, the distinction between the construction of domes and vaults has been minimized. It’s now a matter of preference more than anything else.
Before the ‘materials revolution’ of more recent times, the geodesic dome was the last great leap in the design of these unique structures. Invented and patented in Germany in 1925, this beautiful and revolutionary concept was popularized by Buckminster Fuller in the late 1940’s and 50’s.
Futuristic Geodesic Dome Rendering by Lumen and Forge
There is something truly fascinating about domes. Whether it’s the way they seemingly touch the sky or their elegant lines, they are a sight to behold. And while they have been around for centuries, dome structures are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Us at Lumen & Forge are finding new and innovative ways to use domes, and customers are clamoring for this once-classic design feature.
At Lumen and Forge, we bring purpose to dome structures. Firstly, we offer state-of-the-art immersive experiences that use domes as projection surfaces. Their circular shape creates an all-encompassing environment that feels more like an experience than an event. The dome structures provide a seamless projection that morphs around you, encapsulating you in the visuals. Our structures vary in sizes and can be catered perfectly for your event.
We offer our customers the ability to provide unique experiences to their audiences. Our domes work great as private dining areas or even karaoke rooms. A more practical use for domes is as greenhouses, where the structure allows for efficient heating and cooling throughout the year. If your interested in learning more, contact us now! The opportunities are endless, and we are here to help you utilize domes, whatever your needs may be.
