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15 Famous Geodesic Domes: A Must-See for Dome Lovers

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The geodesic dome uses polygonal (mainly triangular) planes combined into a spherical structure without internal support, making it spacious and more adaptable.
Maybe you're an architecture enthusiast or someone who dives deep into engineering structures, but the beauty and sturdiness of the geodesic dome must blow you away. This article will take you through 15 famous geodesic domes and how stunning they are.

1) Astana Expo 2017 Sphere (Astana, Kazakhstan)

World's largest spherical geodesic dome.

Astana Expo 2017 Sphere
Known as the Nur Alem Sphere, the famous dome building of the World Expo 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan, shows the blend of modern technology and architecture. Designed by the renowned Chicago firm Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture, it stands 100 meters (328 feet) high and 80 meters (262 feet) in diameter, covering a total area of 24,000 square meters (258,334 square feet). The construction of this famous dome required over 13,000 tons of metal and 3,535 insulated glass windows weighing 1,626 tons.
After the Expo, the pavilion was converted into Kazakhstan’s Museum of Future Energy. The museum has eight floors. Each floor focuses on a different energy theme. These themes include solar power, wind power, bioenergy, and wave energy. The exhibits showcase a variety of innovative energy solutions.

2) Spaceship Earth (Florida, United States)

The first large-scale, completed geodesic sphere ever built.
Spaceship Earth
Spaceship Earth is located in Epcot at Disney World in Florida, USA. It's one of the most famous geodesic domes in the United States. Disney designer John Hench was inspired by Buckminster Fuller to expand the three-quarter sphere of the Biosphere into a full sphere. It was completed in 1982 and took 26 months to build. It's about 55 meters (180 feet) high and 50 meters (165 feet) in diameter. The exterior is made up of about 11,324 reflective aluminum and plastic alloy panels, and it's supported by six columns and an interior tower. In Spaceship Earth, visitors can ride time-machine vehicles to explore the remarkable history of human communication from the Stone Age to the computer age.

3) La Géode (Paris, France)

A shiny geodesic dome holds an exceptional Omnimax theater.
La Géode
La Géode was built in 1975 in the heart of the Parc de la Villette, Paris, France. It is the biggest geodesic dome in France. It was designed by Adrien Fainsilber and engineer Gérard Chamayou. La Géode is a giant steel sphere, 36 meters (118 feet) in diameter and covered with 6,433 stainless steel triangles, each 1.5 meters (5 feet) long, which reflect the beautiful scenery.
Inside, the holographic theater features a massive screen with a diameter of 21 meters (70 feet), making it one of the largest screens in the world. The screen spans nearly the entire room, immersing audiences in an extraordinary visual experience.
La Géode has been closed since the end of 2018 and will reopen in 2024 to discover this amazing new site.

4) Science World (Vancouver, Canada)

A landmark symbol of Vancouver.
The Dome Of Science World
Science World in Vancouver is a non-profit science center dedicated to enhancing science education through diverse activities and exhibits. Designed by Bruno Freschi, it was rebuilt from the Expo 86 Exhibition Centre and opened in 1989. Science World's iconic dome has a diameter of approximately 36 meters (118 feet) and stands about 27 meters (89 feet) tall.
In addition to exploring the marvels of science, visitors can experience the largest screen theater in western Canada at Science World. The theater has a screen diameter of 27 meters (89 feet) , providing an immersive cinematic experience

5) Ontario Place Cinesphere (Ontario, Canada)

A popular geodesic movie dome in Toronto.
The Ontario Place Cinesphere
The Ontario Place Cinesphere is located in Toronto, Ontario. The Cinesphere is a famous dome structure measuring 35 meters (115 feet) wide, with an outer radius of 19 meters (62 feet) and an inner radius of 17 meters (56 feet). It is supported by prefabricated steel and aluminum alloy tubes, designed by Eberhard Zeidler. It was the world's first permanent IMAX theater when it opened in 1971, marking it as a historically significant venue.

6) The Climatron (Missouri, United States)

The first geodesic conservatory dome.
The Climatron
The Climatron is the first geodesic dome to be used as a conservatory, located in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1960. It was designed by the St. Louis architectural firm Murphy and Mackey and inspired by the concepts of R. Buckminster Fuller. It's 21 meters (70 feet) tall at the center and 53 meters (175 feet) in diameter at the base, with 36,800 cubic meters (1.3 million cubic feet) of space and over 2,230 square meters (24,000 square feet) of coverage, which is more than half an acre. Inside, the environment is maintained at a computer-controlled temperature and humidity level, replicating the conditions of a rainforest. This setup supports the growth of over 2,800 plants, including 1,400 different tropical species.

7) Biosphere of Montreal (Quebec, Canada)

One of Buckminster Fuller's notable works.
Biosphere Of Montreal
The Biosphère de Montréal is located on Île Sainte-Hélène in Montreal, Québec. It is one of the most famous geodesic domes and no matter where you learn about the history of geodesic domes, you are sure to see an introduction or photo of it. Designed by Buckminster Fuller, the renowned architect known as the "father of the geodesic dome," this structure was created for the 1967 World Expo. It originally served as the United States Pavilion, showcasing the Apollo spacecraft and American art. The structure features a steel frame with a diameter of 76 meters (249 feet) and a height of 62 meters (203 feet), originally covered with transparent acrylic panels for a climate-controlled environment.
After a fire in 1976 destroyed the panels, only the steel frame remained. Reopened in the early 1990s as an environmental education center, it now offers interactive activities and demonstrations on green energy, water recycling, and waste management, serving as both an iconic geodesic dome and a hub for environmental action.
Today, the Biosphère in Montreal is much more than just an architectural structure. It frequently appears in media and art, serving as a backdrop for music videos and documentaries that explore themes of architecture and the environment. As a symbol of Montreal, it is often featured in the city’s promotional materials, showcasing its unique cultural and visual appeal. Additionally, its distinctive design has inspired futuristic and sci-fi visuals in films and exhibitions, solidifying its status as an iconic landmark.

8) Eden Project (Cornwall, United Kingdom)

The Eden Project is home to the world's largest indoor rainforest.
Eden Project
The Eden Project is located in Cornwall, England. It was designed by Tim Smit to raise awareness of environmental protection and sustainable development. It took two and a half years to build and was completed in March 2001. It has three large greenhouses. The largest is 55 meters (180 feet) high, 100 meters (328 feet) long and 200 meters (656 feet) wide.
These famous dome buildings are constructed with tubular steel frames with a transparent material called ETFE. This material is light but very strong, can withstand extreme weather conditions, and has good light transmission.
The Eden Project is a greenhouse that you can visit and also hosts musical performances called the Eden Sessions. It's also been featured in several TV shows and movies, including the 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day and the Netflix series The Last Bus.

9) The Desert Dome (Nebraska, USA)

The largest indoor desert in the world.
The Desert Dome
The Desert Dome is located in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Construction began in October 1999, and it opened to the public in March 2002. It’s one of the largest indoor deserts and is widely recognized as the biggest glass dome in the world. This makes it a true landmark of Omaha.
Inside, the dome features three desert ecosystems: Africa, Australia, and North America. Each area showcases plants, animals, and landscapes native to those regions. Visitors can explore these habitats while learning about life in arid environments.
The dome is 42 meters (137 feet) high and has a diameter of 70 meters (230 feet). The dome features 1,760 acrylic windows and four types of blackout curtains, some transparent, to control light. This design helps reduce energy costs by blocking out light in the summer and allowing it in during the winter.

10) Bloedel Conservatory (Vancouver, Canada)

The first and largest geodesic dome conservatory in Canada.
Bloedel Conservatory
The Bloedel Conservatory was opened in 1969 in Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Park. It is a beautiful park with more than 500 kinds of plants from around the world and is home to more than 100 free-flying exotic birds. The Bloedel Conservatory's geodesic dome, constructed from 2,324 pieces of aluminum tubing and 1,490 pieces of plexiglass panels, is 43 meters (140 feet) in diameter and 21 meters (70 feet) high.

11) The Dome at The Queen Mary (California, United States)

An eyecatcher - designed to house the Spruce Goose.
The Dome At The Queen Mary
The Queen Mary's Dome, built in 1958, is largest free-span aluminum geodesic structure in the world, standing 35 meters (115 feet) tall and spanning 122 meters (400 feet) wide. The 12-story geodesic dome was originally built to showcase Howard Hughes, Spruce Goose. After the planes were moved, it was used as a filming location for movies such as The X-Files and Hoops. Today, the dome is used as a luggage handling facility for Queen Mary's Long Beach Cruise Terminal.

12) Tacoma Dome Construction (Washington, United States)

One of the largest wooden domes on earth.
Tacoma Dome Construction
The Tacoma Dome, located in Tacoma, Washington, is a multi-purpose stadium that has been a notable landmark since its opening in 1983. Designed by E. Taylor Gardner, the structure of the Tacoma Dome features a unique combination of materials. Its foundation is constructed from concrete, while its impressive roof is composed of over 457,000 meters (1.5 million feet) of wooden panels.
The dome spans 162 meters (530 feet) in diameter and stands 46 meters (152 feet) high, and costs $44 million to build. Some of the wood used for the roof was reportedly provided by the Weyerhaeuser Company and was harvested from vast tracts of forest devastated by the eruption of Mount St. Helens.

13) Poliedro de Caracas (Caracas, Venezuela)

A magnificent dome in Venezuela.
Poliedro De Caracas
The Poliedro de Caracas is an indoor sports venue located in Caracas, Venezuela. It was designed by architect Thomas C. Howard, who completed it in 1974. The venue has a geodesic dome design with a diameter of 143 meters (469 feet) and can seat up to 13,500 people, with a total capacity of up to 20,000 attendees.
The Poliedro de Caracas is mainly used for sporting events and concerts, but it's also a versatile venue that can host a wide range of events. It's hosted major international and local concerts, sports competitions, expositions and government exhibitions, like those with Shakira and the Expo Gobierno.

14) The Glass Dome in Dalí Theatre-Museum (Figueres, Spain)

The largest surrealist object in the world.
The Glass Dome In Dalí Theatre Museum
The Dalí Theatre-Museum is one of the most famous geodesic domes in Europe. It was built in 1974 on the site of the former Municipal Theatre of Figueres. It's regarded as the last great work of Salvador Dalí. Dalí designed the theater museum, while the dome was created by architect Emilio Pérez Piñero. The steel framework of dome is 12 meters (39 feet) tall and 18 meters (60 feet) in diameter. It's now the emblem of the theater - museum and a great icon for Figueres. This unique design element enhances the surreal atmosphere of the museum, which houses over 1,500 pieces of Dalí's art, including sculptures, paintings, and drawings.

15) Matrimandir (Bommayapalayam, India)

The soul of Auroville.
Matrimandir At Auroville
Matrimandir in Auroville is a spiritual center known for meditation and contemplation. Mirra Alfassa, known as the Mother of Matrimandir, envisioned the temple. It was designed by French architect Roger Anger and took 37 years to complete, from 1971 to 2008. This iconic structure stands approximately 29 meters (95 feet) tall with a diameter of about 36 meters (118 feet), shaped like a vast golden sphere surrounded by twelve petals.

Other Famous Geodesic Domes Worth Exploring

Have these unique geodesic dome designs inspired you? If you're fascinated by this innovative architectural style, we’ve got more famous geodesic domes to showcase. They highlight the limitless potential of this remarkable design approach.

The Jeddah Superdome (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)

The world's largest geodesic dome, recognized by Guinness.
Jeddah Superdome
Jeddah Superdome holds two Guinness titles. It is the largest geodesic dome and the largest continuous roof dome in the world. The dome is located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, near King Abdulaziz International Airport.
The structure has an outer diameter of 220 meters (722 feet) and an inner diameter of 210 meters (689 feet). It stands 46 meters (151 feet) tall. More than 1,600 tons of steel, purlins, and PVC membrane were used in its construction.
Opened in 2021, Jeddah Superdome is a multipurpose venue. It hosts exhibitions, conferences, live entertainment, and sports events on a local and global scale. Its size and design make it a stunning feat of modern engineering.

EcoCamp Patagonia (Magallanes, Chile)

The world's first fully sustainable geodesic dome hotel.
Dome At Ecocamp Patagonia
EcoCamp Patagonia is located in Torres del Paine National Park, in Chile's southern Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica region. Surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, it features stunning mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and diverse wildlife, offering a truly unique natural setting.
Famous for its eco-friendly geodesic domes, EcoCamp blends seamlessly with its environment. Construction began in 1999, and the camp officially opened to guests in 2000. The domes range in size from 10 square meters (108 square feet) to 37 square meters (398 square feet), catering to different needs and group sizes.
Each dome is built with a galvanized iron frame, covered with a waterproof PVC exterior, and insulated with thick polyester layers. The interior walls are made from organically treated fiber materials, ensuring both comfort and sustainability.
EcoCamp offers an all-inclusive travel experience packed with activities like hiking the famous W Trek, multi-sport day trips, wildlife spotting, and connecting with nature. It’s the perfect place for an adventure immersed in the stunning beauty of Torres del Paine.

Final Words

From modern designs to classics, these famous geodesic domes exemplify the beauty and innovation of geodesic architecture. Each one offers a compelling story and a testament to the enduring appeal of geodesic structures. Today, just like EcoCamp Patagonia, geodesic domes are used in many ways—you’ll find dome homes, greenhouses, restaurants, and more. Each of them has its own style and purpose. If you're interested in exploring this unique architectural style, please feel free to contact us. We'd love to discuss it with you!

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