Project Details:
| Built Year: | 2020 |
| Built duration: | 3 Weeks |
| Sector: | |
| Dome Size: | Dia. 11m, Dia. 15m, and 3×Dia. 4m |
| Location: | No.1, Jalan Lima, Chan Sow Lin, 55200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
Project Background
Most modern restaurants have a square layout with fixed seating. But have you ever thought about setting up a restaurant inside a sphere? This is exactly what Sky-Dome Hotpot in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has done. Since the dome covering the restaurant is transparent, people call it a bubble restaurant.
The Benefits of Bubble Restaurant
The bubble house restaurant was created by Sky-Dome Hotpot in partnership with Shelter Dome as a unique dining space. Even during the pandemic, its innovative design helped the restaurant grow by offering several key benefits.
Eye-Catching Exterior
The biggest difference between a bubble restaurant and a traditional restaurant is its transparent, dome-shaped exterior. The smooth, curved design makes it look like a snow globe where you can see inside. Plus, the structure features a geometric framework with evenly arranged triangles, adding both stability and a sleek, modern look.
Ample Interior Space
Unlike traditional restaurants with right-angle walls, flat designs, and possible support columns, the bubble restaurant uses a triangular frame that helps evenly distribute pressure, giving the structure self-supporting strength. This means the interior doesn’t need extra support. Also, the walls inside curve upward with the shape of the dome, creating an enclosed, rising design that makes the space feel even more open to guests.
Sheltered Dining with a View
Restaurants with bubble seating uses special see-through material, allowing people outside to see inside, while guests can enjoy the view from the inside. Sky-Dome Hotpot is located on the 13th-floor terrace of Wisma Trax. From inside the restaurant, guests can enjoy stunning views of Kuala Lumpur’s bustling cityscape and the clear blue sky, or the sparkling night sky.
Stable and Safe
In addition to the stable triangular frame, the bubble restaurant uses a lightweight PVC fabric cover, which is much lighter than traditional materials like glass or concrete, weighing only 950 grams per square meter. This design reduces the strain on the frame while boosting its strength. After professional testing, the bubbles restaurant made by Shelter Dome can withstand winds of up to 120 km/h and snow loads of 51 kg per square meter (even though it doesn't snow in Malaysia, the structure is designed to handle such weight).
Challenge and Solutions
Building the bubble restaurant wasn’t an easy task. After Sky-Dome Hotpot received the bubble components we made, they faced some challenges during the setup. However, we were able to provide effective solutions. For example, the PVC fabric cover initially had some wrinkles. These wrinkles not only affected the appearance but also impacted the transparency, which meant guests couldn’t fully enjoy the outside view while dining.
To solve this, we suggested that Sky-Dome Hotpot lay the fabric out on sunny days and let it sit for a while. Due to the expansion and contraction caused by heat, the wrinkles naturally smoothed out over time. We also recommended gradually tightening the fabric in stages, using physical force to help remove the wrinkles. After a while, the bubble restaurant’s outer cover became completely smooth without wrinkles.
Outcome
Soon after Sky-Dome Hotpot opened, it launched several booking channels, and its unique bubble restaurant quickly attracted many customers. The restaurant has hosted up to 100 diners at once, creating an impressive atmosphere. Even during the pandemic, customers kept coming. Today, the restaurant has received over a thousand positive reviews on Google, with an overall rating of 4.5 stars.
If you're interested in creating your own one-of-a-kind bubble restaurant, feel free to reach out to Shelter Dome for more information!
