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Matuvu dome in Knokke-Heist / Belgium

The central hemispherical pavilion is an ode to light. As music relates to silence, reflection relates to transparency, and shadow to light. Hence the dome’s pattern, consisting of two types of “super crystal clear” glass. One half of the triangles consists of regular clear reflective glass, whereas the other half consists of the same glass, treated with a very lightly tinted coating.

 

This effect of endlessness and freedom is strengthened by the reflecting pool around the pavilion, visually giving it the scope of a full sphere.

 

Unprecedented techniques are being used for the construction and its equipment.

 

The frame of the dome consists of an isonode1 structure, discovered by Philippe Samyn, which solves an almost impossible geometric problem: to make a dome with quasi-identical three-dimensional requirements (that is, they have only one degree of freedom). Thin polished stainless steel profiles outline the frame and border the

triangular glazing, which also plays a role in the global stability by preventing lateral buckling of tubular profiles and damping the vibrations of the structure. This is done by the silicones joints that attach them to the structure.

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Uploaded on May 20, 2025
Taken on April 21, 2025