The Australian Academy of Science's Shine Dome - Canberra
The Australian Academy of Science's Shine Dome and its custom-designed furniture were created to reflect the inquiring and innovative nature of science. It was the first Canberra building to be added to the National Heritage List, for its historical and architectural significance. A Canberra landmark since its construction in 1959, the Shine Dome has received numerous awards and is one of seven projects the Royal Australian Institute of Architects has nominated to the World Register of Significant Twentieth Century Architecture.
The Academy of Science project was Roy Grounds’ first large building: its brief called for a large conference hall with raked seating, council room, offices and a fellows’ room being the second-largest space. Grounds rather deftly moulded all of this into a simple circular plan with circumferential circulation inside and out, and housed it all in a concrete, copper-clad dome. To contain the dome’s lateral spreading he devised a massive concrete ring beam (built as a moat) that straps everything together like the hoop on a wine barrel.
This building is part of a rash of domes built internationally in the 1950s and 1960s like Saarinen’s Kresge Auditorium at MIT and later, Nveri’s large stadiums in Italy. In historical terms Grounds’ dome was one of the early ones and today it functions precisely as designed. All of the interior details and materials have somehow managed to stand the test of time and yes it still works.
- See more at: www.science.org.au/node/29#sthash.iCqtZ4kv.dpuf
Description: A shallow arcaded concrete dome, sheeted in copper. Peripheral arches in the dome spring from a moat which serves as a ring beam. Integral, formed plywood seating reflects the circular interior. Auditorium (Becker Hall) [renamed the Wark Theatre] seats approximately 156. The Adolph Basser Library is situated in the top of the dome. The copper-sheathed concrete dome, 46 meters in diameter, weighs 710 tonnes and rests on 16 arches. When opened, the building was described as being of "unconventional, futuristic design". The Academy of Science was established by Royal Charter in 1954. Its Fellows are eminent scientists in physical or biological sciences. An original notice described the building as 'Conference Chamber and Offices'. - See more at: www.science.org.au/node/29#sthash.iCqtZ4kv.dpuf
The Australian Academy of Science's Shine Dome - Canberra
The Australian Academy of Science's Shine Dome and its custom-designed furniture were created to reflect the inquiring and innovative nature of science. It was the first Canberra building to be added to the National Heritage List, for its historical and architectural significance. A Canberra landmark since its construction in 1959, the Shine Dome has received numerous awards and is one of seven projects the Royal Australian Institute of Architects has nominated to the World Register of Significant Twentieth Century Architecture.
The Academy of Science project was Roy Grounds’ first large building: its brief called for a large conference hall with raked seating, council room, offices and a fellows’ room being the second-largest space. Grounds rather deftly moulded all of this into a simple circular plan with circumferential circulation inside and out, and housed it all in a concrete, copper-clad dome. To contain the dome’s lateral spreading he devised a massive concrete ring beam (built as a moat) that straps everything together like the hoop on a wine barrel.
This building is part of a rash of domes built internationally in the 1950s and 1960s like Saarinen’s Kresge Auditorium at MIT and later, Nveri’s large stadiums in Italy. In historical terms Grounds’ dome was one of the early ones and today it functions precisely as designed. All of the interior details and materials have somehow managed to stand the test of time and yes it still works.
- See more at: www.science.org.au/node/29#sthash.iCqtZ4kv.dpuf
Description: A shallow arcaded concrete dome, sheeted in copper. Peripheral arches in the dome spring from a moat which serves as a ring beam. Integral, formed plywood seating reflects the circular interior. Auditorium (Becker Hall) [renamed the Wark Theatre] seats approximately 156. The Adolph Basser Library is situated in the top of the dome. The copper-sheathed concrete dome, 46 meters in diameter, weighs 710 tonnes and rests on 16 arches. When opened, the building was described as being of "unconventional, futuristic design". The Academy of Science was established by Royal Charter in 1954. Its Fellows are eminent scientists in physical or biological sciences. An original notice described the building as 'Conference Chamber and Offices'. - See more at: www.science.org.au/node/29#sthash.iCqtZ4kv.dpuf