project

Skyscape ("Babydome"), Millennium Dome, London – Temporary Clear-Span PTFE Glass Fabric Entertainment Venue

Membrane
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General information

  • Home page
    https://www.architen.com/projects/skyscape/
  • Location address
    Greenwich Peninsula, beside the Millennium Dome, London, UK
  • Location country
    United Kingdom
  • Year of construction
    1999
  • Function of building
    Theatres & cinemas
  • Degree of enclosure
    Fully enclosed structure
  • Climatic zone
    Temperate - cold winters and mild summers
  • Primary function of the tensile structure
    • Rain protection
    • Space defining elements
    • Thermal insulation
    • Wind protection

Description

Skyscape, nicknamed the Babydome, was a temporary fabric-clad entertainment venue built beside the Millennium Dome in Greenwich for the millennium celebrations. Sponsored by BSkyB, it was developed by Edwin Shirley Staging with architects Urban Salon, in consultation with Richard Rogers Partnership, designers of the Dome itself, and with engineering by Buro Happold.

The building had a dual purpose. By day it housed two 2,500-seat cinemas; at night it converted into a single live venue with a 20m x 20m stage for concerts, plays, cabaret, ballet and awards ceremonies. As part of the Millennium Experience it could entertain up to 50,000 visitors a day.

The clear-span membrane roof is formed by dramatic fabric archways, giving large, uninterrupted spaces inside. The outer skin is PTFE-coated glass fibre fabric, developed with Taconic, silver on the outside and black on the inside, so a single membrane gave both the blackout conditions a theatre needs and a striking exterior. An inner fabric ceiling follows the structural form of the outer membrane and acts as an acoustic barrier.

Working within the fast-moving, demanding schedules of the live entertainment industry, Architen Landrell helped design and build the venue in a very short timeframe. Sail-like elements were integrated into the exterior, and inverted conic canopies around the perimeter sheltered the queuing crowds. At night, bright blue lighting made Skyscape an attraction in its own right alongside the Dome.

Developed by: Edwin Shirley Staging, with sponsorship from BSkyB. Architect: Urban Salon, with Richard Rogers Partnership. Engineer: Buro Happold. Membrane design, fabrication and installation: Architen Landrell.

Description of the environmental conditions

Temporary riverside venue on the Greenwich Peninsula, temperate climate. The PTFE-coated glass fabric envelope provides weather protection, blackout and, with an inner fabric ceiling, acoustic separation.

General comments, links

www.architen.com/projects/skyscape/

Fabric Structures
Sounding off

Material of the cover

  • Cable-net/Fabric/Hybrid/Foil
    Fabric
  • Material Fabric/Foil
    Fiberglass
  • Material coating
    PTFE

Main dimensions and form

  • Form single element
    Anticlastic

Duration of use

  • Temporary or permanent structure
    Temporary
  • Design lifespan in years
    00-05

Involved companies

Editor