The 1,200+ circular hollow sections have different wall thicknesses to suit different structural requirements. These sections are connected at various angles via 625 CNC-milled nodes. Located on top of the primary structure is the aluminium framework for the glazing, adjusted by means of steel pins. Each of the mainly trapezoidal insulating glass panes, almost 700 of them, is fixed with two black-painted point fixings on each edge. For the first time, a solar-control coating was applied directly to ceramic screen printing. From outside, the observer sees a pattern of black dots. Inside, on the library side, there is a congruent pattern of white dots. This is finished with the solar-control coating to the glass.
Erection proceeded with pre-assembled segments, with extremely high torques being required for the connections because of the size of the dome. A digital design process throughout with generically parameterised planning reduced the number of operations and enabled a direct transition to automated fabrication processes.
Reference overview and Header image: © seele / Matthias Reithmeier
