Chinese construction site enclosed in world's "largest inflatable dome"

A 20,000-square-metre marshmallow-like, inflated membrane has been raised over a construction site in Jinan, China, to protect neighbouring buildings from dust and noise.

The dome encloses Jinan's Honglou 1905 project, set to be the largest urban renewal project in the city of 9.2 million people. It is located in a commercial area just one road away from schools, residential buildings and a century-old church.

To protect the neighbouring buildings, developers China Energy Construction Group and Licheng Urban Development Group covered the entire construction site in a 50-metre-high dome made from high-strength, heat-reflective polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF).

At 159 metres long and 108 metres wide, the air membrane spans 20,000 square metres, according to the developers, who claimed it is the "largest inflatable dome in the world".

The lower part of the dome is made from reinforced concrete, while the upper part is an air-supported membrane joint. As well as two pedestrian entrances, it has two emergency exits and one vehicle entrance.

Since the air-membrane dome doesn't require load-bearing beams or columns, it leaves a large open space through which construction vehicles can work.

The dome will protect against rain and snow

According to the developers, the inflatable dome will "block 90 per cent of dust, reduce 80 per cent of construction noise, and prevent wind, rain and snow".

They pointed out that the dome also enables construction during Jinan's rainy season and said it can withstand half-a-metre thick snow and level 12 gale winds.

It was also designed to supply fresh air for the construction workers and has sprinklers to control dust.

"The control system in the air dome will monitor the internal air pressure and temperature at any time," Honglou 1905 project leader Wang Luren said.

"Through the four large-volume fans on the north side, fresh air will be continuously supplied to the interior for ventilation. After large-scale construction, sprinkler facilities will be installed to control dust in the air dome."

"The air dome uses a new material, PVDF, which can block 90 per cent of ultraviolet rays, has a high heat reflectivity and heat dissipation rate, and has a B1 (flame-retardant) fire rating," Luren added.

The air dome was manufactured by Xide Air Dome.

Jinan's inflatable dome, which was installed on June 14, will be dismantled after the completion of the project, but the developer said the method could prove to be a new "'silent mode' solution for urban construction".

While it is rare to see inflatable domes covering construction sites, inflatable architecture is popular on Dezeen, with recent examples including a doughnut-shaped pop-up restaurant and the Swiss pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka.

The photography is by Lee Photography via Red Note. Video by Xide Air Dome via Red Note.

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