Losberger De Boer delivers record-breaking Jeddah Superdome event venue
Losberger De Boer has delivered the record-breaking Jeddah Superdome venue in Saudi Arabia, handing over the dome’s frame three days ahead of schedule and completing the project on time despite disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Jeddah Superdome officially opened its doors on June 9, 2021.
Jeddah Superdome has claimed the Guinness World Records titles for the world’s largest geodesic dome and largest dome with the continuous roof. It is a multi-purpose event space and will play an integral role in the Jeddah Season events programme. From live shows, concerts and sporting events to brand activations and exhibitions, the dome will host some of the Kingdom’s stand-out events.
Although Saudi Arabia announced Jeddah Season, originally scheduled to take place in June and July 2020, plans were cancelled as part of the country’s measures to curb the coronavirus outbreak, work on the ambitious Jeddah Superdome project continued with an aim to continue the attempt to break the Guinness World Records title, and ensure it is complete when Jeddah Season returns.
In February 2020, Losberger De Boer was awarded the dome construction project by Jeddah Superdome’s operator, Sela Sports Company, the leading events management company based in Saudi Arabia. Losberger De Boer’s scope included the design and build of the structure, along with a project management and consulting role, coordinating with third-party subcontractors assigned by Sela Sports Company. In addition to manufacturing and constructing the dome’s frame, Losberger De Boer also installed the PVC covering, walls and doors.
With a diameter of 210m and offering a covered area of 34,636sqm and a surface area of 39,753sqm, the dome has a ring beam built of 326 tonnes of steel to support the structure rings.
Waleed Khaled, Losberger De Boer Middle East’s Regional Sales Director, said: “It has been an honour to work with Sela Sports Company on such a groundbreaking project. Losberger De Boer’s in-house design team along with our trusted consultant Geometrica designed the dome’s concept, working closely with the client to meet every aspect of the brief and create an events space, the likes of which have not been seen in this region before. The adaptability of the space means it can be used for any large-scale event and can be repurposed quickly and efficiently for the next event.
“Within weeks of the project commencing, the world was gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic. Movement restrictions and periods of lockdown followed. However, even while work on the majority of projects in the Kingdom stopped, Losberger De Boer continued to work onsite, adhering to government regulations and guidelines. We were able to complete the frame three days ahead of the revised schedule despite the challenging conditions and have gone on to complete the remaining works within the agreed timeframes.”
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V-Plaza in Lithuania by 3deluxe is a perfect venue for a young and dynamic society
In the midst of a newly designed building ensemble boasting bright facades and ultramodern workspaces, the German architecture practice—3deluxe has created a visionary plaza for the client, SBA Group that is a celebration of contemporary mobility. Cyclists and scooters cruise along organically curved levels, between them oases of tranquility, water features, cafes, and restaurants.
This hybrid skatepark, playground, and the urbane living room have now opened – the perfect venue for a young, dynamic society. Cool Lithuania!
V-Plaza’s extraordinary design sets off the extensive façades to bright and cheerful effect, creates modern workspaces, and uses organically shaped green spaces, curved pathways, seating levels, and the latest technology to transform the space into inspiring terrain with an urban ambiance.
The real challenge was to preserve cultural heritage while creating space for social transformation. And the solution was innovative architecture that caters to the needs of today’s society: bright, friendly, open, and connecting.
Back in 2016, 3deluxe was commissioned with the complete transformation of the central square, together with the buildings that adjoin it on its eastern side – three new builds and two renovations, along with an underground garage that extends beneath the entire square.
Here, 3deluxe is creating an exciting ensemble featuring various architectural interpretations of the different eras that define the city.
Hence, for example, the new corner building is an homage to Lithuania’s Art Deco heritage. With its rounded and organically shaped glass fronts and the elongated façade, the corner building is quite captivating thanks to its elegant simplicity and flowing forms. Here, the coming together of old and new building cultures is celebrated rather than concealed. Extensive glazing and unfussy design meet detailed window frontage featuring applied decoration inspired by the façades of the neighbouring historical buildings.
The central new-build block reflects the city’s Bauhaus tradition and forges a clear link to the now modernised dual ensemble that so epitomises the International Style of the early 1960s. The redesign of the façade picks up on the aesthetic simplicity to be found in this Baltic testimony to mid-century Modern, with a pronounced Cubist design vocabulary and clear lines.
An elongated roof pavilion covers both the newly built and the renovated structures and thus melds different styles to create a new whole.
The roof pavilion incorporates a roof terrace that stretches the entire length of the complex – a green oasis offering a magnificent view of the whole city.
The stylistic connection between all five buildings is their uniform, white-rendered façade, which enables all the buildings to merge into one radiant unit.
The redesign of the interiors likewise emphasises the idea of connection, since all the buildings are linked internally. Extensive lobbies, atriums, and open workspaces permit straightforward communication as well as concentrated and creative work. Meanwhile, shops, cafés, and restaurants inject further life into this modern, agile world of work and the lively, urban leisure society.
A historical square is transformed: 3deluxe initially developed two design levels that structure the entire surface as a grid made up of visible lines on the ground. One is linear and forms the historical context, in which the existing axes of vision and movement are taken into account. The other level is designed to be organic and fluid, reflecting the natural flows of movement of passers-by. This structuring gives rise not only to pathways but also to natural islands, which are enlivened in different ways: a green lawn for sunbathing, a skate park, a programmed fountain complex, or a modern event venue.
Another addition, lying opposite the new corner building, is a modern amphitheater, and the frontage facing it can be outfitted with a giant LED screen for public viewings when required.
The earthworks began in 2017, and the project was completed in June 2020.
Photo credit: Norbert Tukaj
English