This will be the world’s largest single-domed greenhouse

Coldefy & Associates has unveiled its Tropicalia concept, a tropical greenhouse that will be heated to 82° F and cover an area of 215,278-sf. The project is set to become the largest single-domed greenhouse in the world.

The project will be located on the Côte d’Opale, North of France and reconnect visitors with the plant and animal world in a region where the climate is often harsh. The greenhouse will host diverse flora and fauna including exotic flowers, butterflies, hummingbirds, Amazonian fish, turtles, caimans, water gardens, waterfalls, and ponds.

Tropicalia interior suspension bridge

The building will be partially embedded in the ground reducing its height and impact. From a distance the greenhouse gently rises like a hill. The dome will be tall enough to allow for the complete growth of the trees within as well as the creation of suspension bridges. Inside, the absence of load-bearing posts and the presence of a vegetated peripheral wall will reinforce the feeling of immersion for visitors. Also included in the design is space for an auditorium, a bar/restaurant, a conference room, and a laboratory.

A double insulating pressurized dome will be made of EFTE held in place by an aluminum frame. Coldefy & Associates says the project will be completed by 2023.

Tropicalia interior pond

The recently opened Michigan Central Station in Detroit is the centerpiece of a 30-acre technology and cultural hub that will include development of urban transportation solutions. The six-year adaptive reuse project of the 640,000 sf historic station, created by the same architect as New York’s Grand Central Station, is the latest sign of a reinvigorating Detroit.

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