This was a glorious day working at an incredible events space. “Does it get any better than this” we found ourselves saying to one another as we were soaking up the Edinburgh skyline yet surrounded by nature. A truely fantastic location for our domes!
Europe’s largest BAMBOO geo-domes on the Isle of Wight.
Image by Wildheart Animal Sanctuary
Here in East Lothian, Atlas Domes had a truly busy year in 2022 designing and constructing the colossal permanent bamboo structures for the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary located on the Isle of Wight.
The 25m dome being 12m high (equal to a 4-story building) was created to give the visitors a walk-through Lemur Experience, learning about the fascinating primates and their individual backgrounds. The smaller of the two gigantic domes has a diameter of 18m and was created for the less social lemurs, because let’s face it, humans are not always the best company!
Image by Wildheart Animal Sanctuary
These domes are notably different to our hired-out domes as they are 6v which in dome jargon basically means there are lots more poles, making it a full hemisphere. The bamboo chosen for this project is Guadua which we had also been using for other permanent structures as it’s nick name is IRON BAMBOO… need we say more?
Image by Wildheart Animal Sanctuary
The domes are built on a Napoleonic fort which presented us with some challenges when designing and building. However, the Atlas Domes team of 4 and the help of a crane erected the domes in just one week. Working through all weathers from snow to sunshine in early March was an endurance test for sure. Not to mention having resident Lions, Kumba and Vigo watching their every move with great curiosity.
Cameron Gray (Director of Atlas Domes) said; “It was an incredible project to have produced such a unique and spectacular home to these lemurs on the Jurassic coast.”
If you or your business are planning a new project and would like to consider a bamboo geo-dome, please get in touch and we would be happy to discuss your ideas , no dome is too big or too small!
Image by Wildheart Animal Sanctuary
Yip Yip Hooray!
This year has been a different year for us all. With restrictions being eased we actually got to have our wedding season, albeit somewhat different to usual. However, it was fantastic to be dome-ing around the UK once again. That’s not all that has been going on for Atlas Domes, though. Behind our workshop doors we’ve been busy working on an exciting new project…
Cameron, the managing director, has been redesigning the double dome for our clients in Canada – Yip Cider. As they are looking for two geodomes which can be up all year-round at their cidery, Cameron has made incredible changes to the structure.
The most noticeable change is the use of Guadua bamboo instead of our usual Mosso. Guadua bamboo is considered the strongest variety in the world, with uses throughout construction and architecture, so the choice was a no-brainer for YIP Cider’s permanent new venue. These poles are considerably thicker and sturdier than our usual bamboo and offer a very different style - almost more of a wood effect with the stronger matured colours along the poles.
The bamboo was ordered from Columbia in the height of the pandemic so we expected delays. What we and the shipping world did not see coming was the Suez Canal hold up. We became accustomed to having many of our materials and suppliers experiencing delays; however, once the poles arrived – it was game on!
Working with bamboo is always interesting as, because it’s a natural product, every single piece of bamboo is unique! We had 315 poles to individually prepare to meet the mathematical equation to construct a geodome, becoming a true labour of love.
Stay tuned for future updates on our Yip Cider domes and the construction on site all the way in New Brunswick– COMING SOON.
To Dome, or Double Dome, that is the question!
What are Geo Domes?
We get asked this often as we are the only bamboo geodomes available to hire in the UK and perhaps even Europe. A geodome is basically a hemispherical venue which is created using a structure of triangles. It is far easier to see than describe! Designed and manufactured in Scotland and available to hire UK wide, the team have come up with 5 reasons why Atlas Domes make a superior alternative to any other traditional marquee or tepee.
Eco-friendly
A sphere is the most efficient shape, allowing our team to use less canvas to cover it. This means less materials and less weight than traditional marquees. And less weight equals to less CO2 being emitted when transporting to your destination.
What’s more, our domes are made from the robust material bamboo. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on Earth, growing up to a meter each day! A much-loved benefit of bamboo by the team is that it is light ensuring a quick, easy build and take down for your planned occasion.
Strength
The natural artwork of our bamboo domes makes a stunning setting for a wedding but it is not all about looks. With a higher tensile strength than steel and greater compressive strength than many blends of concrete, there is no denying bamboos structural credibility. With the structure being a dome, this allows for a higher wind speed capacity than traditional marquees or tepees which is ideal as UK weather is unpredictable by nature.
Non limiting Structure
Decorating our geodomes is simple as they are built with no uprights! This means that there are no structures blocking any views and there is nothing to stop the floor space from being utilised to its maximum potential.
Our practical design allows for easy rigging of lights, flowers, and which ever decor you desire.
Weekend Hire!!
Our rates are based on a weekend hire, meaning we set up on a Thursday and take down on the Monday allowing you to extend the wedding celebration and enjoy the use of the dome for the entire weekend…. Relax and let the good times roll!
Dome-tastic!
If you are looking for an impressive venue which will have your guest’s jaws dropping, then our bamboo geo dome won’t disappoint. With multiple layout options available including a design which enables the entrance to be placed where you need it making the domes beautiful and practical.
Got a date in mind? Pop us an email with your date so we can check our availability and our dedicated team at Atlas Domes can provide you with everything you need for a day that you will never forget.
Sally and Graham, 5th May, Traquair
Congratulations to this happy couple!
What a lovely spot these guys picked for their wedding. They went for fairy lights and festoon lighting from us here at Atlas Domes and furniture from Get Knotted in Kelso.
If you like what you see and fancy throwing a similar party, please get in touch and we'll see how we can help.
Mark and Ana, 7th April, Lauder
We'd like to say a huge congratulations to Mark and the beautiful Ana who got married in a very cosy dome despite the cold wet Scottish weather.
Luckily for us, we managed to get the dome up before the snow came and the sun even came out for us to take it down. Mark, Ana and their guests weren't quite so lucky with the weather but we were told that even their Mexican guests weren't cold inside the domes!
Thanks for having us guys and well done on the decorations-we loved how colourful it all was and the bunting went perfectly with our lanterns!
Jenny and Andy's 10 year Anniversary, Arran
Magic Wheel Festival, May 2017
To kick the 2017 season off the Atlas Domes team journeyed up to Aberdeenshire with our 15m bamboo geodome for Minival's Magic Wheel Festival.
Welcome to our new blog!
We're excited about our first season here at Atlas Domes and can't wait to be part of some amazing weddings, festivals, birthday parties, charity fund raisers and club nights all over Scotland.