Esplanade’s twin domes carry thousands of angular sunshades that filter tropical light and heat. The performing arts centre’s familiar nickname comes from its spiky exterior, but its design began with the idea of lanterns beside the bay.
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Thousands of angular sunshades cover Esplanade’s twin domes, filtering tropical light and heat. Esplanade’s twin domes evolved through several forms before their final cladding of angled aluminium sunshades. Those spikes have a practical job: they let daylight into the performance spaces while reducing tropical heat on the glass beneath.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- Esplanade officially opened in October 2002.
- Its aluminium cladding shades the glass and limits tropical heat.
- The design was originally conceived as a ‘lantern in the park’.
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