photo sources: (clockwise from top) 1, 2, 3

the enormous 34m ( not ft as i previously put. excuse my ignorance) diameter shiny ball pictured above goes by the name of ‘la géode’. this stunning metallic structure houses a 1000m² hemispheric imax screen at the ‘cité des sciences et de l’industrie’ in paris. it was designed in 1983 by french architect adrien fainsilber and then realised by engineer gérard chamaillou. it’s apparently one of the largest geodesic domes on earth.

seeing this beauty brings to mind what must surely be the most aesthetically incredible planetarium in the world: l’hemisfèric in valencia…



photo sources: (clockwise from top) 1, 2, 3

known by many as ‘the eye of knowledge’, l’hemisfèric planetarium was the first building to be finished as part of valencia’s city of arts and science, a complex designed by super-architect santiago calatrava who is the genius also responsible for, amongst others, the turning torso in sweden and chicago’s upcoming supertall skyscraper, the chicago spire. ‘the eye’ even blinks (albeit quite slowly) by way of hydraulics to reveal the spherical planetarium inside, the reflection of this in the surrounding pool of water cleverly resulting in the illusion you see above.



photo source