List of largest domes

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A dome is a self-supporting structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere.

Every dome in the world which was the largest-diameter dome of its time is listed.

Notes:

  • Each structure is only described in detail once (the appearance closest to the top of the page), even if it appears on multiple lists. A link to the row where the structure is described in detail is provided.
  • The dimension given is the inner diameter (also called inside diameter, or clear span). The thickness of the dome is not included. If the inner diameter of a dome is not available, a footnote follows the structure's name.
  • If a dome has an elliptical rather than circular shape, the dome's shorter dimension (i.e. width) is used for ranking, and, contra convention, its dimensions are listed as width × length, rather than length × width.
  • If the structure is part of a well-known complex of buildings, the name of the entire site is listed first, with the name of the dome structure listed in small text below.
  • These lists exclude structures that are not self-supporting, such as The O2 in London which is 365 m (1,200 ft) in diameter but is supported by masts.
  • The name of a structure used is the name it had when it was constructed or first opened. This is particularly relevant regarding stadiums.

Chronology of the largest dome

List of dome structures that have been the largest dome in the world:

The Pantheon in Rome, built in the 2nd century, was the largest dome in the world for over a millennium, and is still the largest unreinforced solid concrete dome.
The dome of Florence Cathedral was the largest in the world from its construction in 1436 to 1871, and is the largest brick and mortar dome.
The Singapore National Stadium, the largest dome structure in the world, and the largest ever built
More information Held record, Diameter ...
Held record[a] Diameter Name Location Builder Notes References
m ft
1250 BC – 1st century BC 14.547.6 Treasury of Atreus Mycenae, Greece City-state of Mycenae Corbel dome [1]
1st century BC – 19 BC 21.5570.70 Temple of Mercury Baiae, Italy Roman Empire First monumental dome [2][3]
19 BC – start of 2nd century AD* 2582 Baths of Agrippa
Arco della Ciambella		 Rome, Italy Roman Empire First thermae in Rome with a domed central building[4] [4]
Start of 2nd century AD – 128* 30100 Baths of Trajan Rome, Italy Roman Empire Half dome [5]
128–1436 43.4142 Pantheon Rome, Italy Roman Empire Largest unreinforced solid concrete dome in the world. Archetype of Western dome construction. [2][6][7]
1436–1871 45.5149 Florence Cathedral Florence, Italy City-state of Florence Largest brick and mortar dome in the world. First double-dome structure of the Renaissance. Octagonal dome. Architect Filippo Brunelleschi. [8]
1871–1873 56.5 × 66.9185+1⁄3 × 219+1⁄3 Royal Albert Hall London, United Kingdom Lucas Brothers Wrought iron and glazed (glass) elliptical dome. Architects Captain Francis Fowke and Henry Young Darracott Scott. [9][10]
1873–1937* 101.7333.66 Rotunde Vienna, Austria Johann Caspar Harkort VI. [de] Destroyed by a fire in 1937. Architect Baron Karl von Hasenauer. [11]
1937–1955 65.8216 Wholesale Market Leipzig [de; ru] Leipzig, Germany Dyckerhoff & Widmann Reinforced concrete dome. Architect Franz Dischinger. [12]
1955–1957 101332+1⁄3 Charlotte Coliseum[b] Charlotte, United States Thompson and Street Structural steel dome. Architect Odell Associates. [13]
1957–1963 109358 Belgrade Fair  – Hall 1 Belgrade, Serbia Belgrade Fair in Construction World's largest prestressed concrete dome [14]
1963–1964 122400 Assembly Hall Champaign, United States Felmley-Dickerson Co. Reinforced concrete dome. Architect Max Abramovitz. [15]
1964–1975 196642 Astrodome Houston, United States H.A. Lott, Inc. First domed stadium.[16] First air-conditioned stadium. Structural steel dome (3,000 tons of structural steel). Architects Lloyd & Morgan, and Wilson, Morris, Crain and Anderson.[17] [17][18]
1975–1984 207680 Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, United States Blount International[19] Structural steel construction (18,000 tons of structural steel in entire structure). Architects Curtis and Davis Architects and Engineers, Edward 8. Silverstein and Associates, and Nolan, Norman and Nolan.[20][21] [20]
1984–1985* 236.5775.9 Istra dome Istra, Russia Glavspetsstroy [ru] Steel construction (≈10,000 tons of steel and ≈363 tons of aluminum).[22] Collapsed on 25 January 1985, later demolished.[22] [22][23][24]
2001–2013 274899 Oita Stadium Ōita, Japan Takenaka Corporation, SATO BENEC, and Takayama Sogo Kogyo[25] Retractable steel roof (12,500 tonnes of steel).[26] Architects Kisho Kurokawa Architect & Associates, Takenaka Corporation, Satobenec, and Takayama Sogo Kogyo.[27] [27][28]
since 2013 3121,020 Singapore National Stadium Singapore Dragages Retractable roof. Height of dome: 80 m (260 ft).[29] Architect Arup Group. [29]
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  1. [a]
    First stint as largest dome only, may have gaps due to destructions. Domes no longer standing marked with an asterisk.
  2. [b]
    Not to be confused with the later Charlotte Coliseum, an indoor arena not featuring a dome that was demolished in 2007.

By structural material

The Hagia Sophia, the largest brick and mortar dome for almost a millennium, from its construction in 563 until the completion of the Florence Cathedral in 1436
The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, the largest wooden dome for over a millennium
The Royal Albert Hall is the largest standing dome structure of wrought iron construction. However, the Rotunde, completed two years after the Royal Albert Hall, is the largest wrought iron dome ever built.

Lists of buildings that have been the largest dome built with a given structural material:

More information Held record, Diameter ...
Held record Diameter Name Location Builder Notes References
m ft
Stone
1250 BC – 150–175 AD Treasury of Atreus (details earlier)
150–175 AD – 2006 15.049.2 Western Thermae Jerash, Jordan Roman Empire One of the earliest voussoir domes with square ground plan [30]
since 2006 85.15279.4 Global Vipassana Pagoda Mumbai, India The stone dome was completed in October 2006. The monument was officially inaugurated on February 8, 2009. [31]
Concrete
1st century BC – 1st century BC 6.5221.4 Stabiae Thermae
Laconicum		 Pompeii, Italy Roman Empire Cone vault (early form of a dome). Oldest known dome built with Roman concrete. [3]
1st century BC – 19 BC Temple of Mercury (details earlier)
since 128 Pantheon (details earlier)
Masonry
2nd century – 150 11.538 Red Basilica Pergamon, Turkey Roman Empire Brick [32]
150 – c. 306* 23.8578.2 Sanctuary of Asclepius
Temple of Asclepius		 Pergamon, Turkey Roman Empire Earliest monumental brick dome[33] [34][35]
c. 306 – 563 24.1579.2 Rotunda of Galerius Thessaloniki, Greece Roman Empire Radially laid bricks [33]
563–1436 30.87 × 31.87101.3 × 104.6 Hagia Sophia Istanbul, Turkey Byzantine Empire First pendentive dome in history, completed in 537, rebuilt in 563 after earthquake. Architects Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus [36]
since 1436 Florence Cathedral (details earlier)
Clay hollowware
Beginning of 3rd century – 216 12.039.4 Aquae Flavianae El Hamma District, Algeria Roman Empire Earthenware pipes put together [37]
216 – 6th–9th century* 35.08115.1 Baths of Caracalla
Caldarium		 Rome, Italy Roman Empire Amphorae put together [38]
Wood
691–1781 20.4066.9 Dome of the Rock Jerusalem Umayyad Empire [39]
1781–1957 36.0118.1 Saint Blaise Abbey Sankt Blasien, Germany Pierre Michel d'Ixnard Third-widest dome in Europe at the time of its construction[40] [40][41]
1957–1977 91.4300 Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Bozeman, United States Montana State University  – Bozeman Second-largest dome in United States at the time of its construction[42] [42]
1977–1983 153.0502.0 Walkup Skydome Flagstaff, Arizona, United States Northern Arizona University Geodesic dome
1983–1991 162530 Tacoma Dome Tacoma, United States Merit Co. Geodesic dome
since 1991 163.4536 Superior Dome Marquette, United States State of Michigan/Northern Michigan University Geodesic dome
Cast iron
1811–1881 39.0128.0 Bourse de commerce
(previously the Halle aux blés)		 Paris, France First French Empire Engineer François Brunet. Architect François-Joseph Bélanger. [43]
since 1881 46.9154 Devonshire Royal Hospital Buxton, United Kingdom Converted from a horse stables to a hospital. Slate-covered iron frame. Architects John Carr and Robert Rippon Duke. [44]
Wrought iron
1871–1873 Royal Albert Hall (details earlier)
1873–1937 Rotunde (details earlier)
Steel
1902–1955 59.4195 West Baden Springs Hotel West Baden, United States Lee Wiley Sinclair Steel and glass dome. Architect Harrison Albright. [45]
1955–1964 Charlotte Coliseum (details earlier)
1964–1975 Harris County Domed Stadium (details earlier)
1975–1984 Louisiana Superdome (details earlier)
1984–1985 Istra dome (details earlier)
2001–2013 Oita Stadium (details earlier)
since 2013 Singapore National Stadium (details earlier)
Reinforced concrete
1913–1930 65.0213.3 Centennial Hall Wrocław, Poland Architect Max Berg [46]
1930–1957 Wholesale Market Leipzig (details earlier)
1957–1963 100.6330 Palazzetto dello Sport Rome, Italy Built for the 1960 Summer Olympics. Consulting engineer Pier Luigi Nervi. [15]
1963–1971 Assembly Hall (details earlier)
1971–1976 134.1440 Norfolk Scope Norfolk, Virginia, United States City of Norfolk Consulting engineer Pier Luigi Nervi [15]
1976–2000* 201660 King County Stadium Seattle, United States King County Reinforced concrete dome. Demolished on 26 March 2000. Architects NBBJ, John Skilling, and Emil Praeger. [47]
Glazed
since 2002 70.1230 Desert Dome Omaha, United States Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium Glazed geodesic dome. Holds the world's largest indoor desert. [48][49]
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By continent

List of structures that have been the largest dome on their continent:

Europe

Kupolen [sv] (English: Dome) in Borlänge, Sweden, is the largest dome structure in Europe.
More information Held record, Diameter ...
Held record Diameter Name Location Builder Notes References
m ft
1250 BC – 1st century BC Treasury of Atreus (details earlier)
1st century BC – 19 BC Temple of Mercury (details earlier)
19 BC – 109 AD Baths of Agrippa
Arco della Ciambella (details earlier)
109–128 Baths of Trajan (details earlier)
128–1436 Pantheon (details earlier)
1436–1871 Florence Cathedral (details earlier)
1871–1873 Royal Albert Hall (details earlier)
1873–1937 Rotunde (details earlier)
1937–1957 Wholesale Market Leipzig (details earlier)
1957–1990 Belgrade Fair  – Hall 1 (details earlier)
since 1990 129423 Kupolen [sv] (English: Dome) Borlänge, Sweden Originally an exposition hall with a few stores at ground level, became a three level mall. Architect Coordinator arkitekter [sv]. [50]
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North America

AT&T Stadium, named Cowboys Stadium when constructed, is the largest dome in North America.
More information Held record, Diameter ...
Held record Diameter Name Location Builder Notes References
m ft
1864–1867 2996 United States Capitol Washington, D.C., United States Architect Thomas Ustick Walter [51]
1867–1902 45.7150 Salt Lake Tabernacle Salt Lake City, United States Largely built without nails. Architect Henry Grow. [52]
1902–1955 West Baden Springs Hotel (details earlier)
1955–1963 Charlotte Coliseum (details earlier)
1963–1964 Assembly Hall (details earlier)
1964–1975 Harris County Domed Stadium (details earlier)
1975–2009 Louisiana Superdome (details earlier)
since 2009 230755 Cowboys Stadium[a] Arlington, United States HKS, Inc. Diameter is estimated. Retractable structural steel roof (14,100 tons of structural steel).[53]
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  1. [a]
    No reliable figures available

South America

More information Held record, Diameter ...
Held record Diameter Name Location Builder Notes References
m ft
Palace of the Argentine National Congress Buenos Aires, Argentina Government of Argentina Bronze-plated dome. Architect Vittorio Meano.
1960 38120 Palace of the Brazilian National Congress Brasília, Brazil Government of Brazil Architect Oscar Niemeyer [54]
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Asia

More information Held record, Diameter ...
Held record Diameter Name Location Builder Notes References
m ft
2nd century – 150 Red Basilica (details earlier)
150–1312 Sanctuary of Asclepius
Temple of Asclepius (details earlier)
1312–1659 24.680.71 Dome of Soltaniyeh Soltaniyeh, Iran Persian architects were building double shell domes at the start of the 5th century, but the Dome of Soltaniyeh is the earliest such architecture extant, dating to 1312, over 100 years before Brunelleschi used the same technique to build the dome of Florence Cathedral. This makes the Dome of Soltaniyeh the earliest existing double shell dome. The Florence Cathedral's dome has octagonal supporting walls, like the Dome of Soltaniyeh. The Dome of Soltaniyeh is the third largest brick dome in the world (after Florence Cathedral and Hagia Sophia). Hagia Sophia is older than the Dome of Soltaniyeh, but the Hagia Sophia is a single shell brick dome. [55][56]
1659–1937 37.92120 Gol Gumbaz Bijapur, India Sultanate of Bijapur Mausoleum of Muhammad Adil Shah II (1627 – 1657) of the Sultanate of Bijapur [57]
1937–1944 45150 Phnom Penh Central Market Phnom Penh, Cambodia Reinforced concrete. Engineer Wladimir Kandaouroff.[citation needed] Architects Jean Desbois and Louis Chauchon. [58]
1944–1960 60200 Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre Novosibirsk, Russia Reinforced concrete [59]
1960–2001 108354 Araneta Coliseum Quezon City, Philippines J. Amado Araneta Also known as the Big Dome. Opened as the world's biggest indoor venue in 1960. Architect Dominador Lugtu.
2001–2013 Oita Stadium (details earlier)
since 2013 Singapore National Stadium (details earlier)
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Africa

More information Held record, Diameter ...
Held record Diameter Name Location Builder Notes References
m ft
1988–1997 90295.28 Basilica of Our Lady of Peace Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast Dumez Modeled after the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. World's tallest dome.
since 1997 140.0459.32 MTN Sundome Johannesburg, South Africa Sports arena [60]
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Australia

More information Held record, Diameter ...
Held record Diameter Name Location Builder Notes References
m ft
1913–1959 34.75114.01 State Library Victoria Melbourne, Australia Designed by Norman G. Peebles
1959–1988 47.4155.51 The Shine Dome Canberra, Australia Designed by Sir Roy Grounds
since 1988 133.0436.35 Burswood Dome Perth, Australia Designed by James Wilkinson
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Other famous large domes

List of famous large domes that have never held any of the size records:

More information Completion date, Diameter ...
Completion date Diameter Name Location Builder Notes References
m ft
c. 64 13.4844.2 Domus Aurea Rome, Italy Roman Empire First dome with a polygonal ground plan (octagon) [3]
c. 640 11.237 Mastara Church Mastara, Armenia Sasanian Armenia Largest intact dome in Armenia [61]
1227 16.9 × 21.055.4 × 68.9 St. Gereon's Basilica Cologne, Germany Elliptical dome. Largest dome to be constructed in the Occident in the years between the construction of Hagia Sophia's dome in 563 and the completion of Florence Cathedral in 1436. [62]
1405 18.260 Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasavi Turkistan, Kazakhstan Timur Double dome
1557 27.289 Süleymaniye Mosque Istanbul, Turkey Ottoman Empire Architect Mimar Sinan
1575 31.25102.5 Selimiye Mosque Edirne, Turkey Ottoman Empire Architect Mimar Sinan [63]
1626 42.3139 St. Peter's Basilica Rome, Italy Holy See World's tallest dome until 1990. Tallest dome interior (including lantern). Two layer dome. Architect Michelangelo. [3]
1641 1858 Taj Mahal Agra, India Mughal Empire Double dome[64] [64][65]
1710 31.1102 St Paul's Cathedral London, United Kingdom Christopher Wren Double dome. The two domes are separated by a cone over the top of the inner which helps support the outer. Height of dome: 225 ft (69 m).[66] [66][67]
1732 79.07 × 118.924.10 × 36.25 Sanctuary of Vicoforte Vicoforte, Italy House of Savoy Largest elliptical dome in the world.[citation needed][dubious – discuss] Height of dome: 16 m (52 ft). Architects Ascanio Vitozzi and Francesco Gallo.[68] [68]
1871 39.6130 Mosta Dome Mosta, Malta Third-largest unsupported dome in the world.[dubious – discuss] Architect Giorgio Grognet de Vassé. [69][70]
1894 31100 Frederik's Church Copenhagen, Denmark Frederick V Built from 1749 to 1894 by three different architects, with no construction done from 1770 to 1877 [71]
1904 1550 Rhode Island State House Providence, United States Third-largest unsupported marble dome in the world. [72][73]
1912 1859 Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Sofia, Bulgaria Bulgarian people Groundbreaking: 3 March 1882. Completed: 1904 – 1912. Consecrated: 1924. Has gold-plated domes. Believed to be among the 10 largest Eastern Orthodox church buildings, and the largest completed Orthodox cathedral located in Southeast Europe. [74][75][76][77]
1944 61.0200.1 La Coupole
V-2 rocket bunker		 Wizernes, France Nazi Germany Reinforced concrete dome. 5 metres (16 ft) thick. [78][79]
1952 2789 Rotunda of Xewkija Xewkija, Malta Height: 75 m (246 ft). Weight: 45,000 t (44,000 long tons; 50,000 short tons). Circumference: 85 m (279 ft). Architect Joseph D'Amato.
1988 51.8170 Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque Shah Alam, Malaysia Largest mosque in Malaysia. Second largest mosque in South East Asia. Also known as Blue Mosque. Can accommodate up to 16,000 worshippers.
1992 192 × 240630 × 787 Georgia Dome Atlanta, United States Brasfield & Gorrie Elliptical tensegrity structure. Demolished on 20 November 2017. [80][81]
2005 21.370 Long Island Green Dome Baiting Hollow, United States Kevin Michael Shea Largest residential wood geodesic dome in North America. Serves as a home and advocate of sustainable living. Picture.
2009 78256 Medgidia clinker storage facility Medgidia, Romania [82]
2014 179 × 227587 × 745 Philippine Arena Bocaue, Philippines Iglesia ni Cristo Elliptical dome. Dome with the largest indoor arena by capacity in the world. [83]
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See also

References

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