Disney Epcot greenhouse

[TaffGoch]

While browsing Disney's Epcot buildings, with Google's and Microsoft's aerial maps, I stumbled across the geodesic greenhouse for "The Land" pavillion.

 

It's unusual, as it has 7-fold radial symmetry -- not based on the icosahedron or octahedron.

 

The SketchUp model, depicted below, is posted at the 3D Warehouse:

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=e84248f4e8f07e6fb418289a672426b3

[Adrian Rossiter]

Hi Taff

On Sun, 7 Mar 2010, TaffGoch wrote:
> While browsing Disney's Epcot buildings, with Google's and Microsoft's
> aerial maps, I stumbled across the geodesic greenhouse for "The Land"
> pavillion.
>
> It's unusual, as it has 7-fold radial symmetry -- not based on the
> icosahedron or octahedron.

A couple more (pointed out by Alan at Synergeo) are the 12-frequency
Faith Dome

http://msrmaps.com/image.aspx?T=4&S=8&X=7602&Y=75187&Z=11&W=3&Addr=7901%20S%20Vermont%20Ave,%20Los%20Angeles,%20CA%2090044&ALon=-118.2919233&ALat=33.9677568
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/synergeo/message/26903

and Long Beach Cruise Terminal

http://msrmaps.com/image.aspx?T=4&S=8&Z=11&X=7798&Y=74704&W=2

Adrian.
--
Adrian Rossiter
adr...@antiprism.com
http://antiprism.com/adrian

[TaffGoch]

As it turns out, I've seen photos of those two high-frequency domes before, but had not previously noted the 7-fold radial symmetry.

 

There's another one at Epcot, across from "The Land," i.e.; "The Wonder of Life" pavilion (10-freq):

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=nqw6qv863zsz&scene=55092903&lvl=2&sty=b

 

The advantage of the 7-fold symmetry being the greater redundancy/replication of parts. An icosahedral, 5-fold symmetry dome (of frequency high enough to make the triangles about the same size,) would require more 'unique' panels.

 

I'm so accustomed to the icosa tessellation, that these 7-radsym domes look "funny" to me. I suppose the masses just look at 'em and say, "Wow!" without being "distracted" by the polyhedral characteristics -- so it doesn't really make any difference. (Oh, the trials of being a dome geek, I reckon.)

 

Taff

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(Be sure to follow that "bing" link, above, if you're not familiar with Microsoft's aerial map services. Google's got "street view," but I find Microsoft's aerial views to be much more revealing.)