Premier Composite Technologies :: composite domes, Prophet's Holy Mosque, Saudi Arabia

Prophet's Holy Mosque, Saudi Arabia

In 1990, innovative techniques were developed by Speedwave and SL GmbH Germany for the production of 27 Sliding Domes for the Prophet’s Holy Mosque in Medina. The domes provide a mobile roof to the internal courtyards, sliding open and close to counteract extreme temperature changes.

Resting on a steel framework on four wheel carriages, the domes are designed to move on high-grade stainless steel tracks. The non-corrosive wheels have a direct-drive mechanism powered by electric motors that are digitally controlled by the main computer.

Each 18m x 18m dome has outer cladding panels of carbon-glass fibre epoxy laminate with ceramic tiles bonded integrally to the surface. The inner cladding is of wood-epoxy laminate with maple-veneer facing that is richly decorated with Moroccan hand carved ornaments with gold-leaf highlights and turquoise coloured Amazonite stones set in gilded bezels. The domes are capped by gold-plated finials of cast bronze.

Sliding Domes for the Prophet’s Holy Mosque in Medina


■	Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi
■	Prophet's Mosque Saudi Arabia
■	Guektepe Mosque Turkmenistan
■	Putra Mosque Malaysia
■	Wilayah Mosque Malaysia