The History of SOLARDOME^® geodesic domes

In the 1960s NATO developed an early warning radar system. They asked the Buckminster Fuller organisation to design and develop giant golf ball shaped radar domes, which in Europe were placed in Filingdales, North Yorkshire. These giant domes had to withstand extreme winds and storms and yet remain unaffected.

An engineer living in North Yorkshire was fascinated by these domes and thought; if they can withstand these weather conditions then they would make the ultimate in greenhouse design. He explored the Buckminster Fuller geodesic domes and their principles and in 1969 designed and manufactured the first European geodesic dome, a 14' 6'' SOLARDOME^® 2.

For the next two decades Rosedale Engineers, the Yorkshire Company sold many 100s of stainless steel or aluminium low profile geodesic domes which ranged from 10ft to 20ft. The majority of these old greenhouse domes are still in use and loved today; a true testament to their strength and durability.

In 1995 the company was sold and became Solardome Industries Limited which is based in Hampshire. It was from these early greenhouse domes that with improvements and changes to design and construction methods our SOLARDOME® glasshouses have evolved into a range of larger, taller glass buildings suitable for many applications across the domestic, commercial and educational markets.

Solardome Industries is now a world leader and expert in small-scale geodesic domes and spheres based on aluminium and toughened glass construction. Our current sizes range from 11ft3/3.5m to 10m/33ft diameters. We also offer a bespoke service where we can design and manufacture linked domes, merged domes or larger single geodesic domes up to 25m diameter.