Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh

Our Dynamic Earth 2

It must have needed a bit of courage to take on the building of a visitor attraction that tells the story of planet Earth - and the 15,000 million years of history that come along with it! Thankfully, the team that won the job weren't phased by the 22-month task, as the results of Our Dynamic Earth speak for themselves.

For a start, the translucent roof is made of PTFE, the same stuff that makes your frying pan non-stick! It is suspended from giant steel masts like a huge tent, with walls made of stone and glass.

The project involved using state of the art technology to re-create everything from the ice-age to earthquakes, tropical rainforests and oceans - and all in the midst of a world heritage site too. 
  
 Fast Facts
 

  • The roof is made of 3000m2 of fabric - the same size as 15 tennis courts.
  • Over 1000 people can be seated in the new outdoor amphitheatre.
  • Eight slender steel masts the height of 5 double decker buses support the roof membrane.
  • The project cost £34 million to construct.
  • Over 500 000 people visit Our Dynamic Earth each year - that's an average of 1370 per day!