Geodesic fulldome planetarium
Tholus Venue
A stable, modular, turnkey planetarium. From 5 to 12 metres, with calibrated projection and TholusOS Pro.
From EUR 24.900 VAT excl.
Made to stay
A real theatre.
Where there was none.
Tholus Venue brings fulldome to museums, science centres, events and cultural spaces without building a permanent planetarium.
Inside the structure
Six elements. One true fulldome theatre.
Scroll from the geodesic geometry to the experiences it can host.
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01 · Presence
A theatre that can change location.
More stable than an inflatable dome, more flexible than a permanent build.
- Modular
- Semi-permanent
02 · Structure
Geometry starts with the frame.
Aluminium members create a strong, demountable and repeatable geodesic skeleton.
- Aluminium
- Geodesic
03 · Screen
Negative pressure tensions the surface.
Controlled extraction draws the PVC membrane towards the frame to form a regular hemisphere.
- Negative pressure
- PVC
04 · Calibration
Multiple projectors. One image.
Stable geometry makes warping and blending precise and repeatable after each installation.
- Multiprojection
- TholusOS
05 · Interaction
Fulldome can respond.
Optional sensors and peripherals can turn films and simulations into interactive and 4D experiences.
- Interactive
- Optional 4D
06 · Uses
Culture, simulation, live experiences.
Museums, schools, exhibitions, theme parks, presentations, art and entertainment share the same theatre.
- 5 to 12 m
- Multi-use
A real structure
Modular outside. Precise inside.
Two real views of the structure and enclosure at the venue.
The structure takes shape
From the geodesic frame to the complete dome.
Enclosure and details
Entrance, exterior panels and construction details.
Six sizes
From the first theatre to a large audience.
Every configuration includes the dome, fulldome screen, calibrated projection, audio, content and the tools needed to get started.
Most compact
Tholus Venue 5
For museums, schools and first immersive theatres.
EUR 24.900 VAT excl.
- 5-metre geodesic dome
- Negative-pressure fulldome screen
- Mirror or fisheye projection
- TholusOS Pro for 1 year
More audience
Tholus Venue 6
A compact theatre with multiprojection.
EUR 32.900 VAT excl.
- 6-metre geodesic dome
- Negative-pressure fulldome screen
- 3-projector system
- TholusOS Pro for 1 year
Most versatile
Tholus Venue 8
The balance between scale and flexibility.
EUR 39.900 VAT excl.
- 8-metre geodesic dome
- Negative-pressure fulldome screen
- 3-projector system
- TholusOS Pro for 1 year
Large audience
Tholus Venue 9
More capacity in a still-agile configuration.
EUR 47.900 VAT excl.
- 9-metre geodesic dome
- Negative-pressure fulldome screen
- 3-projector system
- TholusOS Pro for 1 year
Large format
Tholus Venue 10
For science centres, festivals and high-footfall venues.
EUR 59.900 VAT excl.
- 10-metre geodesic dome
- Negative-pressure fulldome screen
- 5-projector system
- TholusOS Pro for 1 year
Maximum scale
Tholus Venue 12
A true fulldome theatre for a large audience.
EUR 69.900 VAT excl.
- 12-metre geodesic dome
- Negative-pressure fulldome screen
- 5-projector system
- TholusOS Pro for 1 year
Prices exclude VAT. Transport, on-site installation, seating and bespoke content are detailed in the proposal. Any building permits or other approvals that may be required, masonry work and bases other than the standard PVC flooring we supply are not included in the price.
Project data
Capacity, layouts and performance.
A verifiable technical configuration for every diameter.
Indicative capacity by diameter*
Layout changes capacity, so planetarium use, seated fulldome and standing events are shown separately.
| Diameter | Planetarium: children seated on floor | Planetarium: seated adults | Fulldome with chairs | Standing event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 m | 35–40 | 20–25 | 15 | 30 |
| 6 m | 45–55 | 30–40 | 20 | 30–35 |
| 8 m | 80–100 | 65–80 | 30–35 | 45–50 |
| 9 m | — | — | 55–65 | 60–70 |
| 10 m | — | — | 55–65 | 100–110 |
| 12 m | — | — | 80–90 | 125–140 |
* Capacities depend on the layout and approvals. Technical space, aisles, exits, seating and venue requirements may reduce the actual number.
Method and safety
Structure, audience flow and services are checked together.
Tholus Venue is configured against the real site before capacity and public opening are confirmed.
- Advance check of floor, height, access, power, ventilation and venue conditions.
- Inspection of the geodesic frame, fixings, enclosure and negative-pressure system for the installed configuration.
- Approximately 1 m² of technical space, with clear aisles and exits sized in the approved design.
- Projection and audio commissioning, operating training and final capacity subject to the applicable approvals.
Professional dome
A fulldome theatre is an integrated system.
Geodesic structure, projection surface and equipment are calibrated together.
- An aluminium geodesic frame: its geometry does not rely on a generic inflatable shell.
- A negative-pressure screen designed for a regular projection geometry and multi-projection.
- TholusOS calibrates warping, blending, colour and brightness on the installed dome.
- Audio, server, software, content, games, training, operating layout and a 2-year European warranty are included.
Standard-system performance
Effective resolution is what reaches the dome, not the theoretical sum of projector pixels. Final values are checked after installation and calibration.
| Diameter | System | Effective dome resolution | Resolution per projector | Assembly and recalibration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 m | 1 projector with mirror | approximately Full HD | 1920 × 1200 | approximately 30 min |
| 6 m | 3 projectors | approximately 2K | 1920 × 1200 | approximately 1 hour |
| 8 m | 3 projectors | approximately 2K | 1920 × 1200 | approximately 1 hour |
| 9 m | 3 projectors | approximately 2K | 1920 × 1200 | approximately 1 hour |
| 10 m | 5 projectors | approximately 4K | 1920 × 1200 | approximately 1 hour |
| 12 m | 5 projectors | approximately 4K | 1920 × 1200 | approximately 1 hour |
Standard projectors
Single-chip DLP, 7,500 lumens, 1920 × 1200 and 1500:1 contrast per projector.
Usable brightness
Optics, warping, blending and calibration reduce nominal brightness. Usable dome brightness is measured after calibration.
Blending and resolution
Overlap zones use part of the pixels and light to merge images, so effective resolution is lower than the mathematical sum of the projectors.
Uniformity with TholusOS
TholusOS corrects geometry, colour and brightness to equalise the dome. Output can vary between points.
Calibration
Guided calibration takes approximately 30 minutes. The single-projector setup takes approximately 30 minutes to assemble and recalibrate; multi-projection takes approximately 1 hour.
Negative-pressure system
The standard pump draws 1.1 kW. Declared sound level is 50–56 dB in normal operation and 65–70 dB at maximum output; perceived noise depends on placement and acoustic treatment.
Included in every package
The configuration includes the tools required to start activities.
- Audio system
- Mirror projection on the single-projector version; calibrated multi-projection on the other diameters
- Base content package
- Stellarium and WorldWide Telescope
- 2 immersive games
- Operational training
- Tholus server
- TholusOS Pro for 1 year
- 2-year European warranty
Operational continuity
SLA, spares and maintenance to protect the programme.
Installation closes only when the system, operators and documentation are ready. After commissioning, the SLA governs diagnosis, recovery and maintenance.
Warranty
2-year European warranty on the supplied structure and components, under the contract terms and applicable law.
SLA response times
P1, system stopped or show impossible: acknowledged within 1 business day. P2, degraded service: within 2 days. P3, non-blocking requests: within 3 days.
Replacement
A covered critical spare is dispatched within 3 business days when in stock. Otherwise, we provide a dated recovery plan within 2 days. Transit time depends on the destination.
Spare parts
The original component or a compatible replacement remains available for at least 10 years after delivery. Critical spares are identified in the technical documentation.
Remote assistance
Included during the warranty for diagnostics, configuration, TholusOS and calibration support, with access agreed with the customer.
On-site service
Available across Europe on request. After diagnosis, we provide a plan and quotation within 3 business days, targeting an intervention within 10 business days, subject to site access and travel.
Maintenance programme
Annual preventive programme covering structure, ventilation, projection, audio, server, safety and calibration, plus an additional check after relocation or work on optical components.
Venue institutional supply
The supply includes commissioning, verified performance and documentation.
- Installation, calibration, testing and commissioning at the agreed venue.
- Audio system sized for the diameter, audience and intended use.
- Operator training and handover of the verified configuration.
- Starter content package, Stellarium, WorldWide Telescope and 2 games.
- 2-year European warranty and support governed by the published SLA.
- Complete standby negative-pressure pump delivered and identified as a critical spare.
- Manuals, diagrams, calibration record, maintenance plan and spare-parts list.
- Conformity dossier prepared for the applicable rules and destination-country requirements.
From space to opening day
Four steps. One partner.
Structure, projection and audience flow are defined around the real venue.
- 01
Survey
We check dimensions, height, access and power.
Feasibility confirmed - 02
Configure
We define dome, projection, audio and internal layout.
Complete proposal - 03
Calibrate
We align geometry, focus, blending and control.
System verified - 04
Open
Installation, training and commissioning on site.
Venue operational
The configuration is confirmed against the real space.
Projection systems
The right projection at every scale.
The 5-metre model can use a convex mirror or fisheye. From 6 to 9 metres we use three projectors; on 10 and 12 metres, five.
Where it works
Culture, education, live experiences.
Museums
A distinctive, modular and updatable immersive theatre.
Science centres
Astronomy, science and educational content across the entire dome.
Events and venues
A fulldome environment for festivals, brand experiences and special programmes.
Before you choose
The useful questions.
Is Tholus Venue an inflatable dome?
No. The load-bearing structure is geodesic and made from aluminium. Only the inner membrane is kept under slight negative pressure to create a regular projection surface.
Does ventilation remain on?
Yes. A dedicated system maintains slight negative pressure between the membranes during operation.
What happens during a power failure?
Without backup power, the pump stops, negative pressure dissipates and the inner membrane lowers gradually over approximately 6–8 minutes. After restart, a fully relaxed screen returns to shape in approximately 3–5 minutes with standard sealing, or 5–7 minutes in windy outdoor conditions or with less favourable sealing. The system is checked before reopening.
What maintenance does the negative-pressure system require?
The programme includes a weekly operating check of noise, vibration, pressure, duct sealing and supports; filter cleaning and fastening checks every 3 months; and impeller cleaning, bearing and terminal checks, plus sensor and inverter calibration every 12 months. In harsh outdoor environments, the latter two indicative intervals shorten to 2 and 6 months. The final schedule is supplied with the configuration.
How many people can it hold?
It depends on diameter and layout. The table separates children seated on the floor, seated adults, a fulldome audience with chairs and standing events. Final capacity remains subject to technical space, aisles, exits and venue approvals.
What does the price include?
Dome, fulldome screen, specified projection, audio, base content package, Stellarium, WorldWide Telescope, two games, training, Tholus server, one year of TholusOS Pro and a two-year European warranty. Transport, on-site installation, seating and bespoke content are defined in the proposal. Any building permits or other approvals that may be required, masonry work and bases other than the standard PVC flooring we supply are not included in the price.
Is it only for astronomy?
No. It can host fulldome films, science, immersive art, shows, presentations and educational games. We can also provide content and interactive formats.
Can it be installed outdoors?
Yes, with site-sized concrete anchors or counterweight ballast and even tension across all points. Monitoring increases from Beaufort 5 (8–10.7 m/s); operation up to Beaufort 6 (10.8–13.8 m/s) depends on the approved configuration; from Beaufort 7 (13.9 m/s), use stops and the membrane is secured. The project confirms the limits for the venue.
Fulldome in your space
Let’s build the theatre around the project.
Send us the dimensions, location and expected audience. We will recommend diameter, projection and services.