Last June, the biggest and most technological planetarium in Europe opened in the Orthodox metropolis of Episkopi, Cyprus. The building offers a unique opportunity to explore the celestial vault, while combining education and entertainment.
This incredible construction is centred on an 18-meter dome that acts as its fulcrum, and thanks to its powerful digital system, is able to reach very high resolutions. Spatial audio technology creates an immersive soundscape to enhance the sensory experience.
The Observatory consists of a 4-meter robotic dome and is equipped with a 14″/356 mm diameter telescope for viewing the night sky, and a helioscope to observe the Sun and spectacular solar eruptions during the day.
An outdoor amphitheatre, a conference room for events, presentations and meetings, a restaurant and a gift shop are located adjacent to the Observatory.
From a customer’s specific idea of a floor that recalled the starry sky, Newfloor proposed the Silestone by Cosentino covering, Nero Stellar colour with a polished finish. More than 600 sqm of raised floor panels type G30HAQ were produced with this covering: calcium sulphate support with a thickness of 30 mm and dimensions 60x60 cm, high density, bottom side in aluminium foil and reconstituted stone applied on top.
200 sqm of panels type G30HAK were then produced with ceramic finish from Casalgrande Padana, Architecture, colour White and Caesar, Inner, colour Cliff.
In the Observatory area, 350 sqm of G30H00 calcium sulphate core panels with primer on the top and bottom were supplied and installed to create steps, subsequently covered with loose-lay flooring.
The project involved the supply of 1.200 sqm of substructure type SNFL, with a nominal height 185 mm and light stringers, and STFM, with a height of 650 mm and medium stringers.
