BEIJING: Who says construction can’t be clean or stylish? A giant inflatable dome has been erected over a construction site in eastern China, in what may be the country’s puffiest solution yet to keeping dust and noise pollution down.
Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, shared in a Facebook post on July 2 that Jinan in eastern China has introduced a 50m-high inflatable dome covering 20,000 sq m, which is reportedly the largest of its kind worldwide.
An accompanying video on the post shows the large balloon-like structure enclosing the construction site.
Mao said the dome aims to reduce noise and pollution, helping to protect nearby communities and the environment.
According to Times Now News – an English-language news outlet based in India – which reported on the project on July 3, the dome is the first of its kind in China and uses negative pressure and air filtration systems to prevent dust from escaping into nearby areas.
The Bridge Chronicle, a digital news platform, also reported on July 3 that the dome features advanced ventilation systems to ensure good air quality inside it, while transparent panels let in natural sunlight, cutting down on the need for artificial lighting during the day.
The platform added that the dome’s design allows for quick assembly and dismantling, making it a flexible solution for various construction projects.
A viral TikTok video posted by British broadcaster ITV News on July 4 shows the dome being inflated, gradually taking on its tent-like shape as the sun rises and sets in the background.
The video shows the dome nestled among several buildings, suggesting the site is in a developed urban zone. The time-lapse clip has since attracted more than 2.6 million views.
Viewers of the TikTok video left some colourful and curious reactions.
Karmic Kayda joked: “This is really dangerous because if it gets too big it becomes really soft and a giant might see it and come to take a nap.”
TikTok user Amely praised the innovation as “such a clever way to protect both the environment and the people living nearby”.
Meanwhile, a user by the name of ThingsRickAstlyWontDo was curious about the scale of the project, asking: “How does one even manufacture a single sheet that large?” - The Straits Times/ANN
