The project for a zeppelin port sprang from the designer's fascination with big structures. Besides the gigantic hangar the scheme comprises an airfield for zeppelins, an office building, a store, a control unit and an information centre for visitors.

An architectural issue to start with, the design for the hangar was then subjected to structural calculations. The result arguably is an intriguing combination of visually basic form and complex construction. Its gently arcing form relates it to the streamline of the zeppelin. The enormous dimensions involved rule out all existing solutions for the dock's construction. The nodes of the vaulted network structure and the means of attaching the semi-transparent skin were specially developed for this scheme.

The design of the visitors' centre is geared to the latterday zeppelin, as befits this ambience of romance and technique.

Place of education: TU Delft
Tutors: Jan Brouwer, Arie Krijgsman, Jaap de Jong & Frits Seijffert
Specialization: architecture