PTFE Membrane Forest Dome for The Lesna Open-air Theatre in Poland

During its centennial renovation in 2009, the Lesna Open-Air Theatre faced the dilemma of maintaining its open-air character while ensuring it could be used throughout the day. The solution was to install a dome made of highly translucent PTFE material，this material not only protected the venue from wind and rain but also allowed sunlight and the natural atmosphere of the forest to penetrate through, perfectly resolving this challenge.

PTFE membrane materials have resolved the challenges faced by outdoor theaters. This highly transparent membrane has a light transmittance of over 90%; on sunny days, it allows sunlight to penetrate, while its dense dome structure prevents wind and rain from affecting the performance. As a result, audiences can see the shadows of trees above them without being hit by raindrops, completely changing the traditional reliance on weather conditions for outdoor performances.

The Forest Theatre is constructed using a “ structured light combined with soft membrane materials.” Silver steel columns support a membrane roof that resembles white sails, seamlessly integrating industrial precision into the natural environment. As viewers stand within this space, the shadows of trees and the play of light passing through the membrane blur the lines between nature and man-made elements.

This theater has long transcended the mere function of a building. It utilizes the lightness of modern materials to embrace the weight of a century of history, allowing nature and man-made elements, as well as memories and the future, to coexist in harmony here. When the lights come on and songs penetrate the thin membrane beneath the forest dome, what emerges is a stage that “never closes”: one that retains the echoes of the past while embracing new beginnings.