Hangar One, at NASAs Moffett Field, a Silicon Valley Landmark and arguably one of Americas great architectural treasures is currently under threat of demolition.<p /><p />Details of what you can do to help save it are linked to here.
giant airship hangars
One of Silicon Valley’s most famous landmarks, and possibly its only truly monumental one is under threat of demolition. The giant airship Hangar One at NASA’s Moffett Field, is one of America’s architectural treasures.
Airship hangars were collectively the largest spaces ever built, larger than cathedrals and just as awe inspiring. Vote for your favorite.
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This giant hangar was built originally to house giant airship freight transporters. The original conception was big enough to house the Eiffel tower on its side, and it is the second largest internal space in the world. It now houses a giant tropical theme park.
Although the airship hangars in Cardington, England are less interesting architecturally than Hangar One at Moffett Field, they are at risk and are of historical significance.<p /><p />I am not sure if this is still the case, but the enormous size of these hangars was such that entire mockup buildings could be burnt inside for research into the effects of fire, without damaging the roof structure.
The enormous hangar at the Marine Corps station in Tustin in southern California is exemplified by the fact that this shot shows it containing 6 airships.
Because airships are inherently sensitive to sidewinds at launch, hangars were often build so they could be rotated in line with the wind. One approach to this was to float them.
Perhaps the most famous hangars of all. Enormous parabolic concrete arches created by Eugene Freyssinet, near Paris, in the 20s. A modernist cathedral.
Saved from demolition and restored to its former glory, the Farnborough portable airship hangar, a beautiful latticework structure.
Constructed for Amundsens attempt to fly over the North Pole, having been the first person to reach the South Pole.n this hangar is basically a wind break, a roof being less impotant than walls, to house an airship and have it not blow away.<p /><p />Details of this extraordinary attempt are after the link.
Weeksville in North Carolina was home to two giant airship hangars. One was rather like Moffett Field, with half dome ends. The other, shown here had a giant rectangular sliding door opening.
A spectacular shot showing passengers boarding a Zeppelin in Frankfurt in the 30s. This gives some idea of the scale of the interior.
A lightweight temporary hangar that concertinas at the front , rather like the hood on a stroller.
Built in Rochefort on the Western Coast of France, this hangar was used to house airships for maritime surveillance during the First World War. The site linked to has some excellent pictures of other French airship hangars.
