The Zaojing - reversible wooden dome
Paper in the International Journal of the Construction History Society, 35(1), pages 23–49
How to build a dome with nothing but small pieces of wood?
The answer is Chinese, and is centuries-old: the Zaojing.
The Zaojing is a vernacular feature of opera stages in rural China. Made of small, interlocked timber elements, the spherical dome is known for its excellent acoustic properties, fine decorations, ... and its unique ability for being disassembled, repaired, and reassembled !
We recently conducted an in-depth field survey and historical study on zaojings, probably a first in the English-speaking world. Results are now published in the International Journal of the Construction History Society, 35(1), pages 23–49: https://zenodo.org/record/3941502