DIY library ceiling dome plaster cast (3 min 25 secs)

A library needs a domed ceiling as well as shelves, secret door, and rolling ladder. This shows how we made a plaster ceiling dome (painted and lit with concealed LED). The dome is cast in plaster from a sand mould on the floor below using a hand-drawn scaled parabolic template. We remove from the mould, lift it and fix it in place with metal straps. Then paint a sky scene with wedge tail eagles after inserting a dimmable LED strip light concealed around the edge. Although we made the process up as we went, each step required some thought and preparation. Completion was delayed by a 4 month wait for a flexible housing for the LED strip lighting to arrive from China as well as spending months assembling 150m of library shelves from 25mm ply. The library dome was a Covid-19 lock-down project from November 2019 - November 2020 with the sliding ladder and rail not being completed until 2023. Thanks to Jack and Susan Pockley, expert plaster advice from Tony Biagone, electrics, Josh Hazendonk and permission to use the background music 'Moonlight Reprise' by Anton - concept and video Simon Pockley. Happy to talk back if you have questions.

Construction of shelves, secret door and rolling ladder are ahown here:    • Making a secret door in library shelves, r...