Ceiling dome & cove
Domes, coves, oculi and coffers for high interiors.
- Shanghai Xionglan Culture Communication Co., Ltd. (brand: Xionglan Art)
- Shanghai-based workshop · delivery in 67 Chinese cities
- 10 capability groups / 102 individual techniques · design, fabrication and installation in-house
- Phone +86 156 0163 6249 · Mon–Sun 09:00–18:00 (CST)
Domes and coves are the elements that give a tall room its centre. We produce them in GRG or gypsum depending on span and weight, and co-ordinate opening, light source and decorative finish as one assembly.
Commissioned work in ceiling dome & cove normally runs from 6 to 30 m², with 3–8 working days in production from approved drawings. The reference range for this technique is CNY 500–1600 per m², quoted itemised. It sits within our Gypsum Relief & Decorative Plaster capability, alongside 7 related techniques, and the 4-point deliverable below is what a commission includes as standard.
When ceiling dome & cove is the right answer - and when it is not
Ceiling centres and domes are the classic way to give a room a centre of gravity, and they are chosen where the interior has the height and the formality to carry one. They suit period restorations, formal reception rooms, hotel and civic interiors with high ceilings. They are a mistake in a low room, where a ceiling centre crowds rather than crowns, and they depend entirely on the lighting being right.
How the work is actually carried out
The scale is set from the ceiling height, the room's plan proportions and the position of the principal light, because a centre that looks correct in a small room is lost in a large one. Where an original exists we take a cast; where it does not, the profile is chosen from the period of the building. The fitting is positioned so the centre actually circles the light or the chandelier rose. Casting is reinforced where the span demands it, and the fixing is mechanically anchored, never adhesive alone.
Typical applications
Typical specifications
| Typical size | Diameter 1.5-15 m |
|---|---|
| Lead time | 6-12 weeks for a large dome |
| Structure | Independent support frame where the span requires it |
| Lighting | Cove and oculus lighting co-ordinated with MEP |
| Capability | Gypsum Relief & Decorative Plaster |
| Reference range | CNY 500–1600 per m² |
| Techniques in this capability | 8 |
| Coverage | Shanghai base, nationwide delivery, overseas projects on request |
Reference price bands for Ceiling dome & cove
Indicative only, based on the scope normally quoted for ceiling dome & cove. A firm price follows a site survey and an itemised quotation split into material, labour, finishing, packing and freight.
| Scope | Typical area | Reference total | Unit rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small area | 6–15 m² | CNY 3,000 – CNY 24,000 | approx. CNY 1600/m² |
| Standard area | 15–36 m² | CNY 7,500 – CNY 57,600 | approx. CNY 1050/m² |
| Large area | 36 m² and above | CNY 18,000+ | approx. CNY 500/m² |
Build tiers for ceiling dome & cove
Ceiling dome & cove is not one product at one size: the table below is the same scope ladder we quote on, so you can see where your project sits before asking for a price.
| Build tier | Typical area | Production days | What changes at this tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | Up to 30 m², one substrate and one access setup, 3–8 days in the workshop. |
| Tier 2 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 3 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 4 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 5 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 6 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6 m² and above, multiple substrate types and phased access, 3–8 days with a join and numbering plan. |
What we deliver
- Section drawings and 1:1 detail confirmation before mould-making
- Moulds, casting, curing and finishing in our own workshop
- Cornices, columns, arches, wall panelling, ceiling domes and coves
- Gilding, ageing and painted finishes matched to your scheme
Faults we see most often in ceiling dome & cove
Each of these is a field failure rather than a workshop one, and each is cheaper to prevent at enquiry stage than to correct after installation.
- Choosing the centre by eye from a catalogue instead of setting the scale from the ceiling height and plan.
- Fixing an overhead casting with adhesive only - it is a weight-bearing element, not a decoration on a wall.
- Positioning the centre without reference to the light fitting, so the ornament and the fixture fight each other.
What to settle before an overseas project starts
| Ceiling height and plan | Send both, plus the position of the light or the existing rose. Scale and position both follow from them. |
|---|---|
| What it must carry | Tell us if a chandelier or heavy fixture hangs from the same point, which changes the structural requirement significantly. |
| Period and profile | The building's period narrows the correct profile quickly. Send photographs of any surviving original or neighbouring work. |
Working with us from overseas
Enquiry to installation, one point of contact. Export packing, shipping, commercial terms and quality control →
Design intent and what drives the cost
| Technique | Ceiling dome & cove |
|---|---|
| Positioning | Domes, coves, oculi and coffers for high interiors. |
| Floor area normally quoted | 6–30 m² per commission |
| Typical production window | 3–8 working days from approved drawings |
| Main cost drivers | Area and repetition; substrate preparation; detail and modelling time; surface finish; access and working hours |
| What we quote separately | Material, labour, finishing, packing, freight and site measures - each as its own line |
Representative work
Gypsum Relief & Decorative Plaster projects photographed on completion.
Gypsum Relief & Decorative Plaster — French-style plasterwork
Gypsum Relief & Decorative Plaster — project photograph
Gypsum Relief & Decorative Plaster — GRG sculpted ceiling
Gypsum Relief & Decorative Plaster — Ceiling dome & coveCommon questions
Who designs the structural support?
Can a dome be fitted retrospectively?
Is gypsum relief suitable for bathrooms or exteriors?
Discuss ceiling dome & cove
Send photographs, drawings or a 3D file with approximate dimensions. You will get a technique recommendation, a reference price band and a production schedule.