Geodesic & Airform Dome Homes — www.shedandshelter.com

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PREFABRICATED & OWNER BUILT DOME HOMES

This page is a collection of "Rigid Class" dome building kits and companies that sell them. Plus information for the owner/builder of a dome home. "Rigid Class" means domes with hard material exterior covering or skin or sheathing like plastic, fiberglass, cardboard, plywood, sheet metal, polyurethane foam, stucco, etc.

Warning: All pictures and information reflect my own personal preferences, prejudices and values. Meaning, some of the companies or businesses listed here build home models much more beautiful than what i have shown here.

WORLDWIDE TELESCOPE PLANETARIUM Even though this page is about building a small dome structure for the use of a telescope, i am sure a clever person could modify this plan and make a very cool little cabin out of it.

This document describes how to build a planetarium for use with WorldWide Telescope. The planetarium provides schools and other groups with a great way to visualize the panoramic view of the universe provided by WorldWide Telescope. The planetarium described here is just under 12.5 feet in diameter, and just over 9 feet tall. So the first step is finding a suitable location for it! The materials used are not suitable for an outside location, so the location should be inside, level and dry. Alternative measurements are given for a smaller (9 feet diameter) and larger (16 feet diameter) planetarium, though all the images in this document are for the 12.5 feet model. Measurements are given in inches as this is the most used unit for packing materials and particleboard, which are the main construction materials used - 48 inch wide corrugated cardboard, and 48 inch wide particleboard paneling are both easy to come by. The Dome Specification Utility can be used if metric measurements are preferred. One of the most interesting features of the dome is that it is tilted at an angle of 20 degrees. This makes construction a little more complex, but the design gives a much better experience. The idea is that students will feel they are traveling in a space ship towards a planet such as Saturn, which would not be the case if the view was vertical. The tilt also gives room for a reasonable pair of doors, and room for the projector and mirror, without excessive height. The cost to this though is that constructing the dome support is as involved as constructing the dome (a geodesic half-dome to be precise) itself. Costs for materials vary, however a reasonable budget for the dome and support components is US $700.00 at 2009 prices.

Microsoft Corporation • One Microsoft Way • Redmond WA 98052-6399 • Fax: (425) 936-7329 Please include the recipient's first and last name.

DOME LIVING MAGAZINE This might be a good resource for those of you interested in researching your dome structure project. It appears to me that this publication is not being updated, but there is still some useful information available.

As some of you might have noticed, this site is slowly being revamped and updated. Why? With the advent of higher energy prices, higher building material prices, and higher prices in general, the geodesic home using a third less material is garnering more interest then ever. This is the only magazine that is dedicated to the Geodesic home and I hope it fulfills the needs of all those who are interested. Here are the current plans of what I intend to have this magazine do. I will have links and articles to help make the most of your energy consumption, whether you live in a dome or remodeling a hundred year old farmhouse. There is new technology coming from Europe where the cost of fuel is still twice the cost of ours and there is new technology being developed as we speak, all in an effort to allow us to live more comfortably using less energy. Speaking of Energy, there will be a section that will include solar and wind energy. I am very excited about the new technology of both. Being in the Pacific Northwest, where I live within spitting distance of the only rain forest in the Continental United States, the new vertical wind turbines are of real interest to me. As they spin, they present a solid wall which makes the birds stay away from them and not get hit by the spinning blades as the horizontal turbines do. We will cover these. Also in the future, we hope to have a bulletin board up and running, much like Yahoo groups. But for now I invite you to join the sister group of this website called Dome Living, there is a link to this group. If you don't want to join because of Yahoo, just know it is also on RSS. Again, thank you for your time and continued interest in this website and I hope you are excited and will be pleased as we evolve.

Email: jchilla@domelivingmagazine.com
EASY DOMES You've seen one dome home - you've seen 'em all. That's why i put the picture of the unfinished "Easy Dome" on the right. This dome package produces a nice looking dome in the easiest possible way.

"The Easy Domes concept sets up for advantages in a very quick and easy assembling and raising of the building and its finish. On a concrete or timber basic it takes one day to raise and seal the construction which is made of quality plywood and 3x4" to 3x6" timber in pinewood. All sections are pre-made and ready to assemble with bolts and nuts and the sealing of the edges with asphalt paper or rubber. The climate shelter and finish out - and inside are also precut plates / sections ready for mounting. Floor, partition walls and windows and doors are offered as the house by this becomes ready for kitchen, bathroom, furniture, lamps and other installations done by the dome owner. The Easy Domes products are certified and of high quality and precision made materials fulfilling international building rules and standards. Transport is easy in container and no crane is needed to erect buildings until the 50 sq.ft. domes."

BIOHOME You're going to like this one. I hope this project is still being used and developed. This is not as fancy as it appears to be. Frame members are made from 3/4in or 1in Electrical Metal Tubing (EMT). And then i think foam is applied to the framework someway, somehow. This project might possibly be located in or near Zephyr Cove, Nevada.

"BioHOME is the prototype of closed-system housing and sustainable living, built with everyman in mind. It is an ongoing developing project in kit form for the homeowner builder, giving you affordability, ease of construction, free standing power systems and more.

The goal at Project BioHOME is to provide a unique and unconventional design you easily can construct yourself, freeing you up from central feeds - power and water - NO BILLS. In fact, You will find select components of the BioHOME kit are already available for sale on this website. We CAN, as a global community, make the shift towards living in harmony with our planet AND still continue to grow, discover, and flourish with today's technologies. Using Buckminster Fuller's original design for a geodesic dome, you can construct without any prior knowledge of building trades. Our polyurethane BioHOME Foam will not sag, shrink, and it resists molds and bacteria. You, as the homeowner-builder, are the contractor. Closed-system housing will free multitudes of resources, the most important of all is ones personal time. With the ever-rising costs of failing central feeds demanding our dependence, we at Project BioHOME intend to return you to that freedom that we lost generations ago. Imagine a world where we as humans, and our homes, contribute to being part of the solution."

ALBATA GEODESICS This company based in Jemison, Alabama i like from what i see on their website. I like companies that give you small construction options for the person who just wants a small place to live or work. These dome kits could be used for home office or studio space in the back yard. These are all prefab wooden dome kits. They go as small as 190 sq.ft.. "The Albata Geodesic dome is ideal for the experienced "do-it-yourselfer". Only basic carpentry skills are required to assemble the basic kit. Everything is precision cut and color coded for ease of assembly, and comes with complete blueprints and instructions. Only regular carpentry tools are needed, (we furnish a list of what you will need) and our complete instructions make it a very rewarding and enjoyable experience. We do all the hard stuff, so you reap the benefits. Once the kit is assembled, everything else is standard construction."

LINCOLN GEODESIC DOME This dome appears to have been sheathed with some sort of translucent plastic material. But it is a very nice looking structure. I wished they had mentioned about the neat hub connectors used and what kind of sheathing they used to finish the outside.

"The Geodesic Dome was built by Lincoln's 2006/2007 Blue 8 team the spring of 2007. Students applied physical science and engineering technology concepts to construct the 850 square foot geodesic dome. The dome's exterior structure was completed the fall of 2007 by Mr. Fournier and Mrs. Driscoll with the help of student, teacher, and community volunteers over the summer and afterschool in the fall."

Portland Public Schools • 196 Allen Avenue • Portland, Maine 04103 • Ph: (207) 874-8100

GEODESIC DOMES & HOMES This company is based in Texas. "Since 1957 Geodesic Domes and Homes has been the industry leader - the first dome company to obtain an FHA Structure Engineering Bulletin, the first to receive FHA, FNMA, VA, etc., approval, the only dome company to have triple-glazed skylights as standard, the only dome company to use only 2x6 #1 Southern Pine, and wind-load certification in excess of 200 MPH."

EMERGENCY SHELTER CARDBOARD DOME An illustrated step by step instruction on building your own cardboard dome.

Cheap Shelter! To make this emergency shelter dome, you are going to make two patterns, then reproduce them 5 times. They are...

Cardboard is free, but I have not found a way to waterproof it sufficiently (But, It Burns!). These shelter domes were conceived to help the homeless and refugees. I have tried a variety of methods for waterproofing and fire retardation, without great success. The upside is, you can decorate them any way you want! First you need to know how to draw a proper triangle, of course, if you have had drafting 101- you can skip this part...

Ozark Dome • PO Box 61 • Licking, Missouri 65542 • (573) 729-6725 • Email: george@pinenut.com

MONOLITHIC DOME INSTITUTE This site is extremely good if you are interested in the airform method of dome building. Chuck full of useful information. "Simply defined, the Monolithic Dome is a super-insulated, steel-reinforced concrete structure that can be designed for virtually any use: office or business complex; school; church, synagogue or temple; gymnasium or sports arena; theater or amphitheater; airplane hangar; factory; bulk storage facility; house or apartment complex; military installation, etc. Advantages of a Monolithic Dome fall into three general categories: Economy, Security, Aesthetics and Comfort. Economy in Construction - Generally, the construction cost of a Monolithic Dome is less than that of a conventional building of the same size with similar fittings and fixtures. A streamlined construction process and the use of only four major ingredients contribute significantly to the dome's economy. Those principal ingredients or materials are an Airform, polyurethane foam, rebar and concrete. An Airform is an inflatable fabric structure, made of PVC coated nylon or polyester fabrics. When inflated, the Airform determines the shape and size of the finished building, and it remains on the structure as its roof membrane. In the construction of a Monolithic Dome, a thickness of polyurethane foam is sprayed on the inside of an inflated Airform. Polyurethane foam is a superior insulator. When sprayed in place, it expands to thirty times its original size, sets in seconds and fills every nook and cranny, completely sealing a structure. This foam is virtually waterproof, forms its own vapor barrier and adds structural strength. Rebar is a steel rod with ridges that is used to strengthen concrete. In Monolithic Dome construction, rebar hangers that will hold the rebar are placed into the foam, following a pattern predetermined by the dome's size and shape. As in the construction of bridges, tunnels and roads, rebar reinforces the dome's concrete. Concrete used in the building of a Monolithic Dome is called "Shotcrete". It's a special mix of concrete that is spray-applied to a specific thickness, depending on the dome's size. Shotcrete covers the foam and embeds the rebar on the inside of the dome. The construction of a Monolithic Dome is not restricted by either time or most weather conditions, since majority of the work takes place inside the inflated Airform. Generally, construction can continue around-the-clock in rain or snow, eliminating costly work stoppages."

DOMES NORTHWEST This business seems to be connected somehow to the other dome business on this page named: Natural Spaces Domes. Maybe a franchise situation, but i will include them here for now.

"For over 20 years, we've been making and selling geodesic dome homes, the ones that Bucky Fuller invented, as pre-cut shell kit homes and geodesic dome framing kits. We also offer a geodesic dome connector hardware kit for the DIYer. Our modern architectural dome house provides an extraordinarily energy efficient home with a comfortable and very attractive interior design. Some geodesic dome uses are here. Our domes have been engineered to withstand wind and snow loads anywhere from Greenland to Southern California and Alaska to Florida. You'll be happy to know that we have standard geodesic floor plans available FREE. If you prefer a more exclusive floor plan design for your site or your style of living, our design department will work with you to create the geodesic dome home of your dreams! Our domes can be contractor built, DIY or the best combination that can save you the most money. Our Super-Wal Connector system makes our domes builder friendly and you can be assured we will be working with you through all stages from planning to move-in. We're located in eastern Washington State and serve mostly the northwestern states. Look us over and ask questions... we're here to help you with your planning and building. We offer: Complete dome shell kits using the "Super-Wal system". Advanced design with ventilated wall/roof system. Support and assistance throughout dome construction. Building system specifically adapted to the 5 different climatic regions of the United States."

A DOME HOME NAMED "BUMP" This is a page taken from this ladies website which details the building of her small dome in the forest using commonly available materials found at any lumber yard or building supply. She built this dome on rented land in Central California i think near the coast.

THE MILLER DOME This is a nicely documented owner built airform type dome home. You will enjoy all the pictures showing the steps to completion of their dome home project. If you are interested in building your own airform dome home, then please take a look at this neat home-made site. And even if you do not want to build your own - take a look anyway - it is interesting.

STYROFOAM DOME HOMES These are beautiful pictures taken of styrofoam dome homes in Japan. This introduces an innovative way of home building which should be used more in the USA. "These dome houses are made of special Expanded Polystyrene (EPS). The EPS used by Japanese dome builders (who must comply with the world's strictest building material and construction codes) contains an anti-oxidant to resist aging and emits NO formaldehyde. As to fire concerns, EPS will melt before it burns. As mentioned, the application of GigaCrete Inc's fire-rated, LEED ("green") certified exterior coating 'StuccoMax' and interior coating 'PlasterMax' renders the EPS structure entirely fireproof. Both coatings can attain compressive strengths well in excess of 10,000 pounds per square inch and will neither shrink nor crack. StuccoMax and PlasterMax are light immensely strong coatings that contain no Portland cement or any toxic substances. Their surfaces can be painted or, better yet, the pigment can be added to the mix before application. Whereas Portland-based stucco requires two or three coats, both StuccoMax and PlasterMax are one-coat products, either troweled or sprayed on. They stick to virtually anything including drywall."

ENERGY STRUCTURES INC Presenting a little different approach to building than the rest. Featuring "Super Insulated Domes".

"Energy Structures,Inc. designs,manufactures and markets Geodesic Dome kits for geodesic dome homes, garages, cabins, churches and commercial structures. Energy Structures, Inc. was the first dome company to design and manufacture the double-wall strut, known as the Energy-Strut ® for super-insulated dome housing. Energy Structures, Inc. has been a leader in the low-cost energy efficient housing market since 1980."

Energy Structures, Inc. • 893 Wilson Ave. • St. Paul, MN 55106
Toll Free: (800) 334-8144 • Ph: (651) 772-3559
Fax: (651)772-1207 • Email: jfrawley@pro-ns.net or J.Frawley@comcast.net

GHOSTWOOD This is another example of an owner built airform dome. As you probably remember "airform" is a building method in which an inflatable bladder is filled with air using a high volume air pump and shotcrete is applied to the surface and allowed to dry. When the shotcrete drys you deflate the air bladder which leaves you with a free standing shell which needs to be finished off.

"Ghostwood was designed to:
1. Be comfortable.
2. Require little maintenance
3. Be reasonably affordable and
4. Have a small environmental impact.

We bought the land in March 1995, started construction in May 1996, completed the building envelope in October 1996, and moved in October 2001. I did all the design work and subcontracted the initial excavation, the foam insulation, the concrete flatwork, and the shotcrete. Kaite and I did everything else, mostly on weekends. There are plenty of details left to work on, but the house is comfortable and the systems work well. Building Ghostwood was hard - harder than I thought it would be. I under-estimated the time and cost of nearly everything. But designing and building it has been the most challenging and rewarding thing I have ever done. I'm very glad I did it."

INTERNATIONAL DOME HOUSE This company is based in Japan and features dome houses built using polystyrene. Good pictures of dome communities. "The building material for the Dome House is expanded polystyrene, "the fourth-generation building material" after wood, iron, and concrete. Having cleared the world's strictest building codes in Japan, the Dome House is approved by the Japanese Ministry of Land and Transport. The special expanded polystyrene challenges the prevailing wisdom. The Dome House is for Health Recuperation: Wrapping up the entire Dome House seamlessly with an antioxidant solution, the Dome House helps recuperate your health and enhance clean global environment. What are the effects of antioxidant solution? The antioxidant solution innovated biotechnologically solves asthma, rhinitis and other symptoms of "sick-house syndrome" and "chemical sensitivity syndrome", and catalyzes to suppress active oxygen which causes sickness or aging. As a result, the Dome House restores your health strength and you will less likely to fall ill. The Dome House has many other remarkable characteristics such as preserving food freshness, deodorizing and anti-pest (or preventing pests). The Dome House is certainly a feasible solution for environmental clean-up, even globally."

DOMEBOOK This is a website promoting a book about "How to Construct Cardboard Geodesic Play-Domes". The principles applied here are probably applicable to a much larger geodesic dome version. It is a nice website and has links to a blog which also has some good information, plus links to photo albums, the book for sale here, domes & background.

"We have been building cardboard and transparent plastic domes with our students for a number of years. It is the ultimate in hands-on geometry. We recently created a web site to show off their efforts and to advertise a book we wrote that codifies how we build the domes. The site highlights student-made domes and shows some of their creations. The students start by constructing paper models (viewers can download models of two different kinds of domes from the "Domes" page on the site), then construct full-size domes using cardboard or wooden dowels and plastic sheeting. Their online downloadable book "Domebook" - How to Construct Cardboard Geodesic Play-Domes is available for $19.95 USD. All the information you will need to construct nine different cardboard geodesic play-domes is contained in the 88 pages."

SPHERICAL GEODESIC STRUCTURES Lots of good information on this site about dome building in general. But they are advocates of steel and foam as frame material vs wood framing. They sell prefab dome kits. This site is very good with educational material or ideas. The picture i put up for them here does not do them justice. I like simple small structures and they can build much larger and more beautiful dome homes. They present some unique material.

"Over the past 30 years Spherical Geodesic Structures has been building spherical light gauge steel geodesic structures and spent the time to change the design and engineering of the geodesic dome structures to more user friendly construction methods. Light gauge steel has always been the superior building product over wood. With the continual rise in wood prices and poorer quality the use of light gauge steel has become feasible for use in the residential housing market. Spherical Geodesic Structures dome kits are designed and engineered using light gauge steel and rigid foam insulation. Superior products and design, is the Spherical Geodesic Structures standard". Check out their Spherical Fiberglas Building section, pretty neat.

Spherical Geodesic Structures • (704) 701-5331 • info@sphericalfiberglassdesigns .com

MONOLITHIC CABIN If you are interested in the Airform system of dome construction then this incredible site is for you. Based in Italy, Texas this outfit is really putting together some very useful ideas for human habitation. You can visit their website and see how the rubber bladder is inflated to provide a form on which to coat some kind of cement mixture. You can even use their system to build small cabins like the one pictured on the right.

"The Monolithic Dome is a super-insulated, steel reinforced concrete structure used for homes, cabins, schools, gymnasiums, bulk storage facilities, churches, offices, and many other uses."

Monolithic • 177 Dome Park Place • Italy, TX 76651 • Ph: 972-483-7423 • Fax: 972-483-6662
Email: email@monolithic.com

SAFE HARBOR DOME PROJECT For those of you interested in using a modern "airform system" to build a dome home - this site is for you. This website is a good documentary on building an airform home using modern materials. It has been updated regularly. They offer a consultation service by calling: 772-486-4555. The airform system uses a large bladder made out of rubber or some other flexible material which is inflated with a large high powered air blower. The inflated form is then sprayed with shotcrete or some other similar stucco type material which is allowed to dry and furnish a base for completion of a dome home.

WORLDFLOWER GARDEN DOMES They sell their own patented construction connector system. The Garden Dome shown at the bottom of this page is one of their products. "We make the best low cost do-it-yourself geodesic dome frames". I like this site. They have tons of pictures and information on almost every aspect of dome building. I guess they sell connector kits and what you do is go to your local lumberyard and purchase wood strut material (like 2x4's or 2x2's) and cover the completed frame however you want. "Geodesic Domes are inspired by the late Design Scientist R. Buckminster Fuller. Our name represents the world flowering with Geodesic Domes, an unfolding of function, form and creativity. Inside these web pages you will find a catalog of products we sell, lots of photos, drawings and illustrations. We hope you find these pages an informative resource for building your own Geodesic Dome using our unique Patented construction connector system."

KIT DOMES "Home of Faze Change Produx. Creators of ten-sided Econ-O-Dome. Precision double compound miter-cut dome home building kits. Also ten-sided DecaHome round home building kits."

"Dome Home Kits for Building Domes and Round Homes since 1982. Sturdy and aerodynamic EconOdome kit built structures are Earthquake, Storm and Hurricane Safer Round Homes. Precision Cut Kit Round Homes have Ten Equal Sides. Ten-Equal-Sided Foundation and Floor is Easier to Build. New Dome Home Kit Design includes vertical framing at perimeter for Conventional Doors, Windows, & Skylights. Optional riser walls at perimeter may be constructed on-site. Interior has many 90 degree corners to fit beds, cabinets, showers, etc.. Durable cement composite exterior is fireproof and easy to seal. Extensions and hard to install shingles are not needed with this design. The exterior is covered and sealed while you stand on dome framework. Now, You Can Easily Build an Energy Efficient, Low Cost, Storm Safer Round Home With a Dome Home Kit + Detailed Plans and Instructions!"

DEPLOYABLE GEOSHELTERS This is a pretty neat deal. They have a pentahut, a cool pyramid model, a super dome. I think these units are made from extruded plastic. Their products can be used for camping or commercial use.

"Triangular Integrated Structures specializes in engineering and manufacturing, low-cost, highly deployable GeoShelters to help refugees and victims of natural and man-made disasters. The structures can remain as permanent shelters or can be returned to the box and be re-deployed, or stored. These inexpensive shelters are designed by highly qualified engineers to weather the elements and exceed United Nations & World Bank requirements. They protect the occupants from the extremes of environmental conditions and can be temporary or permanent. Our shelters are designed to be simple enough that anyone can assemble the structure within a couple hours with simple hand tools, that are included with each structure. The final packaged product arrives at the destination with all component parts and instructions in a compact, lightweight, shipping unit. We also have a variety of options, such as heating and cooking elements."

Deployable GeoShelters • 1645 White Pine Drive • Vienna, VA 22182 • Ph: (703) 319-2090
Fax: (703) 319-2091

GOOD KARMA DOMES "We offer a great dome; its erecting, its dome roofing (elastomeric and shingle), and the installation of ledger boards, extensions, cupolas, and windows. We also offer to pre-cut sheetrock or paneling on site. The engineers, architects, and conventional home builders that live in our domes are testimony to our methods and quality"!

CARDBOARD GEODESIC DOME Interesting site giving lots of instructions on building cardboard domes big enough for human habitation or temporary use such as at Burning Man. "A complete "How To" web site on building geodesic domes out of cardboard. We have made and used several of these at Burning Man. They were fantastic."

This site was designed in response to people asking us how we made our domes and who were interested in making their own. The design was borrowed from a 1973 edition of Popular Science and was improved upon to meet the rigors of the Black Rock Desert, Nevada. These domes have served as an effective shelter against wind, extreme heat and, once painted, rainfall. The largest of the three domes in the picture opposite measures approximately 12' 7" in diameter and is about 6' 3" high at its center. We recommend building the largest one. All the measurements throughout this web site relate to the largest size. They are fairly inexpensive to build as recycled cardboard is the main component and, if water-based paint is used, can be burned. The domes are strong enough to attach decorative pieces and lighting components to the inside. Assembly time, on site, is 3 to 4 hours for 3 people constructing one dome with the appropriate tools. Feel free to contact us with any questions or comments about dome construction or the outline of this web site. If you do end up building one or more of these domes for the Playa, please let us know where we can find you. If you've found this site helpful, please consider giving a donation to help defray the costs of keeping it up. Thank you.

Jonathan Smith • 920 E. Haley • Santa Barbara, CA 93103 • Email: ✉ jon@fetchaphrase.com

BUCKMINSTER FULLER INSTITUTE This is an interesting site and relevant to the subject here. Visit this site for some of the latest technology in alternative building materials and techniques.

"The Buckminster Fuller Institute is dedicated to accelerating the development and deployment of solutions which radically advance human well being and the health of our planet's ecosystems. We aim to deeply influence the ascendants of a new generation of design-science pioneers who are leading the creation of an abundant and restorative world economy that benefits all humanity. Our programs combine unique insight into global trends and local needs with a comprehensive approach to design. We encourage participants to conceive and apply transformation strategies based on a crucial synthesis of whole systems thinking, Nature's fundamental principles, and an ethically driven worldview. By facilitating convergence across the disciplines of art, science, design and technology, our work extends the profoundly relevant legacy of R. Buckminster Fuller. In this way, we strive to catalyze the collective intelligence required to fully address the unprecedented challenges before us."

The Buckminster Fuller Institute • 181 N11th St, Suite 402 • Brooklyn, NY 11211 • Ph: 718-290-9280
Email: contact@bfi.org

GEO-DOME Even if you are not interested in buying one of their dome kits, there is still some good info to be had on this site. This business is located in the United Kingdom. "An experiment in low cost efficient construction and sustainable living."

Invented by R.Buckminster fuller in the late 1940s geodesic domes are one of the most efficient structures known to man, often thought of as complex or expensive to build, here at Geo-dome we can show you just how simple, cost effective and efficient geodesic dome structures can be. With an expanding range of high quality great value kits your sure to find something that fits your needs. The baby of the range is the GD5, with a floor area of about 5 square meters this dome will fit in pretty much any garden, it can even be halved and used as a lean to greenhouse. Our mid range dome is the GD18 with a very useful floor area of around 18 square meters this dome makes a lovely spacious studio or garden room. The GD27 is the largest standard kit we make, with a floor area of 27 square meters and a diameter of 6m this dome has plenty of space and you shouldn't need planning permission. Kits are available in basic, part assembled or fully installed, we can also build kits to your requirements, Contact Paul for more info.

Geo-dome c/o Paul • Eco dome, townhead farm, Newbiggin, Brampton, Cumbria CA89DH UK
Ph: (+44) 07833791997

TIMBERLINE GEODESIC DOMES They sell prefabricated dome home packages. Very nice website.

"For more than 35 years, we've been dedicated to designing Timberline Geodesic Dome packages that make it easy, practical and affordable for people to construct their own homes. Timberline Geodesic Dome Homes use our unique and patented SteelStar connector system that assures you can construct your dome with precision and confidence, even if you've never built anything before. Our easy to follow illustrated Assembly Manual and pre-cut, pre-drilled color coded lumber virtually eliminate the possibility of confusion or mistakes. Timberline Geodesic Homes have been constructed in all 50 states and many foreign countries. Built in all types of climates, Timberline Geodesic Homes offer unmatched energy efficiency. Timberline Domes use 30% less surface area to enclose the same amount of volume as a box type structure. This means there is less area for heat to escape or outside air to penetrate. In addition, the spherical shape of a geodesic dome provides for natural and efficient interior air circulation. The natural aerodynamics of the dome means that cold air blows around the home instead of hitting a flat wall and penetrating to the inside. Our reputation has been built on quality products and service. We look forward to helping you turn your dream into reality."

Timberline Geodesic Domes • 2015 Blake Street • Berkeley CA 94704 • Toll Free: 1-800-366-3466

INTERSHELTER This appears to be a really hot item. This is probably the best design i have seen to date. Too cool to be shown here on my website.

"We produce and market the InterShelter™, a patented revolutionary portable shelter, made of a high-tech aerospace composite material, or cutting edge HD plastic that has bridged the gap from tents and trailers to traditionally built framed houses. Built to sustain hurricane strength winds or earthquakes and insulated to stay warm in extreme arctic sub-zero degree weather or cool in hot desert climates, these structures can be assembled in just a few hours by three untrained people. The pieces can fit in the back of a pick up truck, single helicopter sling, or a bush cargo plane and can be set up on almost any terrain. These shelters are not only ideal for research needs, quarantine shelters, and emergency relief situations - but will satisfy the needs of Homeland Security, the Military, Labor Housing, Homeless Communities and many more."

Intershelter, Inc. • Don Kubley, President • 15945 Glacier Highway • Juneau, Alaska 99801
Ph: (907) 789-9273 • Email: intershelterak@aol.com

THE HORTON DOME I think this is an example of a owner built dome home located in Westford, Vermont. On the website they mention being featured in the Mother Earth News. Included is much information for the person considering building their own dome home. The website is a little old, but the information is still good. By the picture you can see that it is a fairly large size project. This dome was built for use by a family. A single person or married couple with no children or with maybe one child could get by with something much smaller i'm sure.

How did you ever do all this?

I have asked myself this question a lot since we have completed the bulk of the work. The answer that finally came to me was this:

First, create in your mind a picture of your home in it's completed form. A detailed picture that you can drive up to and walk around in your head; really "see it". Bring up this image every day, especially when the task seems enormous. Enjoy living in it.

Second, take one step at a time, and relish in each accomplishment. One project will build on another, and before long, you will see that picture in your mind take shape and become real. Go for it!! The sense of pride and accomplishment you feel looking at your new home is tremendous.

WORLD SHELTERS They produce at least two models called the U-Dome & the Q-Shelter. Pretty neat looking structures. Take a look at their website. They make a model for personal use also.

"World Shelters designs, produces, and delivers structures for both emergency response and long-term humanitarian needs. Our shelters are low-cost, durable, flame-retardant, and designed for ease of assembly and transport."

World Shelters • 550 South G Street, Suite 3 • Arcata, CA 95521 USA • Ph: (707) 822-6600 • Fax: (707) 633-1737
Email: info@worldshelters.org

NATURAL SPACES DOMES The dome home pictured on the right is located in Malibu, California. I very much so like the way the owners planned this layout. Windows all the way around. Makes for a very efficient use of outside viewing space available in a dome house.

The Natural Spaces Domes Building System is the only dome building system specifically adapted to the 5 different climatic regions of the United States. We are long time members and supporters of EEBA, The Energy and Environmental Building Association. Their innovative, well-respected building guides are backed by years of research in four nations: Canada, Norway, Sweden and the United States. The guides were created by Building Science Corporation, applying lessons learned from the construction of the Arkansas House, The Saskatchewan Conservation House and hundreds of houses built for Canada's R-2000 program and the U.S. Building America program. In our 30+ years of building dome structures, we have learned you shouldn't build the same structure in Minnesota as you would in Houston, Texas.

DOMES INTERNATIONAL This company specializes in fiberglass dome homes.

Our fiberglass dome home is a product of almost 27 years of research, development, testing and building. Constructed of molded fiberglass with permanent colors, the dome never needs painting and requires little or no outside maintenance, with the exception of an occasional washing to keep it like new. Domes International, Inc. now introduces new flat-panel building design. The designs were developed for use as prefabricated, panelized housing and schools. The structural, insulated panels that form the exterior walls and roof are made from polymer laminates designed to resist the environmental conditions found in places similar to Central West Africa. This panelized system allows for maximum flexibility and durability while also providing an economical solution that is simple to construct.

5 METER CARDBOARD DOME This appears to be some kind of a school project but is pretty neat in my opinion. It consists of instructions on how to build your own 5 meter wide cardboard dome and it looks quite nice when completed. Of course a person could perhaps use nylon bolts, washers & nuts in place of the giant binder clips these kids used for a more permanent structure.

"Suitable for an entire class (25-30 elementary school students). The plans presented here are for a dome with a radius of 2.5 m, so the finished dome is 5 meters, or about 15 feet across. This is large enough to fit an entire class at once and will be useful for projecting stars and planets and other AV use." Click here for a bigger view.

AIRFORM HOUSE "This house form was developed by the famous architect Wallace Neff (1895 - 1982) who was an architect based in Southern California and was largely responsible for developing the region's distinct architectural style.
Neff also designed a distinctive form of inexpensive housing in the late 1930s. It was a dome-shaped construction made of reinforced concrete that was cast in position over an inflatable rubber balloon. Though the design did not gain support in the U.S. it was used for large housing projects in Egypt, Brazil and West Africa and during the 1940's and 50's. The Pasadena Shell House is the only remaining airform house left in the US. Also called: shell, balloon or bubble houses. Neff began building the concrete structures which he would call "airform construction" in 1941. The airform construction technique is relatively simple: It requires inflating a giant rubber balloon manufactured by the Goodyear Rubber Company to its hemispheric shape while lashed down to a concrete pad and then spraying it with gunite. Once the gunite is set the balloon is deflated and removed though a door or window and used again. The house is then insulated, reinforced with rebar and covered with another layer of concrete.
In addition to the domed structures, Neff also built his so-called "honeymoon cottage" a name coined by one of the architect's famous clients, Mary Pickford. The houses were mass-produced, portable and made to withstand earthquakes and storms. At the time, Neff said he was "possessed by the thought that there should be a demand for small homes of real charm within the reach of people of limited means." Note: All or much of this material was copied from the bookofjoe.

IGLOO SATELLITE CABIN This is the only way to go in my opinion. Live anywhere you choose or anywhere you can place this neat little cabin.

"The Igloo Satellite Cabin is designed to provide safe, reliable accommodation in remote areas. It has been used for over 25 years in conditions ranging from the tropics to polar icecaps. Units can be flown by helicopter fully assembled, and often fully equipped, to locations inaccessible by road transport. Igloos are ideal short-term accommodation for exploration and research, as well as an attractive alternative for eco-tourism. The basic Igloo Satellite Cabin (3m diameter and 2.1m high) is a pre-fabricated, insulated, fiberglass cabin made from 8 wall panels and 4 self-supporting floor panels. The whole Igloo is bolted together and secured to the ground by 8 wire tie-down lines attached to tent pegs or similar depending on the terrain. Four of these tie-down lines also act as lifting strops to attach to a helicopter."

Email: ✉ anthea@icewall.com.au

PAPERCRETE DOME This is kind of a cool looking homemade papercrete dome isn't it? But there is a lesson here. When utilizing some new touted method which has not been tested by time - you might end up putting a lot of money and effort into "junk construction": Something that is dangerous to live in and does not last very long. Papercrete is suspect to me. I know there are those out there who swear by papercrete and admit that papercrete can do no wrong. But probably for your money and time it's best to stay with tried & true building materials and techniques until someone gets the bugs worked out. Continue reading below:

I live in the community (City of the Sun) that was a leader in the papercrete revival. We built 20+ buildings and homes. They are all now in various degrees of falling apart and the place generally looks like a ruin. My house is about 1/2 papercrete and has mildew & mold problems. It is stuccoed and coated with elastomeric. This is in an area that gets 2-6" of rain a year. That's not to say it can't be built in a way that works but I would suggest anyone considering it plan on having wide overhangs where water has little chance of ever penetrating the surface.

In the early days they (papercrete homes) were touted as being "fire proof" but a couple of months ago, Mike's brother evidently dropped a cigarette next to a papercrete wall and the next night his mother woke to a house full of smoke. A neighbor heard her yelling and ran over and put out the fire. Building codes are not always the 'bad guy'.

When my girlfriend and I arrived in southern New Mexico one of the first things we did was look around for a local building material. Clay would need to be excavated and hauled in, straw bale was already expensive and not local, manufactured building materials like rastra were a little too off the shelf for us. We ended up settling on what we had locally available and that was/is paper. It is common for small remote towns to not have much in the way of recycling. Our town was collecting paper, but more often than not would just dump it in the landfill after collection. They were happy to help us load our truck up with their newspaper which was mostly a nuisance to them. We later found a source of rebar being made from old cars within a 100 miles of our place. Since we would have a lot of batteries and solar PV equipment that needed a good home we decided to do our first structure as a battery room for our solar equipment. Domes are inherently strong and energy efficient structures. This is how we started building a battery dome from paper.

Instructables.com

AMERICAN INGENUITY DOMES Housing technology has changed very little since framing replaced the log cabin. Modifications that were made to improve a concrete home or future home also increased its cost. We applied some American Ingenuity to the geodesic dome home, designed

an all new component building system utilizing advanced kit home construction technology and developed a home plan without increasing the kit home's prices.

Something for those of you interested in a smaller dome: AI sells a 12FT Utility Dome Kit: Sorry due to excessive shipping costs, we no longer ship the utility dome via common carriers or UPS. The Utility Dome Kit may be shipped on the same truck as a Dome Building Kit at no additional charge or you can pick one up at our Rockledge Florida factory. Even though UPS and the common carriers quote you a shipping price, once they measure the boxes or see how much space they take up... they add on surcharges causing the shipping costs to be extraordinarily large. So it is not cost effective to ship the utility domes separately. For info on the utility dome, email us by clicking on Contact Us. The Utility Dome with one entryway is $499; two entryways is $549. Their phone numbers are: For Building Plan Questions and Literature Orders: call 1-321-639-8777.

For Answers to Dome Questions Call Toll Free: 1-866-524-3663.

Galvanized Sheet Metal Dome

Date Last Updated: February 20, 2010