Synthetic Material or Canvas Covered Domes

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DOMES USING SYNTHETIC OR CANVAS COVERING

Actually, this page includes information for the do-it-yourselfer and for those who would rather purchase a kit to be assembled at home or at some special site. Basic frame material may include 2x2 or 2x3 or 2x4 lumber or PVC plastic pipe or electrical metal tubing (EMT). Some very low cost sturdy shelters can be constructed using these commonly available materials...

Also available are businesses selling geodesic "hubs" or connectors which make your construction project much easier. Included here special dome building projects by individual persons or institutions for education or fun.

THE BOW ROOF SHED This is really a website used to record the progress made by this couple who purchased a sailing boat for restoration. I am directing your attention to the "The Bow Roof Shed" tab or link. There is a lot of information on building this unique frame which can be used for most any purpose. It is suitable for coverage by different types of synthetic material in my opinion. It offers a low cost alternative for a temporary shelter which could be used perhaps at Burning Man or anywhere. Click on these other two links here and here to visit some other sites featuring information on building a bow roof shed.

Welcome to our website where we are documenting the modifications and restoration of Far Reach, our 1982 Cape Dory 36 Hull #61. Our desire is to restore and make modifications to our nearly 30 year old boat so that she will better meet the requirements of our future sailing plans. The real meat of the restoration began in early 2009. We believe it will take 18-24 months to complete. It is a learn as we go project. If you have questions or comments we would love to hear from you.

Contact: stone0302@ec.rr.com

THE DOME COMPANY This company is based in Sydney, Australia. They sell and rent portable tarp covered domes and have some other frame type domes. They have nicer bigger models than the one i have pictured here.

"The Dome Company specializes in the design and construction of portable Geodesic Domes for hire or sale. Stand out from the rest by buying or renting one of our unique domes for your special event. Although The Dome Company specializes in portable "Event" domes, we can also supply timber kit-set frames or assist you in the creation of an insulated multi-level dome house. To discuss your specific requirements, please email or phone 0409 244424."

DOME INCORPORATED I messed up and should have had this business up a long time ago. They manufacture all kinds of geodesic steel frames plus sell a patented geodesic hub for wood frame members. Lots of good pictures and information.

"We manufacture efficient geodesic domes for all uses: A house, home, master bedroom suite or cabin garage, shop or farm building, park shelter, jungle gym or playground equipment, hot tub room or sauna, garden gazebo or screened porch, remote shelter or hunting shack, trade show booth and much more. Please peruse our photo album of energy efficient dome pictures and view our plans and prices. We have been building dome structures for 28 years and have built, sold or manufactured over 450 domes."

Dome Incorporated - Energy Efficient Geodesic Dome Homes - Dome Design
Blair F. Wolfram, "The Dome Guy" • 11480 - 141st Av N • Minneapolis, MN 55327 • 888-366-3462 or 612-333-3663 • DomeIncorporated.com • thedomeguy@domeincorporated.com

CRESCENT STAR Called "A Burning Man Theme Camp 2006" which includes this very well made fabric covered 31' wide communal dome used for temporary quarters. On this website they have information and pictures and a video showing construction of this dome. You will need to click around though to put it together. It is kind of an old website, last date i could find: 4-12-07.

In the brutal wilderness between the teeming cities of the future, along the trade routes of the Neo-Caravaners and the battle migrations of Jihadists and Jihadistas, lies the dwellings of the Tribe of the Crescent Star, sheltered in an oasis of its own construction. Welcoming all who drop their weapons and their attitude outside its perimeters, the Tribe of the Crescent Star offer their guests the comforts of a Brave Old World — for the body: Cool mint tea, sweet dates and rahat loukoum, and mountains of soft pillows; for the soul: The play of light and water, and the music of paradise. By day, the order's white satin banners can be seen by weary travellers from afar; in the evening, the glow of the tent-dome serves as a beacon calling all to the night's revels.

No contact infomation

WORLD TENTS I like this idea of using a heavy duty canvas fabric for a geodesic dome cover. Actually, using this system one could install a stove pipe jack and use a wood burning stove to heat the interior just like a cabin tent. I imagine that this style tent would be more wind resistant than a wall or cabin tent. Plus you can build a platform for it just like a regular rectangular tent.

Dear Visitor,

I live with my wife and 2 children at Redfield Community in Buckinghamshire. The ethos here is to respect the environment and this very much fits in with my own beliefs. It was respect for the Earth and myself that inspired me to make my first tent out of natural materials, a tent that could breathe. I travelled extensively for 12 years and during that time lived in tipis, domes, benders and yurts as well as the occasional guest house. We are now settled at Redfield and setting up this business is providing us with an income from a sustainable source. Everything we make or sell is either natural or made from recycled materials. Some of the wood we use comes from as close as 200 metres away. All of it comes from sustainable woodland. Whilst we do offer a polyester mixed weave canvas we prefer to sell and recommend the use of the natural 100% cotton canvas. As well as our own products we sell the products of FAM, a Czech company whose ethics and commitment to quality match our own. Thank you for taking the time to visit our website. The UK's primary source of natural man-made tents and accessories including yurts, tipis, marquees, geodesic domes, historical tents, scout tents and more. Visit our photo gallery for more great pictures of our tents, marquees, tipis, geodesic domes, scout tents and yurts.

World Tents • Redfield, Buckingham Road, Winslow, Bucks UK MK18 3LZ • Phone: 01296 714555
E-mail: info@worldtents.co.uk

WORLDFLOWER GARDEN DOMES This page taken from Worldflower Garden Domes website features a "Survival/Emergency" dome. It is suitable for anyone desiring a portable dome framework capable of multiple covering types or sheathing material. The survival dome is portable. In most cases they can be assembled and disassembled in hours (depending on dome size and manpower). If you are an individual or family in need of a quick and cheap emergency shelter, that will last for many years - then this might be for you.

If you are an individual/family in desperate circumstances and in need of a SURVIVAL DOME:

Apply for a dome donated by Worldflower Garden Domes. Based on individual needs and circumstances. For an application write to:

Worldflower Garden Domes • PO Box 2103 • Georgetown, TX 78627 USA • Ph: (512) 431-9752
Email: gardendome@yahoo.com

THE WEASEL DOME This is a nice information site on how to build your own EMT (electrical conduit) dome. But he uses 3/4 inch awning tubing (which is stronger than 3/4 inch conduit). Some good pictures and techniques.

"This picture is of a 3 frequency dome, roughly 16 feet in diameter, with four adults sitting on top of it. It is made of 3/4 inch awning tubing (which is stronger than 3/4 inch conduit). Because each pole is so short, it is safe to climb on. This is a graphic demonstration of the strength of a geodesic dome. If a dome has significantly longer poles, it is not recommended for climbing, unless the poles are larger in diameter. I have seen someone climb my 24 foot dome which has 3/4 inch conduit poles roughly 5 feet long, but they had to be careful to only stand on the intersections (as well as being very limber). I think a 3/8 sphere dome is stable on the ground when windy, due to its low profile. A 1/2 sphere or 5/8 sphere dome is not, and needs to be secured to the ground so it doesn't blow away. The simplest way to secure a dome to the ground is to drive in rebar stakes around the perimeter of the dome. I recommend doing this near the intersection of the dome poles, where the dome is the strongest. I also recommend driving the stake from the outside of the dome, so that it fits snugly next to the inside of the poles. If you do that all around the dome, it will be very stable in high winds. I used 10 stakes to secure my 24 foot dome."

BURNINGMAN This annual event is held in the state of Nevada on a place called the "Black Rock Desert". People put up all kinds of different structures for public display and their own use as shade, etc.

Click on the snowball picture on the right to view a very large space shot of Burningman. The Burningman structure is in the center. Picture shows about 30,000 people.

"Every year, tens of thousands of participants gather to create Black Rock City in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, dedicated to self-expression, self-reliance, and art as the center of community. They leave one week later, having left no trace."

DOME DESIGNER I am placing this website (Dome Designer) in here because it seems most appropriate. Actually, it's a resource item but it goes well with the subject matter in this category named "synthetic Covering". This is a software program designed to design geodesic dome shapes. I may be wrong, but it appears to me to be well suited for designing the light-duty type of geodesic frame like those used at Burning Man. I have never used this software and do not know if it is worth the $99.95 they are asking for this product.

"Dome Designer is a complete package to take you all the way from the conceptual foundations of dome design to having a completed dome doing the job you want it for. In combination with the Design Tutorial and the Builder's Manual, even someone with a modicum of building experience can successfully build a geodesic dome - something that used to be the province of highly specialized and expert architects and builders. At the heart of this package is the Dome Designer software program. It will do all of the mathematical calculations for you and print out a complete set of detailed plans that you can build from."

The Far Horizon Ltd. • C/O Dr. Mark Ludwig • General Delivery • San Ignacio, Cayo, Belize • Central America • Email: suppt@domedesigner.com

GEO TECH SYSTEMS This company is located in South Tamworth, New Hampshire. They have completed (i guess) projects in the country of Tongo in the South Pacific. They specialize in custom dome work.

"Over the past several years our company has evolved to incorporate original ideas and designs with high tech machining. We continue to grow and expand as we meet new challenges. Owner/partner John Hackett is a machinist and designer of geodesic structures with 30 years experience. Since we own our own machine shop and fabric cover shop, we are able to design and produce precision geodesic structures and tension fabric covers to exacting quality standards. We use computer controlled milling machines and the latest CAD/Cam software to design our structures. Our structures are designed with the quality that will only be found in aircraft type machine shops. Our inspection standards are Mil-I-45208. We use only the highest quality materials available. Our frames are constructed of 6061-T6 aluminum. We also make structures of steel when the application is warranted. Geo Tech sizes the strut material and hubs to the wind and snow load requirements. Our fabric covers are made from high quality polyester weave, PVC coated structural fabrics. The covers are RF heat sealed so there are no leaks. Our materials will not rot or warp and work well in high moisture environments.

Hard covers range from plasticore, PVC corrugated sheets to traditional plywood, lexan or corrugated fiberglass sheets.
Soft covers from 6 mil polyethylene to 25 year rated vinyl coated nylon mesh membrane or anntex 90 shade material."

SUPER DOME CLIMBER This appears to be a very heavy-duty framework. Again listed here not for intended use (Kid's climber), but for use as a possible shelter system. If you want a heavy-duty frame made from steel this might work for you. Available from most businesses selling "playground equipment".

"The biggest dome we sell is available now for your outdoor playground. It's 7 feet high and has a 17' diameter. It's made from tough 1-1/16" outside diameter galvanized steel pipe. Use area: 31'. You can order it painted, too, in a variety of colors, for $559 extra. Code: 501-121. Price: $1,956.00. Shipping Weight: 400.00 pounds."

Maryland Materials Playgrounds • 305 W. Diamond Ave., Gaithersburg, MD 20877 • Toll Free (877) 778-8830 :: Local (301) 840-0707 • mdmail@mdmaterials.com/www.mdmaterials.com

EHAM PORTABLE SHELTER This is a brief but good article on building your own personal dome along with tarp made to fit. Click on the picture on the right to view a 2V dome frame.

"Researching emergency shelters on the Internet I discovered Geodesic Domes are a very popular shelter design and for good reasons. Construction materials may be lightweight and portable and the Dome when erected is very strong using these materials. No special materials or tools are required for construction; everything required is available with one stop shopping at a local building supply store. Domes when erected and properly anchored can withstand hurricane force winds without sustaining damage. Lets start off with shelter size. You want to be able to stand up and have room for several people, gear, and at least one bed. You also don't want the dissembled shelter taking up precious vehicle transport space. A very good size is a 2V 5-foot radius Dome made of 1/2" EMT Conduit. The 2V dome requires 65 sections of conduit. This conduit is manufactured in standard 10' sections. Using the 5' radius 2V dome requires the use of two different lengths and allows cutting the 10' sections three times to obtain 3 sections of the required lengths. These sections will be called A and B. For a 5-foot radius Dome A length between the centers of the bolt holes in each end will be 37.08" and B will be 32.784". This is NOT the measured length of the conduit pipes! They will need to be about 2" longer than the measured hole lengths giving about 1" of pipe length between the center of the hole and the end of the conduit. It is critical that holes in all conduit lengths be the same for all A sections and all B sections so the dome will have the proper Geodesic shape."

ZIA TOYS These people manufacture and sell a children's play dome which looks to me could be used as a shelter for humans. Framework could accommodate any flexible fabric or plastic tarp covering. These people are located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Zia Toys is proud to be a family-owned, family-run business. Zia Toys Inc. was formed exclusively to manufacture climbers for children based on the proven strength and durability of the geodesic design. The design has been around for more than a century and has some very desirable characteristics that make it unique and highly desirable for the production of children's climbers. A geodesic structure is much stronger than one would expect if the strength of the materials used in its construction were considered individually. When a force is applied to one component of a geodesic structure, the force applied is shared by the remaining componentsmaking the geodesic structure one of the strongest known to man. We chose the geodesic design to ensure a reliable, durable and safe structure for a lifetime of play, exercise and adventure. Our manufacturing facility in Albuquerque uses only industrial-grade materials and paints in the manufacture of the Kid Klimber™ - although we are interested in exploring the manufacture of other products, the full financial and talent resources of Zia Toys, Inc. are devoted to the making of this product. The struts in our Klimbers are made of industrial-grade PVC (Schedule 40) conduit while our hubs are made of extruded PVC sheeting material that we heat and mold to exacting standards of consistency and quality. The Klimbers are held together with galvanized nuts and bolts that resist rust. We paint the hubs with high-quality, industrial-grade paints with a proven record for durability and fade resistance. The entire structure is weatherproof, rust-free, and safe to touch under virtually all temperature and climatic conditions. To demonstrate the confidence we have in the components used and our manufacturing processes, we offer a Limited Lifetime Warranty on all parts used in our products - if you ever have a problem with a Zia component, simply return it to Zia and we will rush a replacement free of charge. We'll even pay for shipping!

Zia Toys Inc • 100 Mescalero NW • Albuquerque NM 87107 • Toll Free: (888) 400-4942 • Ph: (505) 344-0744 • wendell@ziatoysinc.com

DISASTER REBUILDING SOLUTIONS This is quite a deal. If anyone has a way to help these guys - please do something. Very clever and innovative product needs broad public support! You could use canvas or any other flexible material to cover this dome frame.

The beams and derivative elements are a new technology designed and developed by their inventor, Micah Toll. They consist of a corrugated plastic outer 'skin' which contains a foam core center. They are extremely lightweight, weatherproof, and fire resistant. These construction beams have a broad range of applications. Initially they were designed for the purpose of rapid construction of refugee housing in remote areas. However, with additional R&D, it was found that the basic beams, and other structural derivative elements based on the basic beam design (e.g. interlocking beams, cylindrical posts, tubes, pipes and troughs) have broad utility as irrigation and water collection systems, pontoon bridges, rafts, floating evacuation gurneys, animal enclosures, and other related structures and devices. Metal, wood, composites and other building materials all share similar downsides. All of these materials require the use of power tools to do any construction sized work. The materials are neither lightweight nor easily shippable. They all require the use of specialized fasteners and hardware. In addition, skilled tradesman must be called in to work with the materials. The Disaster Rebuilding Solutions foam core beams are easily worked with using only simple or primitive hand tools, require no special hardware, are extremely lightweight, and require no previous construction skills. This makes them the perfect building material to send to remote areas of the world for rapid disaster relief.

Email: DisasterRebuildingSolutions@gmail.com. • Micah Toll - Can be reached at: MLT34@pitt.edu.

BURNING MAN 2002: THE DOME This webpage is extremely good for showing you how to organize and build your electrical metal tubing (EMT) geodome frame. It is probably a good idea to buy the hand-operated equipment needed to do a fast and accurate job. When completed you can probably sell the equipment and recover some of your investment. "I am building a 12' radius, 3 frequency 5/8 Geo-Dome from 3/4" EMT conduit" the man says. He uses a 1-ton arbor press to flatten the ends of the tubes. A drilling jig with drill press to insure proper hole spacing and alignment. 6½" metal cut-off blades in a circular saw to cut tubes to proper length. Unfortunately i could not get the links to display their respective pages. got lots of 404 errors. However, click on the pictures for an expanded view of the item, seems to work good. But the main page does detail a lot of the building process. It is kind of an old website and i wished the man would maintain it because it has valuable information.

TIPI DOME Another great project from "Instructables".

I have always admired geodesic structures and have built various frameworks studying the beautiful symmetries. Many of the structures I examined and built had many different edge lengths, face and axial angles that it complicated the building process. Once I asked the Lord, wouldn't it be neat if a person could build a dome but only have one edge length? So I prayed to my Lord Jesus, not as a challenge but could He give me a dome using one edge length. This of course seemed impossible but after awhile I found on the internet a French architect named Alain Lobel who had discovered a methodology of building structures with equilateral triangles. My prayers were answered. :) I studied and made many many models trying out different structures checking out their possible utility as a tent, a building or just a beautiful sculpture. I even took an ordinary Icosahedron and truncated it in half which made a nice hemispherical tent frame. My favorites were designed based on Alain Lobel's work were the "Tipi Dome", or 60-2-1 POT LOBEL FRAME, a large and small version and also the "Longhouse", a design I stumbled upon playing with Alain Lobel's equilateral triangle method which uses only one edge length which are practical structures and with the equilateral triangle methodology one uses materials very efficiently. The following covers some of the steps I used to build the "Tipi Dome" framework, some posterboard model patterns of the small "Tipi Dome" and the large version. I also would like to include some images of the "Longhouse" my answer to prayer and a few other structures. Please also check out Alain Lobel's website at equilatere.net.

Instructables.com

JOHN ZERNING PORTABLE DOME DESIGN Subtitled "Garden Trellises - Architectural Space Frames". This site contains some unique ideas for building your own portable dome frame. A dome frame you can carry in a suitcase.

"In order to understand the geometry of geodesic domes and to get a good feel for its structural behaviour, one must build one! There are two major design problems: connector and cladding. Looking into the published images on connectors for geodesic domes, I could not find a really simple joint suitable for DIY. Starting with the knowledge that in a triangulated frame the connector can be a 'pin-joint' (hinge) as it is primarily subjected to axial forces (compression or tension) - no bending! The Eureka moment came while I was playing in the workshop joining bits of wood and metal. The universal joint takes advantage of the bendability, strength and durability of metal... With this connector there is no need to calculate the axial angles of the struts and ties. By tightening the nut of a long bolt the metal strips, and the ends of the members, will bend to the correct axial angle."

BASE-X This website is very good and features Air cell (inflatable) Shelters, Frame Tents & Frame Domes. Even though their emphasis is on large structures, some of you might be able to use something they sell. "Base-X® shelters range in size from personal tents to Corps-level Command and Control complexes. Available in 100-, 200-, 300-, 500-, or Dome-series, Base-X shelters of all sizes offer the same level of interconnectivity, durability, and ease of deployment. For assistance is selecting the correct shelter and accessories for your needs call 800-969-8527 and we will have a local sales representative contact you."

CONDUIT DOMES Update: This site is no longer available i guess - a victim of using a "free hosting" site. I'll leave this up hoping the owner will relocate and be in service again.

I like this page because it features some good samples of what a person can build using 3/4in EMT. Basic material list: 3/4" electrical conduit. Connections are made with 5/16" bolts. Presented are conduit domes ranging from 4-1/2ft radius thru 24ft diameter. There are four display set-ups of conduit frame domes on this page. At the bottom left side of the website he provides a link for ordering conduit fabrication plans.

GEOMETRY DOME This neat little site shows you a simple method to build a small personal homemade dome. Great to use at the beach or lake side. Also, you can light up your dome frame using their featured product called "Cool Neon" electroluminescent fiber.

"Easily build a geodesic dome. Great for Burning Man, camping, or a backyard. No welding, sanding, sawing, or gluing is necessary. No Custom Connectors Are Necessary."

STARDOME This is a very well done website with flash presentation of building the cool bamboo star dome. The site is entirely in the Japanese language. I include it here because it contains lots of pictures. It appears to me to be a dome made using slats or some bendable 1/4in x maybe 1-1/2in material like bamboo. I need to find some way to translate this website into english language because it looks pretty neat. Sorry, there is a link on the front page for "english version".

ZENDOME This dome seems to be designed as a commercial canopy for small groups of people to use as shade. Nice website, but click on "English Version" at page bottom. The company that makes these domes are located in Germany. They sell a "home edition geodesic dome".

"From now on ZENDOME is also available as the ZENDOME.20 Home-Edition for the exclusive Home & Garden area with multiple ways of possible use. Be it as a roof for the swimming pool, a temporary guest house, a garden house or simply a beautiful playhouse for the kids. The frame system is constructed of powder coated galvanized steel with a strength of 2mm. 161 poles and junction discs are assembled following the easy to use color coding of the Advanced Frame System (ADF-System).

The membrane is made of all-weather welded Ferrari® material: Perfect for any given use. We want to further improve and develop the idea of the geodesic dome. ZENDOME.2010 is perfect space with all the characteristics of conventional buildings. It can be erected in 10% of the construction time of the Advanced Frame System. This way it saves resources and takes the growing mobility of people into account. We are constantly trying to optimize our products. We use relevant materials and development processes to improve our quality. We set new trends concerning form and/ or technological innovation. We always make use of our current state of development. The quality of our products and materials is communicated from the purchase to the production all the way to the marketing requirements. Also we implement internet communication possibilities into our work. Our online information is interconnected with daily inquiries and is continually complemented. An optimum of information on the products and the company will always be available online. We do not tolerate any discrimination that defies current laws and democratic values and will not include organisations that do not respect the freedom of the individual and above stated laws in our line of customers or suppliers. We encourage Germany as a business location and especially Berlin as a city. ZENDOME is “Made in Germany“. For our customers and clients we are the first and best contact concerning geodesic structures: ZENDOME. ZENDOME GmbH • Schwedterstrasse 34a • 10435 Berlin / Germany • tel +49 (0) 30 47 37 76-0 • fax +49 (0) 30 47 37 76-29 • web www.zendome.de • Email: info@zendome.de

WALT'S DOME PAGE Walt is a database programmer and designer of geodesic dome models and structures. Picture is of his fiberglass 2f dome frame. PVC pipe and some kind of fiberglass tube are materials he uses here. The website seems like it might be kind of old and he does not seem to update it much, but it has some useful information.

OZARK DOME They sell prefabricated steel frame dome kits.

"We work with cold formed steel studs like a giant erector set. Cold formed steel is insect proof and won't rot from moisture. It is inexpensive and while light weight for shipping, the material is exceptionally strong. Steel studs are our construction medium of choice. Our geodesic dome shells are also designed to be easily covered with plywood. We can prefabricate the plywood covering as well, but it is not difficult to "do it yourself" with average carpenter skills. We are very flexible in meeting your needs for a prefabricated dome shell at a hourly rate for design and fabrication. Materials are at cost +10%. If you wish to work on the fabrication of your kit; arrangements can be made for your stay at our wild crops farm in the Ozarks".

ALBION CANVAS This geodesic dome consists of a canvas covered wood or metal geodesic frame. A perfect addition to this category.

Albion Canvas has been specialising in the design and adaptation of Geodesic domes since the company's formation in 1995. The company founder and chief designer Alan Wenham designed the first truly workable canvas cover for the true geodesic dome back in the mid 1990's. Our experience has grown from this simple start and has allowed us to work on several projects adapting and designing various domes. All our Geodesic Domes are made and finished to the highest standards, all stress points have double and triple reinforcement where necessary and all seams are sewn with a French seam for strength and superior water exclusion. Careful consideration is given to final use and ease of build when designing frames and covers for individual clients. The wood used for our smaller domes is locally sourced and sustainably managed British Ash machined, sanded and protected with a double coat of linseed oil. Larger domes can be wood framed within certain limitations or steel or aluminium frames for the larger structures. The canvas is a 393gsm (12oz) cotton canvas, treated with a water repellent, rot inhibitor and fire retardant as standard. Albion Canvas Geodesic Domes are supplied with a fitted groundsheet as standard in the camping sizes. As a long standing member of the Performance Textiles Association, the professional body over seeing the Marquee and similar industries, and having gained ‘Customer First’ status from the Trading Standards Service, you can be sure of an extremely high quality product backed up by premium customer care policies. We have over 12 years of experience working with yurts, geodesic domes and other fabric structures and can offer a design and consultancy service. Alan Wenham is a qualified designer; CAD trained, and can work with you through all the relevant documentation required in planning applications, and special builds. So if you need a dome or other structure adapting from the standard to meet the new DDA or HSE regulations, or to meet your own specific needs, or help with designing an event sized dome or special installation do get in touch.

Albion Canvas Co. • Unit 146 Anna Mill Business Park • Wrangaton, Devon. TQ10 9HQ UK • Local Ph: 0845 456 9290 or 01364 649101 • Fax: (0)1364 649303 • International Ph: + 44 (0) 1364 649101
E-mail: ✉ enquiries@albioncanvas.co.uk

GEODESIC CLUBHOUSE Instructions for making your own little geodesic dome from newspaper. Printable instructions available. This here website is actually pretty neat in spite of the fact that it is oriented for school age children. This is a "How To Build" a geodesic dome using a stapler and newspaper. Just thinking - maybe a person could use paper-mache to make geodesic struts. There's lots of good pictures here and ideas for anyone looking for low cost materials to build a dome frame. It is probably a very popular website.

PACIFIC DOMES Located in the state of Oregon. They sell Portable Fabric Covered geodesic domes. Very beautiful. Lots of beautiful pictures here with lots of good ideas.

"Geodesic Fabric Architecture. Domes are nature's perfect structure and provide a unique environment for every use. Pacific Domes has perfected the function and beauty of our portable Geodesic Domes for 27 years in Ashland, Oregon. We combine the sacred geometry of R. Buckminster Fuller with our progressively designed covers to bring you this futuristic, synergetic structure."

GEODESIC DOME GREENHOUSE Even though this webpage is instructing the building of a "geodesic greenhouse" the information doubles for a livable structure in my opinion. Lots of good pictures showing the fabrication of geodesic pvc struts.

"I've always loved the look of a geodesic dome, and lately, I've wanted a greenhouse. One of my friends mentioned he wanted a dome, and found some plans online. I started researching, and became convinced that I could build a geodesic greenhouse for only a few hundred dollars. I was right! This dome cost me around $300 including the plastic, the frame, the bolts, the rebar, and the cinder blocks. Most websites focused on metal conduit, but that looked like to much work. I decided on 3/4" PVC. I used the calculator on Desert Domes.com to calculate the strut lengths. My dome is a 3V. I kept changing the radius until I found one that would produce 3 pieces per 10 foot length of PVC with little or no scrap."

TURTLE TUFF SURVIVAL SHELTERS "Turtle Tuff Survival Shelters - System". Strong Geodesic Dome Frame. 9ft high X 24ft diameter, 452ft/sq. High R value insulation, custom door kits, floor, windows, lighting. 801-623-3288. Neat looking dome for living in the woods. Dependable shelter for living in the wild.

Info: rellertson@comcast.net • Ph: 801-623-3288 • 428 E 600 N • Orem, UT 84097

DESERT DOMES Very interesting site about how to build your own framework using EMT (electrical metal tubing or conduit) or pvc pipe. "Welcome to Desert Domes! On this site you will find information on how to build your own geodesic dome, as well as how to order one made to your specifications. Also, find pictures of domes in action at Burning Man and around the world. To the left is a picture of the Burning Man dome that I designed and built in 2004."

ALEC & BINDI'S GEODESIC DOME TENT OK, this little piece here is about making dome frame connector struts using MDPE Blue Pipe. I think i heard someone say that this type of plastic pipe is widely used in the UK and the rest of europe. Possibly the method described here could be utilized with other types of plastic pipe like PVC or ABS. It would be worth a try. The page this link goes to shows some pictures and other info about their little dome they built for business use at holiday and festival gatherings
1. The blue parts are 25mm (outside diameter) alkathene water pipe
2. Cut into 100mm lengths.
3. Softened in boiling water to fit tightly over the ends of the wooden struts.
4. Then dipped in cooking oil heated to 180 degress centigrade for about 10 seconds before being squashed flat in a vice to give a nice flat "spade end".
5. The edges of the plastic are then cleaned up using a surform tool.
6. The pipe is finally secured in place with a single 3/4 inch countersunk stainless woodscrew.
7. A single 60 mm roofing bolt (8 mm diameter) secures the joint with washers each side and a wing nut.

THE HOME DOME Some good information for those of you wishing to build your own geodesic frame from electrical metal tubing.

"I built a 20ft diameter geodesic dome using 3/4" electrical conduit (metal pipe). It will be my home at Burning Man. Follow the Photo Tour to see how the parts were made and for more photos of the finished dome. There's also some diagrams that show you how to cover a dome with tarps."

GEODESICBUILDINGS This really is quite a site - lots of good pictures for us to look at.

Geodesic Domes for Sale or Rent in the UK & Spain. Geodesic Buildings specialize in all things geodesic dome related. We are based in Coin on the Costa Del Sol, Spain (click for a map). We are very serious about our work, our geodesic domes and have a Safety Standard certificate pending. This will allow us to provide fully insured (if necessary) domes for living spaces and public use. Richard was always obsessed and fascinated by mathematics, geometry, tools and mechanics. In 2002 he constructed his first 3 meter geodesic dome in his garage after weeks working out the necessary dimensions and quantities. Encouraged by this success he invested in the steel poles, nuts & bolts and constructed a 6 meter dome for a friend's birthday party. This was quite a success and resulted in his first order. Word began to spread and without ever advertising, Richard soon found himself in need of some help. Later, Stuart the engineer & welder joined Richard & between them they developed the machinery necessary to mass produce geodesic dome parts and thereby bring the prices down. As a result we are proud to be among the most economically priced geodesic dome companies in the world. Add to that our unbeatable friendly and proud service record and you have a winning combination. We also undertake any and all metal based construction work including building frameworks and custom metal gates on Spain's Costa Del Sol. Our geodesic domes are among the best that money can buy and because of our manufacturing methods, your money buys a lot more dome at Geodesic Buildings.

Call: 952 119868 from Spain or 0034 952 119868 from outside Spain • Call: 07870 160095 from the UK or 0044 7870 160095 from outside the UK • Email: ✉ ph@geodesicbuildings.com

SHELTER SYSTEMS This is really a good website. Lots of pictures of their product. Very innovative company.

"Portable Affordable Shelters Since 1976. Shelter Systems invented and manufactures the Worlds Strongest Dome Tents: for the materials used there is no stronger tent. Shelter System's structures have been serving people around the world for over 30 years. We manufacture a wide range of patented Tensegrity and Geodesic structures using our own tarp fasteners, "Grip Clips". All Shelter Systems' structures are "shingled" with the panels overlapping each other to make a totally waterproof and yet breathable shelter. Our portable Geotensic ™ YurtDomes ™ are known for their lightweight construction and strength as well as for the large amount of light they let in. They are made with a strong, tear-resistant fabric and non-puncturing tarp fasteners. They are truly portable and guaranteed to be leak proof. These Domes and Yurts have served as family living spaces, camping tents, emergency shelters, studios, playrooms, retreats, fair pavilions, expedition tents, research tents, and more. Note that on this site we use the terms domes and yurts interchangeably". Click here to go their "new and interesting" page.

BEEZER'S PLAYDOME PAGE There are some people who have successfully used worn out discarded automobile tires to build different kinds of structures. This website here is mostly about building a "Play Dome" for kids to climb on, but the principles incorporated here could possibly be used to build larger habitable structures. The method presented here consists mostly of using old tires and bolts & washers to fasten them together to form a dome structure. One big problem to keep in mind is how discarded tires store rain water and become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Consider covering the tires with a tarp to keep out rain water or any other water source like from a sprinkler system.

"The 21 automobile tires pictured here have been bolted together to form a little more than half of a truncated icosahedron, which is reminiscent of Buckminster Fuller's geodesic domes, and is the same as the carbon-60 (C_60) molecule known as fullerene."

Rob Beezer • Email: ✉ beezer@ups.edu

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 including using their product called:
"Super Poly" A translucent woven poly used as an effective and inexpensive dome covering - super strong, long lasting 7,10.5 or 13 mil woven polyethylene with protection from UV sunlight deterioration... This website has lots of pictures and great information plus many dome alternatives.

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.

M i s s i o n : To make geodesic domes a practical and affordable alternative structure. We make the best low cost do-it-yourself geodesic dome frames. We have the largest variety of types and sizes available. Our domes are designed using 3D computer programs. Our Connector Kits - construction hardware and plans - are the best option for do-it-yourself builders. Build your dome with lumber you purchase locally. Pine, fir, cedar and redwood work well. With our expertly done instruction manuals, just about anyone can build their own geodesic dome. This page shows some tools you will need. This page lists Connector Kit prices.

Worldflower Garden Domes • PO Box 2103 • Georgetown, Tx. 78627 • gardendome@yahoo.com

ENERGISTX They have a dome for sale section. It looks to me like they are probably a reseller of Shelter Systems dome products.

"Energistx offers extra durable portable buildings, homes and shelters for disaster relief and recovery, temporary community infrastructure, employee housing, military, mining and medical camps, construction crews and many commercial and industrial applications.
We supply factory direct volume pricing on rapid deployment portable housing, offices, bunkhouses, worker accommodations, construction offices, plus kitchen and bathroom facilities."

As far as i can tell these folks use two basic systems for creating their living spaces: 1. Fabric covered portable frame domes. 2. 8ft x 40ft shipping containers. They are quite creative in their product line.

GEODESICS UNLIMITED This man has some very good designs displayed here on his website. They both sell and rent domes plus offer a design service. This is a product of someone inspired by a simple introduction to the geodesic dome by happenstance while browsing books in a bookstore. Take a look at the "Geodesic Garden House" page to view his "Universal Hub" geodesic connector design.

You will have seen from the other pages on this web-site the range of structures designed and built by Geodesics Unlimited. If not, then do check the gallery page. We will do our best to design to your needs and suggest materials and fabrication processes that in our view best fulfil them. You will see below some extremes of geodesic form. We can create almost any shape of structure for you, and will work with any available material. Try us! Please do approach us, however large or small your project is. We will gladly help you find a way of getting your project needs met if we cannot ourselves fulfil them.

Geodesics Unlimited • The Hayloft • Atlow Ashbourne Derbyshire DE6 1NS ENGLAND • Phone: 01335 370661 • Email: info@geodesics-unlimited.com

Pacific Domes display at the Raw Spirit Festival

Date Last Updated: March 2, 2010