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DOME SHELTER SYSTEM

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

 
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Website Owner I have renamed this webpage to "Dome Shelter System" because it more accurately describes the content. A dome structure can be defined by comparing it to the hollow upper half of a sphere. The shape of an upper half of a sphere can be generated using a geodesic metal or wood framework or monolithic surface consisting of concrete or some other contiguous material like plastic. Geodesic framework is just one way to achieve the shape of the upper half of a sphere. There are other methods available to accomplish this and i include them all on this website. Thank You.

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.

Just so you'll know . . . This website is advertising driven. Advertising income pays the bills like hosting fees and other expenses. I am adding another quality advertising source which i like a lot - Amazon.com. If you the viewer of this website would consider making purchases of the items that interest you from my 'Amazon Ad Placements' that would be very helpful and appreciated. When you make purchases through these Amazon links, I receive a very modest sales commission on any purchase you make, but it doesn't cost you a penny. The prices are exactly the same as buying on Amazon directly, and there is no extra charge to you; Amazon pays the commission fees.

Everyone is welcome to visit my websites as much as they want even if you do not buy anything.

Also, Very Important Thing To Do . . .   Please do not give a deposit or cash payment to any of these businesses listed here without first doing your research on them and establishing some sort of assurance that they are going to fulfill their end of the deal. I have not, nor can i screen these listings here - they are here for your use as a starting point in your search for a home or shelter for yourself. Some of them may be out of business, in bankruptcy, or having financial difficulty, or God only knows what kind of problems they could be having. Please try to go to great lengths to protect yourself - They do!


  1. Lexa Dome Framework Presentation
    LEXA DOME HOMES   Yeah, this is a real cool item, you're going to like this. Presented here is a very unique dome building system, not a geodesic frame but another kind of proprietary framing system providing a basis for some very strong structures. This framing system can be used to build all kinds of structures from small cabins and sheds to much larger buildings. Be sure and check out their picture gallery for beautiful examples of completed buildings.

    “Welcome to Lexa Dome Homes Ltd. We manufacture wooden domes with engineered arcing panels that replace the framing component of conventional stick-frame construction. We are a contractor, capable of building complete homes and structures using domes, stick-frame construction, and the standard industry sub-trades. Positioning ourselves as a global player, we supply cost effective, green, sustainable and energy efficient homes. In these uncertain times of climate change and global warming, the Lexa dome can give home owners additional security against earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, high winds and heavy snow loads. Lexa does not produce the traditional geodesic domes, but rather its architectural plans are primarily elliptical monolithic wooden domes that provide an inner ceiling height not usually attained with geodesic and standard spherical domes.”
    Lexa Dome Homes Ltd • #501 - 3292 Production Way • Burnaby, BC V5A 4R4 Canada • Phone: (604) 583-5371
    info@lexadomehomes.com
  2. Unfolded Geodesic Dome on display
    FOLDING GEODESIC DOME   Here's a new one for you. A lot of you will be able to make this dome and maybe even make improvements because it has low material cost.

    “Geodesic domes are light, strong structures with huge interior space that is very pleasant and inviting. Unfortunately they tend to take many man-hours to erect. I needed a dome that was strong and windproof enough for the desert, yet could be easily put up by one or two people in short order. Hence the Folding Geodesic Dome, also known as the Democracy Dome since it's made from recycled political campaign signs put to a better use. With another election coming, we may get some new raw materials soon... It takes 105 triangles to make the particular dome shape I wanted (called a 3V), which could be a time-burner to assemble. The Folding Geodesic Dome simplifies things with tape hinges that pre-connect many of the triangles into 16 segments, each of which can fold into a small stack and connects to its neighbors via tabs and clips. The more hinges used the less time spent connecting triangles in the field. The dome goes up with 2 people in 2 hours or less. Take down time is 30 minutes. There are great Instructables for light domes made from Coroplast or cardboard which negate the need for a support frame. This dome was made with an eye for economy, using 20 surplus 4'x8' 4mm Coroplast political campain signs found on Craigslist for $100. The panels can be made from any stiff material (cardboard, Coroplast, thin plywood, plexiglass) that is rigid enough to resist bowing. This project was made possible by the resources at desertdomes.com including their dome calculator, dome formulas and the dome diagram that I use in this Instructable. (If you build a dome, please donate to desertdomes.com through their PayPal Button lower left as I did.) This dome is a light-duty 'backyard' dome, done as a proof-of-concept; it isn't waterproof. My next version will utilize a combination of thin plywood for the hexagons and Coroplast for the pentagons to let light in. This project is ideal for a ShopBot CNC mill, as cutting triangles from stronger materials would be made much more efficient and accurate. Please click “VOTE” above to enter this Instructable in the Instructables ShopBot CNC Contest and help me build Version 2!.”
  3. Trash Shelter System
    HOME DOME   This particular dome project does not have it's own website unfortunately; so i have tried to link to the best site i could find which gives you the best information about this dome system. Included on this presentation is a well done PBS video which shows a lot about how to build this dome. 'The Home Dome is a makeshift dwelling in the shape of a Mongolian yurt. Made of packing peanuts stuffed into plastic grocery bags, it gives a new use to bulky and difficult-to-dispose of packing peanuts. The Home Dome includes a built-in bed that anchors the structure to the ground using the weight of the person inside.'

    “Student Wins $10K For Building Homeless Shelter From Trash. 12-year-old AMSA student Max Wallack is the Grand Prize winner of the 2008 Trash To Treasure competition sponsored by Intel. The people at the WGBH show 'Design Squad' selected Wallack's idea from more than 1,000 entries for their Trash to Treasure contest. As the grand prize winner, he will receive $10,000 from the Intel Foundation and a Dell laptop powered by Intel computer. Wallack, a ninth-grader at Advanced Math and Science Academy in Marlborough submitted his project the 'Home Dome', which is primarily a shelter for the homeless made from plastic, wire and packing peanuts.”
    The Pirata • Contact Form
  4. Bustan Mud Domes
    MUD DOMES   This is a very interesting presentation using a combination of materials to produce a very livable well insulated low cost small dome home. The three basic materials are: 1. 3/4in EMT tubing. 2. Straw bales. & 3. Mud (a mixture of clay & sand). OK, listen up, this type of building is best suited to areas of low rainfall such as most any desert area. I think this method is something that has been developed in the country of Israel. Unfortunately the link i have here does not give you as much detailed information on the actual steps as i would like for it to give, but at least it is a start. Hopefully, in the future i can find more complete information on this building method.

    “Hands down, my favorite practical element of the program so far is working on the mud domes in the new Bustan neighborhood. I am glad the domes weren't done and ready for us to move into when we arrived, because working on these little houses has been incredibly rewarding and enjoyable. This week we worked on the domes in two groups. I was in one dome with three other people and each of us worked on a different section inside. The dome in the forefront is the one I was working in (See picture on the right). There's still a lot of work to be done, which I think is super exciting. For example, the ceiling still needs to be completely covered. In this photo you can see the straw bale construction, and the dome’s geodesic frame. We didn't mix mud in plastic bins, by hand, for this project. Mike taught us how to use the cement mixer so we could produce a lot of mud quickly. In this photo you can see the cement mixer and behind it the (1) pool of clay and (2) pile of sand—two of the major components in making the mud.”
  5. Picture on the way
    ECONODOME CABIN KIT   Actually, this listing is already included on another website which i have listed below, but it is so buried in the links of that website that i decided to highlight it here. It is a good offer and it deserves to be made readily available to my viewers of this website. This link goes to a very cool little cabin called: "A small five-sided dome cabin".

    “This five sided cabin has an interior loft. The floor is built above treated telephone poles. Each of the five sides is 8 foot by 8 foot. In order to build this building legally without a building permit in California, this building was built above pre-cast piers and boulders. After completion this building was moved to different locations on the resort property. Cost of the 4v frame (as shown in photos) made with 2x4 struts is $4,000 USD + shipping. Vinyl faced insulation stapled on the outside of the frame before the exterior panels are nailed on, achieves a pillow effect on the finished interior. About the 13' EconOdome kit: This 14 foot diameter dome may be used as a hot tub cover. The attractive frame may be screened, covered with Plexiglass, or overgrown with grape vines. The photos above shows a ten-sided building with a dome roof having 40 triangles and resting on a gravel base. Cost for the 2v dome roof frame with 40 triangles formed with 65 struts, made with 2x4 lumber, and complete with plans for the entire building is $950. Price includes blocking supports within each triangle and framing for five economical venting skylights. Connectors for the dome roof are included. Total cost of "complete" pre-cut 13' diameter EconOdome kit including all the above is $4,750. Coverings + wall and floor framing materials may also purchased locally and cut on the job site. If you wish to save money by cutting most of the materials yourself, we will provide you with instructions. Shipping of just the precision cut EconOdome frame kit as shown below is $500 to anywhere in the USA. Shipping for the "complete" 13' EconOdome kit will vary between $900 and $1500 depending on your location. If you wish to order just the 13' EconOdome 2Z frame kit with 40 triangles, click "buy now" button below. If you wish to order the complete 13' diameter EconOdome cabin kit, please contact our office by phone.”
    Faze Change Produx • 1331 County Road 1470E • Sullivan, Illinois 61951 USA • Toll Free: (888) 366-3588
    fazechange@one-eleven.net
  6. American Ingenuity Domes 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.
    American Ingenuity Inc • 8777 Holiday Springs Road • Rockledge, Florida 32955 USA • Fax: (321) 639-8778
    Phone: (321) 639-8777 • Website: www.aidomes.com • info@aidomes.com
  7. BIOHOME   You're going to like this one. These folks are still cranking them out, they must be doing something right. 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 BioHOME Polyurethane 3 LB Foam will not sag, shrink, and it resists molds and bacteria, is chew proof (insects & rodents) and self-extinguishing should it catch fire. 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.”
    Edward B Dilley Sr • PO Box 211175 • Crescent Valley, Nevada 89821 • Phone: (775) 374-0136 • tppbiohome@aol.com
  8. Birdcage Dome in Haiti THE BIRDCAGE DOME   This dome construction system being displayed here is in my opinion extremely good because it is something a lot of people can do, plus it appears to be quite strong when completed. This system allows for either a flexible tarp covering or a concrete/cement shell which even an inexperienced person can build.

    “This is Wil Fidroeff, developer of the Birdcage Dome building alternative. The idea of the Birdcage Dome came just after the earthquake in Haiti. A strong 23 feet (7m) diameter, hurricane and earthquake safer concrete dome home can be built with interwoven rebar arches and covered with tarps, metal mesh or troweled on ferrocement concrete. A do-it-yourself dome home built using only rebar, tarps, metal mesh, and mortar is very economical. We call it the "Birdcage Dome" as you begin with a birdcage made with steel rebar. The birdcage dome can be built very economically on the ground or on a raised mesa base. Both dome types (wood frame or metal frame) can be covered with wire mesh and troweled on concrete. We wanted to show the Haitians how to build the birdcage dome because the necessary construction materials are available in Haiti. Shipping and manufacturing costs are not affordable by many people who need substantial and safe low cost homes in Haiti and elsewhere. As rebar, tarps, metal mesh, cement, and sand are commonly available everywhere, this dome building method can be used to build low cost and functional dome homes. Cement and sand mortar over wire mesh is called ferrocement. Ferrocement concrete can be used to make boats, water tanks, and dome homes. Ferrocement is cement mortar that is troweled onto metal wire mesh. A thin layer (¾" to 1" thick) of cement mortar is very strong when it is formed in a curved shape and reinforced with wire mesh. A thin concrete shell is very strong like an egg shell when it is formed to make a wire mesh reinforced concrete dome. My initial thought was to design a dome that would first of all be quickly usable. Anyone willing to work to help themselves and others may use these plans. You can use EMT pipe or bamboo as a substitute for rebar to create the dome shape with interwoven sets of parallel arches.”
    Faze Change Produx • 1331 County Road 1470E • Sullivan, Illinois 61951 USA • Toll Free: (888) 366-3588
    fazechange@one-eleven.net
  9. John Kuhtik JOHN KUHTIK'S FLY'S EYE DOME   I have seen this "Fly's Eye" picture before and wished that it could have been made habitable. Well, it seems this man John Kuhtik has done just that - he has made this basic Buckminster Fuller concept habitable and i hope he can market the product successfully.

    John Kuhtik has been building domes with modular and repeatable fiberglass parts. His company, EMOD, hopes to prototype the Fly's Eye shell, load it with essential equipment to make the dome a house, and make it available to the public at an affordable price. We would like to give families the option of having one parent at home again. John is almost ready to put up the dome, but has a few more fiberglass panels to construct. His company is seeking funding and donations. The dome will be constructed in Bayonne, New Jersey sometime this year. The Fly's Eye was Fuller's last dome design, prototyped back in the mid-70s. Some advantages of the Fly's Eye dome are:

    1. Low cost, high strength.
    2. Light weight, easily transported components.
    3. Bolt together assembly.
    4. Lower heating and cooling costs than rectilinear buildings.
    5. Stronger and safer than conventional buildings.
    6. Savings on resources and labor: One third less material used to enclose the same space with a dome than a cube.
    EMOD, Inc. • 37 Parkview Terrace • Bayonne, NJ 07002 USA • Phone: (201) 823-0605 • jkuhtik@naply.com
  10. Earth Ball Float ROGER DROWNE   Trust me. This website will keep you entertained for hours. One of the things it's about is low cost living in a “Floating Geodesic Dome” on the Intracoastal Waterway along the Eastern Seaboard of the US from New Jersey to the gulf of Mexico ending at Brownsville, Texas. He seems to stay in the section from Georgia to Florida. This isn't such a bad idea in my opinion, looks like it could be a lot of fun. I wonder if this system would work in the Sacramento Delta area of California (Sacramento Delta, centered on Hwy 160 & Hwy 84). I am including several additional links for him: His personal website here and a newspaper article about him here.

    “the SUN is a globe - the Moon is a ball. the Earth is a sphere. Your House can B round. Time 2 get off your butts, Earth Citizens - With your help, we R ready 2 create/build/mass-produce. . . Earth Ball Abodes, Greenhouses and about 16 Support Earth Ball Kits ( see below ). If Earth Citizens Unite, work together & start creating the first / second / 100th and on. . . Earth Ball Abodes, Green-houses and Support E.B.s. U/We can follow along at OUR E.B. web site sharing ideas, how 2 best build em, about what U/WE R doing, materials used, up-dated innovations, etc. . . THEN as each one is built. . . they will become, better and better in a shared, cooperative effort 2 ( in fact - in reality ) WE CAN. . . build the BEST POSSIBLE - Earth Ball Homes etc. 4 all who want one, all around OUR Earth. NOTE: Earth Ball Abodes reduce pollution by A LOT - FAST - AS SOON AS U MOVE IN. Your Ideas R Wanted / Needed, 2 Put this GLOBAL & LOCAL E.C. Project Together. All Information at www.EarthBall.org is FREE 2 copy, use, share, improve upon, any and all - ideas and/or info, between Each Other / Earth Citizens, Anywhere, anytime, on OUR PLANET & beyond / TODAY. About becoming involved, investing what U can (time/money/ideas/whatever) is in the creation stage, Ideas Welcome, Stay Tuned, we hope 2 B ready 2 go with this by April, 2008, NOTE: Any and all investments made to this E.C. Project will come back to you 10 fold - in ideas, information, innovations, saving you time & cash building your E.B.A. U Know. . . WE will B working out the bugs, TOGETHER all around OUR Earth. Also the E.B.A.. & Support Earth Balls can B made 4 resale by YOU simply by being a GREAT support E.Ball product. Other may want to buy from U instead of building their own. In other words, start your own E.C. Co-Operation.”
    EarthBall Roger • Settlers Lane • PO Box 549 • East Dennis, MA 02641 USA • staff@RogerART.com
  11. The RanDome THE RANDOME   This dome consists of what is called a "Circle Packing System". I'm guessing it's classified as a "Coccolithophorid". Say that while eating a bowl of cereal. Also, this dome has a history and is being used even as we speak.

    “Buckminster Fuller is well known for his determined effort to address the global shelter shortage by using his concept of Comprehensive Anticipatory Design Science. Design science strategy focuses on using the world's resources to the greatest advantage possible. One measure of a dwelling's success is its performance per kilogram of material. By increasing a material's performance through design, and thus the efficacy and efficiency of both the cost and labor of construction, the possibility for sheltering all the world's population will also increase. Fuller made great progress in his efforts to address the problems of shelter. The geodesic dome is a milestone in the history of shelter. The RanDome is an advancement in building design that will take Fuller's geodesic shells to new levels of functionality and versatility. The RanDome is a new kind of geodesic shell which is far simpler than existing space enclosing building strategies. RanDomes are mass-produced and assembled from a variety of materials. RanDomes are inexpensive, strong, long lasting and weatherproof - exactly the type of structure to address the global problem of inadequate shelter. The RanDome achieves these benefits by changing, fundamentally, how we view the basic building element. The RanDome structure is not an assemblage of edges and faces, as are traditional shell structures. It is assembled from a number of overlapping cones called vertex elements. A RanDome has all the structural benefits of a traditional geodesic shell structure but without the complexity of design, manufacture and construction. The RanDome construction strategy is intuitive. It is a Trimtab improvement on mass shelter construction by virtue of elegant simplicity. This building strategy needs no advanced educational degrees or construction experience. It transcends literacy, language and cultural barriers. Everyone, even children, can now build a sturdy, weatherproof and healthy shelter.”
    Richard Fischbeck • 18 Belfast Rd • Freedom, ME 04941 USA • Phone: (207) 382-3051 • dick.fischbeck@gmail.com
  12. KIBBUTZ LOTAN   This is a small community of about 150 people living in the desert in Israel who have been creating very beautiful dome type home using straw bale and EMT type tubing as framework. Lots of videos available showing their methods. Very interesting presentation and educational too.

    “We, the members of Kibbutz Lotan, have chosen to establish here our home and future. Through our commitment to 'Am Yisrael, Torat Yisrael, and the State of Israel, we are working and learning together to create a community based on Reform Zionist Jewish values: We work towards creating a progressive expression of Jewish religion and culture in our rituals and our day-to-day life, through mitzvot in our relationships with one another and with God. Our belief in equality is expressed through direct democracy, equality in the workplace, gender equality, and mutual responsibility. Together we are responsible for our livelihood and share out resources as an expression of our belief in the strength of communal action. We strive to fulfill the biblical ideal "to till the earth and preserve it", in our home, our region, the country, and the world. We are working to create ways to live in harmony with our desert environment. We aspire to meaningful relationships of openness, communication, and mutual respect with one another. We strive for economic independence, and aim to support ourselves in ways that are in keeping with our values. Our commitment to our home and community is expressed through cooperative action in work, education, culture, health, and day-to-day life. We work towards the betterment of ourselves, our people, and the world. Our home is a community of Shlihut, outreach. Our way of life constitutes a message we wish to impart to those who enter our gates and to the circles of society through which we pass. This declaration is a living document which requires of us ongoing involvement and action. Signed by the members of Kibbutz Lotan, Motzai Simhat Torah, 5758, 23 October, 1997.”
    Kibbutz Lotan • D.N. Hevel Eilot 88855 Israel • Phone: +972 8 6356811 / +972 8 6356935 / +972 54 9799024
    Toll free (while in Israel): 1800 2000 75 • lotan-ecocenter@lotan.ardom.co.il
  13. Earth Ball Dome EARTH BALL DOME   Introducing a new concept in dome building: The "Earth Ball Dome" a dome based on the principle of the soccer ball. Click on the link entitled: "New EARTH BALL Dome kits". This is a new dome kit under 20ft in size. Great for small dome cabins.

    “The bases for the EARTH BALL is taken from the 3 frequency icosahedron. My idea was to simplify the construction of the 3V icosa by removing the inter triangles from the hexagons and pentagons. As the geodesic structures are very strong for large span structures their are just to many struts needed for the smaller structures under 20' in diameter. As our final structure resembles the soccer ball with the hexagons around the pentagons. As in any design, efficiency in the use of standard materials is of great importance. As most common sheathing materials are four feet wide and our hexagons have parallel sides, it was our goal to create a strut length that created a four foot wide hexagon from the center of each strut. The EARTH BALL structure can be built using many different material choices and is at a size that is useful for many different needs. Depending on the use of the structure different sizes of lumber can be used with ample strength. As in all our wood structures and as any carpenter would do is cut the compound angles where the three struts meet.”
    Dome Kits • Phone: (704) 701-5331 • info@sphericalstructures.com
  14. Planetarium Dome 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.
  15. CGI Dome 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.”

    jchilla@domelivingmagazine.com
  16. Easy Domes 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 SF domes."

    Easy Dome Ltd • Sigmundargota 10 • PO Box 1156 • FO-110 Torshavn • Faroe Islands • Phone: +298-311319 • Fax: +298-313719 • info@easydomes.com
  17. Albata Geodesics 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 SF.

    "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."

    AlbataDomes • 900 Country Road 795 • Montevallo Alabama 35115 • Phone: (205) 665-7505
    domebuilder@albatadomes.com
  18. Lincoln School Dome 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 • Phone: (207) 874-8100
  19. Cheap Shelter Dome 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 • george@pinenut.com
  20. Monolithic Dome 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."

    Monolithic • 177 Dome Park Place • Italy TX 76651 USA • Phone: (972) 483-7423 • Fax: (972) 483-6662
    email@monolithic.com
  21. Domes Northwest 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."

    Hugh & Theresa Mayhew • 5209 E Oregon Road • Elk WA 99009 USA • Phone: (509) 292-9709
    Hugh@domesnorthwest.com
  22. Bump Dome Home 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.

    “Bump was a dome, up for nine years. As shelter, it served as a place to live for two people for two years while I finished the stained glass dome Wholeo. Later, as a garden space, the aluminum tube frame overarched plants for another seven years. The picture above shows Bump seen from within the unfinished Wholeo. (See a larger photo). I planned, created, and lived with it. Only gradually I learned the significance of its form. The geometry has become the basic framework for imagining evolution of consciousness structures. As such, they underlie layouts for mindspace: For example, in the evolutionary stage and color healing. The Light Body book tells what I went through. Specifically, see the tube frame diagram. Why spin its story here under Trips/Imagine/RitualSpaces/lostNfound/EIE? Trips/Imagine - context, RitualSpace, journal - a spiritual approach to building, lostNfound, physical manifestation - the building as art sketch, physique, EIE, model of consciousness - the meaning of the geometry, & Photos. The Bump story fills gaps in my Art pages, between Staten Island and Monte Rio, from 1972-74. Track back (at the bottom of the page, under "Return in 1972") or forward in the Art/Glass section.”
    lichencaroling@wholeo.net
  23. The Miller Dome 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. Airform is where a person uses a very large inflated rubber balloon as a "form" on which to spray a coating which dries and hardens into a rigid shell.

    “The house we chose was a pre-designed plan called the Gemini from the Monolithic Domes plan book. The basic shape is two slightly intersecting spheres for a shape that many people would describe as a figure eight. (Or, make your own joke.) The major dimensions of the house are sixty feet long at the long axis, 32 feet wide at the maximum width of both domes. The maximum interior height of each dome is thirteen feet. The interior square footage is about 1400 square feet. Although the house is not large, it features three bedrooms, two baths, and a large open kitchen/living area.”

    Contact the Miller Dome: russell@millerdome.com
  24. Styrofoam Dome 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."

    edo@pinktentacle.com
  25. Energy Structures 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 USA • Toll Free: (800) 334-8144 • Phone: (651) 772-3559
    Fax: (651)772-1207 • jfrawley@pro-ns.net or J.Frawley@comcast.net
  26. Ghostwood Dome Home 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 flat work, 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."

    Location: Nye Montana
  27. i Dome House 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."

    International Dome House • Contact Form
  28. Domebook 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."

    DOMEBOOK • Buy Here
  29. Spherical Geodesic Structures 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
  30. Monolithic Dome Cabin 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 • Phone: 972-483-7423 • Fax: 972-483-6662
    email@monolithic.com
  31. Safe Harbor Domes 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.
    Safe Harbor Dome Project • Phone: (772) 486-4555
  32. World Flower 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."
    Worldflower Garden Domes • PO Box 2103 • Georgetown, Texas 78627 USA • gardendome@yahoo.com
  33. Kit Domes 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. Lots of good info here.

    "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!"
    Faze Change Produx • 1331 County Road 1470E • Sullivan, Illinois 61951 USA • Toll Free: (888) 366-3588
    fazechange@one-eleven.net
  34. TMEN Stackwood Dome THE BUILDING OF MOTHER'S STACKWOOD DOME   Even though this dome structure is not completely made using stackwood, i guess a good portion of it is. It would be interesting if a person could figure out a way to safely build the entire arch using stackwood. Maybe for starters a person could safely design a smaller version of the dome shelter. Here's the link to the updated article "Update: Mother's Stackwood Dome".

    “You may not need an entire 44-foot-diameter, 21-foot-high, geodesic-dome-fronted, wood-wall-backed solar greenhouse like the one that now graces MOTHER's Ecological Research Center. . . but-if you're looking for an inexpensive way to construct a solid, well-insulated, dome-shaped structure-the stackwood building method illustrated here is certainly a quick (and easy) one. In MOTHER NO. 62 (page 33), we told you how-when stackwood expert Jack Henstridge set out to experiment with the low-cost construction technique as a part of last summer's Earth-Sheltered Homes seminar—a whole crowd of folks pitched in, barn raising style, to help create what is (to the best of our knowledge) the world's first stackwood dome. Needless to say, since our project was a "first", we did a lot of learning as we went along, and there are things that we'll do a little differently when we build our next structure of this type. But we'd still like to tell you how an untested idea (with the help of MOTHER's wonderful summer visitors) became a reality.
    Ogden Publications • 1503 SW 42nd ST • Topeka KS 66609 USA
  35. Deployable Geoshelters 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 • Phone: (703) 319-2090
    Fax: (703) 319-2091
  36. Good Karma Domes GOOD KARMA DOMES   They build "Panel Domes". That means key components are prefabricated in their shop to ensure a good fit at the construction site. This is a good website with lots of educational material provided for your perusal.

    "Domes, geodesic domes or concrete domes, hub and strut systems versus panel domes, what is frequency? How do these factors effect ease of dome home construction, quality and affordability. Where do you find the answers? Right here! The Good Karma Domes extensive website GoodKarmaDomes.com is designed to answer your questions about dome home construction and reflect our 38 years of dome building expertise. We are happy to answer questions. We offer a great dome; erecting, dome roofing (elastomeric and shingle), and the installation of dome ledger boards, dome extensions, dome cupolas, and dome 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! If you can't find the answer here, email or call us. 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" --James Lynch!
    James Lynch • 3531 SW 42nd street • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73119 USA • Phone: (405) 642-8226
    james@goodkarmadomes.com
  37. Monkey Dome 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, California 93103 • jon@fetchaphrase.com
  38. BFI Dome PicBUCKMINSTER 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 N 11TH ST, Suite 402 • Brooklyn, NY 11211 • Phone: (718) 290-9280
    contact@bfi.org
  39. Geo-Dome 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
    Phone: (+44) 07833791997
  40. Timberline 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
  41. Small Intershelter 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
    Phone: (907) 789-9273 • intershelterak@aol.com
  42. The Horton Dome 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.”
    Ted Horton • ted@hortondome.com
  43. World Shelters 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 • Phone: (707) 822-6600 • Fax: (707) 633-1737 • info@worldshelters.org
  44. Natural Spaces Domes 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.”
    Natural Spaces Domes • 37955 Bridge Road • North Branch, Minnesota 55056 USA • Phone: (651) 674-4292
    Toll Free: (800) 733-7107 • Fax: (651) 674-5005 • nsd@naturalspacesdomes.com
  45. Domes International DOMES INTERNATIONAL   This company specializes in the manufacture of composite fiberglass dome homes. These are quite nice and used for disaster relief to school rooms to personal 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.”
    World Discoveries Inc • 4933 Walnut grove RD • Memphis, TN USA 38117 • Phone: (901) 761-1370 • Fax: (901) 761-7622 • slpope@bellsouth.net; slpope@worlddiscoveries.com
  46. 5 Meter Cardboard Dome 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.
    Jeff Adkins • jeffadkins@antioch.k12.ca.us
  47. Electrical Fires and Their Causes
    ELECTRICAL FIRES & THEIR CAUSES   This book has been entrusted to me by the author to sell on the internet. This is a paperback book which contains 99 pages, but has a lot of accurate information concerning the source of electrical fires. The book is written in layman's language and is easily understood by most everyone. This subject matter is appropriate for most any man made structure which includes conventional wood homes, shipping container homes, sheds and other out-buildings with conventional electrical systems (electrical wire & circuit breaker panels) installed within their framing members.

    “This is a book written by Rudy A. Medina former fire chief of Imperial county of California for use by those working in the fire investigation field, attorneys, fire service, firefighters, electricians, electrical contractors, insurance adjusters, criminal fire investigators, & fire prevention personnel. It is an informative book for the professional who needs to know fire causes and the behavior of electrical energy. This book currently sells for $19.95 plus S&H of $3.99 on Amazon.com. Click on the picture on the right or above starting link to buy from the Amazon.com site.”
    Gary Green • messtime@yahoo.com
  48. Wallace Neff Airform House 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 US 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.
    Future Address & Phone
  49. Igloo Satellite Cabin 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."

    anthea@icewall.com.au
  50. starplate eco-cabin RAGNAR'S ECO-CABIN   For those of you interested in using the "Starplate" connector system - this is probably the premier place to go to get good information. The website has been up for a long time and he has updated it recently. Very interesting presentation with lots of good pictures.

    "Welcome to the Eco-Cabin website. Way back in the 70's Mom found a little advertisement for a book about this small cabin that can be built by two people. Well mom wanted this cabin for twenty-five years. About a year earlier she got holes dug and posts sunk to support the cabin. They sat there for a while but like most projects the first cut is always the hardest part of it all. While I was there in May 2001 to build the pump and utilities building (PUB), a building to cover the pump and hold a bunch of gardening tools. At one point waiting for a delivery of lumber I took the saw over to the posts of the eco-cabin foundation and cut them all to the marks and they all came out fine :o). In April 2001 we started to build an Eco-Cabin. So this site will document our progress in construction, our experiences learned from the construction and some suggestions if you'd like to build your own Eco-Cabin."

    Ragnar Torfason • 355 Downie Street • Peterborough Ontario Canada K9H 4J1 • Phone: (705) 741-0921 • tempus@pipcom.com
  51. Papercrete Dome 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

FEATURED

Small Green dome
People like this dome cabin. This beautiful little dome was designed and built by 'Rob Lusher' of domecompany.com.au in Sydney, Australia • Phone: 0409244424. It is a 6 metre diameter music studio Rob built for himself (Not for Sale). It is a timber frame, covered with EPS panels and cement render.
You can view the interior by clicking here.
 The March of the Domes Instrumental .mp3
Found at bee mp3 search engine

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Gary Green • PO Box 1991 • Alpine, Texas 79831
Email Contact: messtime@gmail.com

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Website Last Updated:   March 15, 2012