Dome Shells

Would You Buy a Dome Home?

cbrown — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:18:51 +0000

There are many ways to build domes and Domeshells system is only one of them. Domes are fascinating shaped structures which always draw the eye. They are also deceiving in that their appearance from the outside does not express a true sense of the size and the the feeling of the space created by the dome.

Dome structures around the world have stood up to some of the most extreme weather. Dome shapes are naturally one of the strongest shapes found in nature. Take an egg for example. Try crushing an egg between your hands by applying pressure at each end. You will be amazed at how much pressure can be applied.

One of the strongest systems for building larger dome structures is the system which uses an air form to create the shape of the structure and then, from inside, after a layer of polyurethane foam is applied to the air-form, shot-crete is applied in layers to cover a steel reinforced cage finally forming a steel reinforced concrete shell structure. A monolithic shell structure.

Although strength is not the only benefit of living in a dome there are some pretty persuasive reasons for living in one – especially if you live in a cyclone, hurricane or tornado belt area.

Brad Moon at wired.com seems impressed

Inside of a dome home under construction in Oliphant, Ontario (Canada). Photo from Great Lakes Dome Co.

Cool Cave Homes in Matmâta

cbrown — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:33:11 +0000

These are really cool. Cave Homes in Matmâta in the Tunisian desert has wonderful underground homes (ksar) built to avoid the intense heat and strong winds. The ksours (the plural of ksar) are made by digging a large pit and then, around the sides of the pit, tunneling in a few meters before cutting the living space, an artificial cave. The homes are grouped around the central courtyard where people socialize and work and children play. Each ksar is connected to other courtyards with more rooms forming an underground maze. You can find out more here: www.tunisia.com/matmata/

Free Energy

cbrown — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:52:23 +0000

It has always baffled me why in a country with so much sun, Australia is not a world leader in solar energy technology. Check this.

The Largest Tower of Solar Power