Dome Homes
Inherently Strong and Disaster Resistant

      Dome-shaped houses tend to look either really good or really bad. Most dome homes are constructed with a single, large dome, which is then divided into many different rooms inside. That makes the most optimal use of the materials, encompassing the most square feet for the least amount of materials. If I were to build a dome house, however, I like the idea of creating a dome for each room, as shown in this model I built using balloons and paper mache. I believe that this style of dome home could be quite economical if the domes were mass-produced out of lightweight insulation, such as papercrete or expanded polystyrene (preferably recycled), then hauled into place, connected, and stuccoed over with cement, as proposed in my book, Living Homes: Stone Masonry, Log, and Strawbale Construction. Perhaps one day...

      The most popular mode of dome home construction at present is to build a "monolithic" dome of concrete and rebar, typically using an oversize balloon as a form. Monolithic domes are inherently strong, and resistant to earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and even bombs, as was observed in World War II. As you explore the potential for dome home construction, here are some resources to get you started.

Dome Living
A Creative Guide For Planning Your Monolithic Dream Home
by David B. South with Freda Grones
Review by Thomas J. Elpel

      Dome Living offers a great look at the uncommon architecture of monolithic dome homes. Monolithic domes are made using large balloon like air forms. The air forms are usually sprayed on the inside with a seamless coating of polyurethane insulation. A grid of reinforcing rebar is put up inside of that, and sprayed with a thin layer of shotcrete to make a shelter that is incredibly energy efficient and highly resistant to natural or manmade disasters. The energy bill for a typical monolithic dome home is about 10% of the bill for a conventional house of similar size. Dome structures have proved impressively resiliant against earthquakes, tornadoes--even dropping bombs. While dome homes may not fit into every neighborhood, the reality is that if all houses were built like monolithic dome homes, then we would have very nearly achieved a sustainble (energy- and resource-efficeint) civilization already. Dome Living includes more than 115 house plans to give you lots of creative ideas to work with in planning your own monolithic dome home. ISBN: 0-9679171-0-7. 152 pages. 2000.

Real Working Drawings
DIY House Plans with Free Software, Monolithic Dome Edition
by Robert Bissett

      Real Working Drawings takes the reader through all the stages required to produce a functional and attractive set of working drawings, with a special emphasis on monolithic dome construction. The prospective home owner will learn how to start with a pencil-drawn floor plan, build a 3D computer model and produce and publish a complete set of house plans. Working with the structural engineer, plan reviewer and contractor is covered, as well. The entire process can be accomplished on a home computer with free software available on the internet saving thousands of dollars.

Author Robert Bissett has been specializing in monolithic dome design for over ten years. He did the design development and working drawings for Dome of a Home in Pensacola Beach, Florida, which survived hurricane Ivan and was the subject of a TV special. He also did the design development and working drawings for the largest, high-end dome home, forty thousand square feet on four floors, part of a five dome complex. Paperback. CreateSpace. 2011. 148 pages. ISBN: 978-1461191117.

How to Build a Concrete Dome House
How to build the strongest, fireproof, tornado, and earthquake resistant concrete dome house
by Jan Hornas

      The title says it all! This little (38 page) book outlines the process of building a monolithic concrete dome with reinforcing bar and ferrocement. This process does not require a big, house-sized balloon, as advocated by some builders. Instead, the shell is constructed out of rebar and chickenwire, then ferrocemented, then insulated, covered with wire mesh, and ferrocemented again.

This book is by no means comprehensive. It offers a good sketch of the process, enough to experiment with on a smaller structure. The drawings are unsophisticated, but adequte for the purpose. How to Build a Concrete Dome House will not answer all your questions, but it will get you started!

See also
Earthbag Construction
Cob Construction
Ceramic Houses

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