Homes don’t need to be big and homes don’t need to be square. Using a design based on nature’s constructing principles, Buckminster Fuller re-designed the geodesic dome into the multi-use structure we know and love today. Geodesic domes provide an uplifting and inspiring dwelling that is efficient, cost-effective, eco-friendly, and structurally sound.
Geodesic domes offer a lightweight and stable design for small living. Using little in the way of equipment to construct, the frame of a small 16’ dome can fit in the back of a pickup truck and can be set up in a matter of hours using only a ladder. A viable alternative to traditional construction, a dome is a sustainable investment that eliminates much of the environmental impact caused by home building. They require minimal surface area, and can be constructed for permanence on a wooden platform foundation.
The versatility of domes provides something for everyone. They’ve even been used for disaster relief and emergency shelters. I’ve encountered domes at events, as spaces for performance and art, and as temporary structures providing shade and shelter. If you’re someone who enjoys living in an uplifting and inspiring dwelling, domes could be a great option for you.
In July 2011, Adey Gardner bought her 20’ dome from DomeGuys International to serve as her music studio and living space. Along with the professional team from DGI, she put together her dome in less than 3 hours! She customized her space with a bay window, insulation panels for temperature control, and her baby grand piano. Adey says, “Acoustically, playing the piano in the center of the dome is incredible. And with the zip- off bay window, I have a built-in amphitheatre! Since the dome skin is made of vinyl-coated canvas, there is not a lot to block the sound coming in or out. However, recording is not impossible, and I’m enjoying the quality of life that it adds to the tracks.”
Keeping a piano in the space means maintaining temperature and humidity. The space stays comfortable with 100 custom-cut Styrofoam triangles that fit between the dome struts, floor insulation, and heavy polar fleece curtains. While you can opt to add a wood stove to your dome home, Adey chose to use a radiator heater to keep the space warm during Southern Oregon winters. In the summer, the placement of her dome between two giant willow trees does a great job of providing shade. Without the piano to consider, a nice box fan paired with the “roll-up” windows allow enough airflow to keep the space comfortable in the hotter months.
DGI domes are temporary, cost effective, eco friendly, and beautiful. Adey adds that “the most inspiring thing about my dome is the feeling of being in a sphere; it’s almost indescribable how I perceive my surroundings. I’ve been living in right-angled structures my whole life without giving too much attention to how the shape of my house affects my mood, my creative process, and my life. Now I am becoming more aware of the fact that the space we’re enclosed by, greatly influences everything we do and how we go about doing it. Living and working in this dome is my aesthetic dream—it is filled with light and open space, and the feeling of unlimited potential.”
To read more about Adey’s dome experience visit http://tinyhouselistings.com/my-geodesic-dome/ where her story is featured.
To here Adey on her piano, visit her website http://adeyeightmusic.com
