Inhabitat » HURRICANE RESISTANT HOUSING: Monolithic Domes

October 10, 2005

HURRICANE RESISTANT HOUSING: Monolithic Domes

An interesting find from the recent spate of hurricanes in the U.S. is that a particular type of building structure seems to hold up surprisingly well to the ravages of extreme wind and water. The reinforced-concrete dome - or “Monolithic Dome” as one company has branded it - has shown time and time again that it is up to the task of surviving extreme weather conditions like hurricanes, earthquakes, and even tornadoes. After hurricane Katrina blew through Biloxi, Mississippi, the concrete-domed New Life Family Church, was one of the few large buildings in the area left standing. A couple in Pensacola, Florida are so taken with Monolithic Domes that they rent out their “Dome of a Home” in order to spread the dome gospel. The “Dome of a Home” has been through three major hurricanes - Dennis, Ivan and Katrina, and survived all intact.

In addition to being safe, sturdy and weather resistant - Monolithic domes are extremely cheap, easy to build, and energy efficient. They are also fire-resistant, mold-resistant and impervious to rot. They’ve become the building type of choice in disaster relief areas, as they can often be erected in a couple of weeks with minimal materials and resources. Building them basically just consists of pouring a concrete foundation, inflating a a heavy-duty, dome-shaped “balloon”, erecting steel rebar scaffolding around that, and then spraying Concrete (Shotcrete) over the outside. For more information on building a Monolithic Dome, check out The Monolithic Dome Institute’s guide

Their only major drawback to Monolithic Domes seem to be that they are so insulated that they usually require air-conditioning and de-humidifiers to keep them dry and ventilated. Also, the rounded walls make them more difficult to furnish and decorate. And of course your neighbors might complain.

For more information about Monolithic Domes, see The Monolithic Dome Institute >

9 Responses to “HURRICANE RESISTANT HOUSING: Monolithic Domes”

James Says:

October 10th, 2005 at 7:05 pm

These are really catching on, I want one!

Kim Says:

August 30th, 2006 at 5:27 pm

The neighbors can only complain if their houses dont’ get washed/blown away, otherwise they’ll ask how to get one too.

Richie Says:

August 30th, 2006 at 5:43 pm

Monolithic Domes are cool… but to build a nice one is expensive. Then there are the issues already mentioned: maintenance(painting); AC ; dampness, etc. Putting something up on piers that wont blow away in high speed articulating winds is the challenge. Something that’s elevated on steel reinforced concrete piers would certainly accomodate the expected storm surge water levels of violent Hurricanes.

Why not try a novel idea and create dwellings that utilize Buckminster Fuller’s ‘Octet Truss’ as the wall, ceiling, floor and roof superstructure elements ? If I’m not mistaken… airplane hangers regluarly withstand hurriacne force winds, and they use ’space frame’ superstructure elements to support their superwide, clearspan, roofs ? Well ‘Octet Trusses’ are stronger than space frames, and they can be used for vertical pylons as well as roof & floor framing. So why not give it a shot ? Hey … these designs could be an ‘erecetor sets’ for adults !

The Octet Truss combines alterating tetrahedrons and octahedrons… made from 90º angle bent, ‘L’ shaped, (aluminum) struts, bolted together, to create a super lighgtweight, yet superstrong ’skeleton’. Additionally, any forces or loads impacting Octet Trusses are bourne equally by every member of the ’skelton’ ! So they’re like spider webs…. super strong and super lightweight.

At the 1934 World’s Fair, in Chicago, there was a fascinating House Designed and erected by George and Fred Keck. It was called the ‘Crystal House’… and it used what appears to be a system of 3 welded together, open web steel joists (Truscon O-T Joists ? ) to form 3 sided, hollow, vertical vertical pylons that were located on the exterior of the house. The These outer edge plyons(hollow ‘piers) could easily be fabricated from Octet Truss parts, which would then seamlessly make 90º connections with floor and roof spanning (also fabricated from Octet Truuses) … to create a super strong skeleton to be clad with various panelized elements. (They Octete Truss elements could also be welded, or riveted, together)

So HEY ! All you Architects out there! Get busy ! Start designing dwellings that are Octet Trusses clad with a variety of suitable materials. (What about wall panels made from recycled plastic ? They’d never have to be painted, and would never rot or support mold.)

Synergetically…

Bev Lucas Says:

January 12th, 2007 at 5:57 pm

where could I get more information, and especially photos of dome prefab homes?

Kelle Says:

May 4th, 2007 at 9:28 pm

i think it would not matter whether my neighbors liked it..they would be the ones coming to my house in the safety of a hurricane ….:]]

Inhabitat » CALEARTH DISASTER RESISTANT HOUSING Attracts NASA Says:

June 7th, 2007 at 8:23 pm

[…] architecture before, from Architecture For Humanity’s Biloxi Model Homes to monolithic domes, and considering the likelihood that we will be continually faced with more and more natural […]

royalestel Says:

June 12th, 2007 at 4:12 pm

I visited a family in Craig, CO with a house like this. The only problem I had was getting lost in the oddly-shaped rooms.

CALEARTH DISASTER RESISTANT HOUSING Attracts NASA at dérive Says:

June 13th, 2007 at 4:28 am

[…] disaster-resistant architecture before, from Architecture For Humanity’s Biloxi Model Homes to monolithic domes, and considering the likelihood that we will be continually faced with more and more natural […]