Building Features
Dome
12’ to 16’ diameter (inside)
wall thickness:
- straw, 18″-32″ (superinsulative)
- superadobe, 10″-16″ (a 24-hr wall, ie, thermally self-regulating)
catenary curvature (gravity makes this curve if you hold a chain loosely by the ends. invert shape for a strong, elegant dome!)
corbeled construction (flat layers of material that step up to the dome’s peak)
heavy wooden door and frame
wood frames for later installation of windows
Finish
earthen plaster, interior and exterior
Floor
compacted earth, 12″ above grade
Foundation
rubble trench
18″ below grade, 12″ above
urbanite (large chunks of discarded concrete) or gravel superadobe
cob mortar in above-grade urbanite
Roof
free-standing conic of sealed plywood or metal, elevated by tripod (photos below)
21-25’ diameter, 3’ eaves
4’ x 4’ shingled panels, bent and screwed together into large cone
skylights: replace 1-5 panels later with polycarbonate sheets
elastomeric roofing paint for plywood
same aerodynamic peak-angle as most mountains (97.2)
superadobe may only need a smaller roof or none at all, depending on annual rainfall
Utilities
small rocket stove for heating and cooking
5-gallon water dispenser
sink with greywater drainage
hide-away shower pan and curtain
no electricity
Construction
first, the roof is assembled
then dome is built underneath
year-round construction in temperate climates is therefore viable
rocket stove can dry the plaster from the inside out
Cost
materials: US$660-$1000+windows
- cost varies with size; superadobe is 15-50% cheaper, depending on rainfall
expenses: $1600 or trade
- includes travel anywhere in US; other destinations negotiable
total: $1930-$2600
time to completion: 3 months (including my retreat)
Photos
click for enlargement
**PHOTOS NOT LOADABLE YET. USE LINKS BELOW:
off-site sources of above photos:
straw bale dome , superadobe , conic , conic hut
Qualifications
From birth, I learned design from my father. The patron saint of design in our house was Frank Lloyd Wright, so I poured over his books my entire childhood. I learned craftsmanship from my dad and mom, our hippy artist friends, and an old, cantankerous ex-Boeing engineer named Jack Nuckols. This would lead me to lots of invention, designing, prototyping, tinkering, handyman work, carpentry and metalworking, and several bouts of conventional construction. Eventually I came across and studied the mind-altering work of Buckminster Fuller.
Over the last 13 years, I have designed and built 11 alternative structures. Two early “failure-point” experiments had to be demolished: a straw bale vault and a geodesic bamboo/straw flake/cob dome. Three other structures mostly worked: a tent; a wood-frame geodesic dome; and a frameless cardboard dome. Six others worked as designed: a tipi (my first structure); another tent; a soundproof, drywalled, straw bale lining for an existing garage; another wood-frame geodesic dome; a conic hut; and a hexayurt.
On a handful of occasions, I have participated in standard straw bale and cob construction and plastering. Mostly this took place in Oregon with some of the same people who revived these ancient techniques in the states, namely Ianto Evans and Linda Smiley of the Cob Cottage Company. Rob Bolman of Maitreya Eco-Village helped me, too.
Land requirements
building codes: either non-existent, unenforced, or avoidable. With an off-site woodshop and enough planning, construction can go very quickly and quietly.
reasonable access to hardware store
fairly quiet: at least a mile (if not twenty) from railroad, airports, highways, construction, factories, gravel pits, construction, industrial agriculture, etc.
My onsite needs
covered work area
bench, saw horses, and basic hand and power tools.
for superadobe, a reliable sewing machine
simple shelter and a bicycle
someone with a vehicle to fetch materials
someone during the retreat to say hello daily and bring fresh food every few days.
I would like to begin building in 1-2 months. Currently in Missouri, I would travel anywhere in the world to do this. I will build the dome, use it for my darkness retreat, then vacate, all within 3 months. If you have had in mind to build, or this just sounds right to you, please email or voicemail me (see contact/comment page). Please pass the link along, too.
Cheers,
Andrew