p i c t u r e d : hub and strut wood frame dome for studio and living spaces / collapseable shelter system and growing dome for food production

what is a geodesic dome?
geodesic: the most economical relationship between any two events
economic: using the minimum of time or effort or resources required for maximum effectiveness

geodesic domes apply modern technological know-how to shelter construction, make shelter more comfortable and efficient, and make shelter more economically available to a greater number of people in a diverse array of environmental conditions

geodesic domes are structured after the natural system of humans and trees with a central stem or backbone, from which all else is independently hung, utilizing gravity instead of opposing it - resulting in a construction similar to an airplane - light, taut, and profoundly strong

technology which follows nature's design - as seen by the spider's web which can float in a hurricane because of its high strength-to-weight ratio - produces new shelters intuitively incorporating these naturally hyper-efficient principles... great breakthroughs in the weight-reduction of materials help to make shelters that are more mobile, easier to reproduce, and ecologically sound

to understand the differences in strength between a rectangle and a triangle, apply pressure to both structures - the rectangle will fold up and be unstable but the triangle withstands the pressure and is much more rigid - in fact, the triangle is twice as strong... the new architectural design of the geodesic dome was created from this principle - a spherical structure created from triangles has unparalleled strength, and does more with less...

the sphere uses the doing more with less principle in that it encloses the largest volume of interior space with the least amount of surface area thus saving on materials and cost... when the sphere's diameter is doubled it will quadruple its square footage and produce eight times the volume

the spherical structure of a dome is one of the most efficient interior atmospheres for human dwellings because air and energy are allowed to circulate without obstruction... this enables heating and cooling to occur naturally... geodesic shelters have been built all around the world in different climates and temperatures and still they have proven to be the most efficient human shelter one can find...

the dome is energy efficient for many reasons:

• its decreased surface area requires less building materials
• exposure to cold in the winter and heat in the summer is decreased because, being spherical, there is the least surface area per unity of volume per structure
• the concave interior creates a natural airflow that allows the hot or cool air to flow evenly throughout the dome with the help of return air ducts
• extreme wind turbulence is lessened because the winds that contribute to heat loss flow smoothly around the dome
• it acts like a type of giant down-pointing headlight reflector and reflects and concentrates interior heat - this helps prevent radiant heat loss

net annual energy savings for a dome owner is 30% less than normal rectilinear homes - an improvement that helps save the environment from wasted energy - domes have been designed to withstand high winds and extreme temperatures as seen in the polar regions

many dome manufacturers offer various designs in geodesic dome housing with little assembly time required... some houses can be assembled in less than a day with others taking up to six months - many also come in dome kits that you can build yourself or with the help of friends... the options are many - it all depends on how complex you want the design to be

* hub and strut dome gallery - care and maintenance tips, benefits of dome living...

* building a pacific dome - pie wedge floor system, building a wood 'skirt' around the stilt floor, refitting a pac dome with a new outer liner, adding reflectix for insulation, sewing a hand made inner dome liner, cleaning and maintenance tips for a pacific dome, benefits of the pac dome config...

* building a growing spaces geodesic greenhouse growing dome - foundation, riser walls, dome structure, installing the pool, insulation, glazing, building beds, tips for cleaning and maintaining a growing spaces dome, benefits of the dome...

* assembling a shelter systems grodome - cleaning and maintaining, disassembling and storage, optimum uses and benefits...