Colora-dome

[Bronson]

I posted this on another forum in 2011. I have been meaning to post it here for some time. I am home with a bad summer cold, so I may as well do it now. Mods please move if it would be better in another section.

In 2011, I drove the 580 miles from My home, to Dolores, Colorado, to help My friends erect a Geo-dome, 28 feet diameter, by 13 feet high.
I usually make the trek to visit on My Harley, but, it was late in the season, and the temps at the higher altitudes were dropping, and I needed to carry My tools along.
The leaves outside Chama were beginning to turn.

This is the pad for the dome, already prepared by the time I arrived.

The entire dome is packed in this small trailer, and is delivered by a Foreman, who will oversee Our labor.

It only took about an hour for the four of Us to build and shoot the stem wall for level.

All the 2x4 are pre-cut and drilled. This is the first tier going up.

..And the second tier.

Only 2 to go-

Completed framing in 3.5 hours.

Little friend with the LaPlata range in the background, Telluride is up there.

Putting the panels on was very labor-intensive.
My 3400 ft lungs were straining at 7000 feet!

Some of the panes are insulated to reflect heat back to the 1400 gallon heat sink water tank.

 

[Bronson]

Mesa Verde is behind the top of the dome. My friends will build an EARTHSHIP home about 100 feet north of the dome.

The end of day two was a welcome relief for this low-lander.

Far right, Yogabill, the Company Rep and Foreman.
He told Me He has lost count of how many He has put up.

These little gas shocks are filled with bees-wax.
As the dome warms up, they open the two roof vents and sidewall vents.

This is starting to look like something!

Packer. Poor mistreated doggy!
He is too tired to supervise until He gets a cat-nap.

Here, Rob is putting down sand in the bottom of the 1400 gallon water tank. It get a liner similar to a waterbed.

Here, the liner and tank stiffener are in place.

Bronson and Rob catch a breath.

The solar panels have been installed. They operate air circulating fans to supply the raised beds.
They plan to raise 100% of their fruits and veggies after one year. They hope to be totally off-grid in another year.

We fired up the wood-heated hot tub later and drank locally brewed beer under a rising full moon.
What a GOOD tired!!

This is similar to the EARTHSHIP hoe they are planning to build. Theirs will be a little smaller, to accommodate two adults, two dogs, and two cats.

Rob said that not only is it a great place to grow fruit and veggies, but also, a great place to listen to music and drink locally brewed beer.

 

[AnthonyJ124]

Neat! Thanks for posting the build.

 

[Bronson]

Neat! Thanks for posting the build.

Glad You enjoyed it!

 

[dfiler2]

I also enjoyed it, very interesting. Looks like a great way to build a green house. The bees wax shocks seem like a good idea for any green house and it looks like they are pretty common, even Amazon has them. Thanks for posting.

 

[Sunbimmer]

WOW man, fantastic build. I'm jealous!!

 

[Fueler]

Neat stuff Bronson.
The wife has been hinting around about a garden. We did this as a young family. There are just two of us now.
While I am the son of a Farmer I disliked the time and energy it took. It was necessary but not an enjoyable process for me. I would not look forward to it again.
But the food was way better than any store stuff.

Having clarified my stand this looks like a win/win. I suggested small raised beds (to get out of major work) but this makes more sense. Year round, contained with no unsightly space in the yard in the off season...and I may not have to fool with it much, I would go small size.

How is your friend getting along with it these days?
Likes, dislikes? Get him on here to follow up.
Do you happen to remember the manufacturer of the kit?

 

[Bronson]

Neat stuff Bronson.
The wife has been hinting around about a garden. We did this as a young family. There are just two of us now.
While I am the son of a Farmer I disliked the time and energy it took. It was necessary but not an enjoyable process for me. I would not look forward to it again.
But the food was way better than any store stuff.

Having clarified my stand this looks like a win/win. I suggested small raised beds (to get out of major work) but this makes more sense. Year round, contained with no unsightly space in the yard in the off season...and I may not have to fool with it much, I would go small size.

How is your friend getting along with it these days?
Likes, dislikes? Get him on here to follow up.
Do you happen to remember the manufacturer of the kit?

Fueler, I hope to catch up with Rob in the next couple of days, We have been playing phone tag for a while.
I do not remember the mfg, but it was based in Pagosa Springs, Co.

 

[BUGTHUG]

So what material does he plan to use? tires, hay, barrels?
Is the bottom of the geo dome use pressure treated wood? Looks like a all around useful building.

 

[Shadow Boxer]

This is Cool!

 

[Bronson]

bump

 

[LXCam]

Hey now that's very cool. How's it held up over the past year? Any issues with the structure settling or leaks if that really matters? And do you know about how much something like that costs, just wondering.

 

[R.Anderson]

bump

Bumping the thread about a year later with no new pictures ??? Or at least a update?

 

[Bib Overalls]

The geodesic dome building system was invented and patented by a gent named Buckmaster Fuller in the early 1950s. Structures based on his design have been built allover the world. There are even some at the South Pole. A Google search for "Buckmaster Fuller geodesic dome" will pull up a lot of information including links to builders.

 

[BUGTHUG]

Or Monolithic Domes in Italy, Texas. Its the ones made from concrete, or shotcrete. My dream home, maybe someday?

 

[Bronson]

Bumping the thread about a year later with no new pictures ??? Or at least a update?[/QUOT

There were so few views/responses, I wanted more people to see it, so, I bumped it.
Sorry I didn't get Your approval before I bumped MY thread.
I haven't been able to get hold of My friend for some time and I am a little worried about Him.

 

[Bronson]

Hey now that's very cool. How's it held up over the past year? Any issues with the structure settling or leaks if that really matters? And do you know about how much something like that costs, just wondering.

I believe the kit was around $15,000.
That included delivery and a Foreman to oversee construction.
The components were all of good quality.
The kit is manufactured in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

 

[LXCam]

Bumping the thread about a year later with no new pictures ??? Or at least a update?[/QUOT

There were so few views/responses, I wanted more people to see it, so, I bumped it.
Sorry I didn't get Your approval before I bumped MY thread.
I haven't been able to get hold of My friend for some time and I am a little worried about Him.

Abducted by aliens most likely.

 

[Spdstr280Z]

The geodesic dome building system was invented and patented by a gent named Buckmaster Fuller in the early 1950s. Structures based on his design have been built allover the world. There are even some at the South Pole. A Google search for "Buckmaster Fuller geodesic dome" will pull up a lot of information including links to builders.

Buckminster for anyone doing that Google search, autocorrect may have got you there...

More trivia, buckminsterfullerene, or Bucky Balls were also named in honor of Mr Fuller and his design. They are carbon nano spheres.

Neat design, I'm curious how it has worked out too.

Jason

 

[Pig In A Poke]

Where is the computer that you type the numbers into every 128 minutes?

Actually Im very jealous I would love to have a geodesic as a green house.

 

[csp]

Little friend with the LaPlata range in the background, Telluride is up there.

Telluride is actually north of the La Plata range, which is nestled between Durango and Dolores/Mancos. The La Plata range is just a sub-range of the San Juans.

 

[Bronson]

Telluride is actually north of the La Plata range, which is nestled between Durango and Dolores/Mancos. The La Plata range is just a sub-range of the San Juans.

I stand corrected, thanks!

 

[R.Anderson]

Where is the computer that you type the numbers into every 128 minutes?

Actually Im very jealous I would love to have a geodesic as a green house.

Close, every 108 mins.

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