Specifications: 314 sq. ft. interior, 181 sq. ft. interior loft, total = 495 sq. ft. interior, Footprint: 23’ diameter
This blog post is a continuation of the discussion about disaster resistant domes. So far we’ve talked about Hemispheric Domes and key ideas about How to Build the Strongest Buildings That Can Last Centuries.
Wiki describes a catenary arch as “the curve that an idealised hanging chain or cable assumes when supported at its ends and acted on only by its own weight.” A catenary arch can be inverted to define and guide the shape of a dome (a dome is an arch that’s been rotated about its axis). This creates an incredibly strong shape, that when combined with the right materials can produce structures with superior disaster resistance.
The idea for this design sprang from a reader who liked the disaster resistant building concept, but wanted a taller dome with a loft. Well, here it is.
More details at my Earthbag House Plans site.
I would like to learn how to build the above dome.
The basics of earthbag building are described in several books shown in the right column. The plans for this catenary dome are available for $200 if you order it as a custom plan at http://dreamgreenhomes.com/store/store.htm and indicate that name. You would get Owen Geiger’s e-book about earthbag building as part of that price. There is a lot more information available at http://www.earthbagbuilding.com
Are these kind of structures function well in the desert?
In general domes do well in arid climates because the danger of leaks leading to failures is much less.