I got the following question from a reader regarding earthbag domes:
“Once the appropriate width of the bag has been determined, can you go with the next size up to make buttress walls around doors unnecessary? I have noticed that in some cases, like the example attached, no buttress walls have been used. And eliminating them can give you extra space, save you time, and make the design more appealing.”
My response was, “I think the only safe way to avoid buttresses around door openings is to use fully cement-stabilized fill, as well as very well reinforced internal pinning with steel rods. But this still makes it difficult to place doors vertically, especially in small domes. Buttresses are better.”