Construction of a Dome
A special pilot Project
Back in 2012 we have contributed to the design and construction of one of the largest wooden dome in Europe. After the successful completion of what we consider one of our nicest project, we have always desired to replicate and to reinterpret this design. This time we have decided to design and build a smaller dome as a pilot project, in order to test if it’s efficient in Romania to build a house inside a dome. Building an outer climate shell for a house could prove beneficial both in the summer and in the winter. While the primary goal of our team is to build a very efficient house, it is equally important to us to obtain a durable design while keeping construction costs affordable.
Step 1
Choosing the size of the dome
We want to build a dome large enough to fit inside a very small house, but still, keeping it small is essential in order to keep the complexity and costs reasonable. Increasing the diameter to more than 10m would mean to go from a 2 frequency dome to a 3 frequency dome. We have decided that a 9.0m meter diameter and 4.5m height is sufficient for a test project.
Step 2
Choosing the materials
We went for wood and steel connections (nodes). While wood might be difficult to work with, it´s relatively easy to procure, and it´s more suited for residential use. We´re still debating regarding the outer shell. It has to be transparent, but we have not decided between ETFE membrane and solid polycarbonate.
Step 3
design and detailing
Calculation of the structure, structural design, specifying the materials and develop drawings for contractors and installations.
Step 4
finding a contractor for the fabrication of the steel connections
We want to build a dome large enough to fit inside a very small house, but still, keeping it small is essential in order to keep the complexity and costs reasonable. Increasing the diameter to more than 10m would mean to go from a 2 frequency dome to a 3 frequency dome. We have decided that a 9.0m meter diameter and 4.5m height is sufficient for a test project.
Structural design and Construction Services
Building your dreams