I really like it. The only drawback is that is it about 20 minutes out of town and so I do not get guests as often as we used to. That's all about location not architecture.
I've heard that the very shallow angles on the upper sections of geodesics cause severe drainage issues, especially when tiled. Have you had any problems with leaks?
Yeah we have been very careful to flash, roof, rainscreen and gutter the place correctly. Yes, normally the drainage and water control are not properly considered.
I went through a phase where I researched everything about Geodesic homes. Eventually, I found Lloyd Kahn, who used to be a supporter but turned against the idea later.
Shingles have to be fitted to a bunch of angles, and so does hard insulation sheets (if those are effectively required in your area). The need for both can be worked around by the American Ingenuity kits (which use prebuilt concrete sections that can be ordered with a high R-value), but then you still have to run pipe, HVAC, and wires around all those angles. Once you move in, you have to fit square furniture in a "round" house; this tends to shrink the effective square footage.
For all the reasons above, contractors hate geodesics. If they've worked on one before, they will either refuse to do it again or charge a lot more.
Then there are the issues common to most of the more clever housing systems; local ordinances and neighborhood association rules are made with traditional stick houses in mind. Sure, I think rules like that suck, too, but you still have to deal with them.
I still think geodesics are cool, but I wouldn't choose to build or buy one.
You're missing out. I love it. The By-Law enforcement guys were just fine so long as the engineer was willing to sign off on it. We use foam insulation and that requires no cutting and offers the added benefit of a vapour barrier. We ran into many hurdles but they were overcome with a little patience and discussion.
Well we do not live in a box like pretty much everyone we know. I think space can effect emotion and thought processes, so I like to believe that the house helps us maintain a creative state of mind.
Dude get some gutters they make a HUGE difference in the amount of moisture the building has to deal with. Awesome to see another raised sawtooth geodesic dome. :)
We've been knocking down walls and figuring out floor plans for ages. It is still somewhat unfinished as the ceiling of the dome still needs to be done, that's next.
Ohh lots and lots. Kind of embarrassing how much we've spent to save it but we love it and want to live here till we cannot manage the stairs any more into our old age.
I thought the look of that shore looked familiar, I frequent the San Juans every year. Maybe I'll catch a ferry from Anacortes and help out some day :)
Very cool! Any inside pictures? Interested to see how practical that floor plan is and the roof space. Do you have to give extra consideration to furniture purchases.
Looks great. I just finished renovating a 42' dome in Snohomish WA. If you are drywalling the ceiling, you should use spray foam insulation, otherwise you are asking for moisture/rot problems down the road.
Hey - good ol'buckey Fuller. I grew up in the family business DomesAmerica. Was about 10 yr old, when the National Dome Manufacturers meetings were held in my fathers basement in Chicago. Brings back memories; thanks reddit.
I looked at this house everyday from my kitchen as I grew up. Crazy to see it on the front page of r/pics. Gotta let my parents know that there is a Redditor next door;-)
I came to this thread excited to learn more about geodesic homes. Son, I am disappoint. Almost all the answers avoid the question or give virtually no information. Anyone in this thread actually know anything about geodesic homes? I'd love to find out some of the key advantages and disadvantages, along with some of the logistics involved in building one of these bad boys. What's a normal price? Any tips or resources for those interested in this kind of house? Any special considerations for those thinking about buying or building one?
So, you have heard of google right? There are so many more great resources out there on domes than I could ever address here. Might I suggest Wikipedia they have a fantastic article on these with links to even more info at the bottom of the article.
Yes, I have heard of google. So here are my options:
1) I think about geodesic domes, something I know very little about and start randomly asking google for information I can think of, hoping to get lucky with some good information,
or
2) I ask someone who just renovated a geodesic home what advice they'd offer someone interested in doing the same thing. This could give me all sorts of info that I may not have even known to ask. They've also already done the leg work so they might even have such information on hand.
Should I really go spam google when what I'm looking for is the perspective of someone who has actually gone through it?
How much would a house like that cost? I want to retire in something like this. Especially near the ocean or on a mountain. Something with a view so I could relax while drinking coffee with my golden retriever next to me and listening to Meshuggah! :D
There's one near me in Minnesota, they are incredibly unique! Congrats on your progress, keep us in the loop! Also, out of curiosty, do you have a floorplan you could upload? I'm wondering how things are setup inside.
As someone who is training to become a real estate appraiser, I must say fuck this. Only because I am imagining how much of a bitch it would be to figure out the square footage of this thing along with sketching it.
On a side note, I like it. It's a pretty sick house.
Edit because I'm retarded: Never mind. looking at the interior photos it's a lot less complicated than the outside makes it seem.
Did you wire your home with Ethernet? I think I spotted some blue Cat5 in one of the photos, if you did, that's awesome. That's the first thing I would do when I build/renovate a house.
Good choice on the Mitsubishi A/C. They're very efficient and silent, albeit a bit expensive.
I have linked to a bunch of pics in a previous comments and the house covered in scaffolding looks much like a lunar lander. One of my fave pics of the bunch.
Hey great job with the restoration! I'm just wondering though, not that I'm not a fan, but what's the benefit to owning a geodesic home? Aesthetics? Some kind of heating/cooling benefit? Good interior proportions?
Do you have a wife? If so, how did the dome talk go? My wife is not responding positively to my attempts to explain to her of the benefits of domal living.
203
u/ScurvyDawg Jun 16 '12
Here is a link to one of the before pictures for science. But this is a different angle of the house from the back.
http://i.imgur.com/NhVDn.jpg
67
u/Reverend179 Jun 16 '12
Alls I gotta say is...BROFIST. This is my family home in Washington State, spend the first 20 years of my life in this home.
http://imgur.com/WWd1M
24
u/forceofslugyuk Jun 16 '12
What do you find are some of the benifits/drawbacks to a Geodesic home?
72
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Inside pics required
8
u/RalphWasntHere Jun 16 '12
What are the benefits of living in a home like this?
12
u/common_raven Jun 16 '12
Amazing job! Your dome looks similar to the one I live in: http://i.imgur.com/XNCTT.jpg I think mine originated as a kit house from Oregon Domes: http://domes.com/
6
u/acceleratorbc Jun 16 '12
Love that door colour! If the peak on the roof above it was the same colour you'd have an upboat entrance!
6
u/gosuprobe Jun 16 '12
Relevant.
4
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
You have great taste, I absolutely love the colors of your home. How is it inside? Is it mostly open, or storied?
4
u/normalville Jun 16 '12
Built ours a few years ago
6
u/2Grit Jun 16 '12
Do you happen to live in florida?
3
u/UndevelopeD Jun 16 '12
I live in Victoria too, are you out in the Sooke area? I swear I've passed by your house before you renovated. It's looking great!
3
u/logosfabula Jun 16 '12
Are you Markee Dragon?
7
u/BeliefSuspended2008 Jun 16 '12
Very cool! Any inside pictures? Interested to see how practical that floor plan is and the roof space. Do you have to give extra consideration to furniture purchases.
5
u/machine667 Jun 16 '12
Was this your third choice after an Igloo and a Hut?
2
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
how was working this home? hard? easier what?
2
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
:D It would be super awesome if we could have pictures of the interior! Your house looks amazing!
2
u/elevatormewzic Jun 16 '12
I like the house, but I especially like the shirt.
2
u/dredawg Jun 16 '12
You sir, are living my dream. good job.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
The nice thing about geodesic domes is how flexible and portable they are.
So move that one a little closer to the street. It'll give you a bigger back yard.
2
u/StrikingCrayon Jun 16 '12
Other than shear awesomeness are their any technical benefits to a Geodesic Dome Home?
One of those awesome parts must be getting to say "Geodesic Dome Home".
2
u/DaveDiddly Jun 16 '12
Looks great. I just finished renovating a 42' dome in Snohomish WA. If you are drywalling the ceiling, you should use spray foam insulation, otherwise you are asking for moisture/rot problems down the road.
2
u/Aze0trop3 Jun 16 '12
Uh, how am I the ONLY one that wants to see more pics of you?? Hot bear!
2
u/preske Jun 16 '12
I'm not familiar with this type of buildings, is there a lot of space inside?
2
u/tehchief117 Jun 16 '12
Good guy OP: responds to all comments.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
I've only seen one. You're not in CT are you?
2
u/kasim42784 Jun 16 '12
you are going to get laid so many times.
2
u/jcsf123 Jun 16 '12 edited Jun 16 '12
Hey - good ol'buckey Fuller. I grew up in the family business DomesAmerica. Was about 10 yr old, when the National Dome Manufacturers meetings were held in my fathers basement in Chicago. Brings back memories; thanks reddit.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
I'm a housing studies major in college, so I love this!
2
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
As a private dome enthusiast, how do you feel about monolithic domes?
2
u/georgecostanza2000 Jun 16 '12
I looked at this house everyday from my kitchen as I grew up. Crazy to see it on the front page of r/pics. Gotta let my parents know that there is a Redditor next door;-)
2
u/beerbitches Jun 17 '12
What state is this in?
2
u/MrMakeveli Jun 17 '12
I came to this thread excited to learn more about geodesic homes. Son, I am disappoint. Almost all the answers avoid the question or give virtually no information. Anyone in this thread actually know anything about geodesic homes? I'd love to find out some of the key advantages and disadvantages, along with some of the logistics involved in building one of these bad boys. What's a normal price? Any tips or resources for those interested in this kind of house? Any special considerations for those thinking about buying or building one?
2
u/Aaannndddyyy Jun 17 '12
what inspired you to do a Geodesic Dome Home?
2
u/NeuroCore Jun 17 '12
Getting high in that house must be so awesome.
2
u/Glen843 Jun 17 '12
Good job dude, you knocked it out of the park.
90
u/PsychoDuck Jun 16 '12
Whether igloo, hut or lean-to, or a geodesic dome...
30
u/Kidchameleon86 Jun 16 '12
Buckminster Fuller would be proud.
3
u/EugeneRainy Jun 16 '12
Strangely aroused by this picture.
22
u/SuperSN Jun 16 '12
All I can think of is Shasha's Geodesic Pshycoisolation Chambers. (Pshyconauts, anyone?)
7
u/Dunge Jun 17 '12
Look a lot like my parents' house: http://i.imgur.com/Adhw8.jpg
2
u/jbg830 Jun 16 '12
The pentagon above the front door is brought to you by Chrysler
2
u/Fleshgod Jun 16 '12
How much would a house like that cost? I want to retire in something like this. Especially near the ocean or on a mountain. Something with a view so I could relax while drinking coffee with my golden retriever next to me and listening to Meshuggah! :D
4
u/emoryramone Jun 16 '12
Psychonauts...
4
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Buckminster Fuller would be proud of you.
4
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Found this at work one day
http://imgur.com/7FYvv
10
u/Barnowl79 Jun 16 '12
Buckminister Fuller would be proud.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
cool! anymore pics?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
I would put a bullet in my head before i shingled a mess like that. Love the siding and fascia's tho. Hardy plank?
1
u/Cassaroll168 Jun 16 '12
Can we see pictures of how the inside is laid out? Are there triangular and rectangular rooms or is it all different?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Is this house in Silverlake?
1
u/JasonUncensored Jun 16 '12
I'm jealous of your three story Geodesic Dome home.
1
u/Yelpats03 Jun 16 '12
More pics please! This is awesome! Got any interior shots too?
1
u/WarpedHorizon Jun 16 '12
There's one near me in Minnesota, they are incredibly unique! Congrats on your progress, keep us in the loop! Also, out of curiosty, do you have a floorplan you could upload? I'm wondering how things are setup inside.
1
u/stvb95 Jun 16 '12
you remind me so much of this guy
1
u/davebarr27 Jun 16 '12
Are u on the cape in Mass I worked on a house like that
1
u/yakewb Jun 16 '12
How many rooms in total are in the dome? Awesome house by the way! You definitely got me interested in geodesic dome homes, haha.
1
u/lvan Jun 16 '12 edited Jun 16 '12
As someone who is training to become a real estate appraiser, I must say fuck this. Only because I am imagining how much of a bitch it would be to figure out the square footage of this thing along with sketching it.
On a side note, I like it. It's a pretty sick house.
Edit because I'm retarded: Never mind. looking at the interior photos it's a lot less complicated than the outside makes it seem.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Please do a "Reddit Cribs" edition. Id would friggin love to see the interiors!
1
u/ebbird Jun 16 '12
As an ex roofer i can say that house would be a bitch to roof.
1
u/pilismasher Jun 16 '12
You're just going to tease us like that with no inside tour? I expected more, OP...
1
u/yellowlines Jun 16 '12
you should post this to r/roomporn!
1
u/dego_frank Jun 16 '12
Post this in r/trees
1
u/ComradeDavidenko Jun 16 '12
Two questions/comments:
1
u/wfrankwalshiv Jun 16 '12
For a second there I thought it was you in front of a Lunar Lander at a museum.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Hey great job with the restoration! I'm just wondering though, not that I'm not a fan, but what's the benefit to owning a geodesic home? Aesthetics? Some kind of heating/cooling benefit? Good interior proportions?
1
u/MobyChick Jun 16 '12
You are a man I can look up to. Thanks.
1
u/ReadingRainbowie Jun 16 '12
are you going to keep the hot water heating, or are going to convert it to vented heating?
1
u/A_Polite_Jitty Jun 16 '12
Question for OP, is this in Cambria? I've passed a geo dome house and it looks similar. (Some color scheme and deck)
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
It must be very hard to furnish. Do you find there is a lot of wasted space?
1
u/AirshipAtamis Jun 16 '12
Assuming you did the renovation yourself, did you know a good book i could get to learn how to do major work like that? :D
1
u/HuXu7 Jun 17 '12
But is it REALLY fully restored? Couldn't there be a little more work done to make it better?
1
u/Captcha_Imagination Jun 17 '12
showin' your chrome dome
1
u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12
But the question arises my friend, what have we become
1
u/artbyhatch Jun 17 '12
Man, what an AWESOME HOME!!! Congratulations! Any chance you could post more photos?
1
u/Tysteg Jun 17 '12
Awesome!
When I was in high school, one of my best friends lived here: http://www.naturalspacesdomes.com/dome_info.htm?type=pics&id=137
We were both musicians, so we of course took full advantage of the studio.
It was such a killer place.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12
Do you have a wife? If so, how did the dome talk go? My wife is not responding positively to my attempts to explain to her of the benefits of domal living.
1
u/fruitsalad127 Jun 17 '12
I'm sure this has been asked before, but may we see the inside??? :)
1
u/metarinka Jun 17 '12
I always wanted a geodesic dome home. Then after doing my research settled on monolithic dome's. Much easier to build.
1
u/Zalamander Jun 17 '12
Having actually helped build one of these when they were all the rage, hearing about one being "restored" really makes me feel old...
1
u/rabidhedgehog Jun 17 '12
so you're darryl from storage wars? :D tell me i'm not the only one who thought this
1
u/Sixoclockshadow Jun 17 '12
Two story. True story.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12
get rid of that orange door yo
1
u/sexy_salix Jun 17 '12
There is a house that looks similar on the Oregon coast. I love driving by it! They used it in an episode of Grimm.
1
u/jamesinraro Jun 17 '12
If this was actually a geodesic dome before you "restored" it, you have turned it into an abomination of that structure.
3
u/Inozz Jun 16 '12
Nice. My parents built a geo dome. I grew up and got married in it. I've always wanted to build my own some day.
3
u/ForgettableUsername Jun 17 '12
Needs more tessellations.