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Deltec Home Although
their popularity has grown tremendously in recent years, dome houses have actually
been a part of cultures worldwide since ancient times. Structures such as igloos,
yurts, and wigwams have been employed for their durability and functionality for
thousands of years. Many people with a desire to go back to their roots and connect
with nature are opting for dome-shaped homes.
Pacific Domes, who
incorporate Sacred Geometry into their work, state on their website that, "Many
healers use the dome because they believe that geometry helps reorganize the cells
of the body and hence improve health and creativity. Another advantage to the
dome is that it can be used to remove stray electromagnetic waves by grounding
the metal structure into the earth." Another leading company, Deltec Homes,
believe that a circular home creates a "relaxing and peaceful effect,"
to which many dome home owners agree.
In general, domes use much less
material than other kinds of buildings. Sphere-shaped buildings have at least
15% less outside surface area than conventional square- or rectangle-shaped buildings.
This equates to a minimum of 15% less energy required to heat or cool a dome house,
making it the most energy-efficient building there is.
Dome buildings
are extremely resistant to natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornadoes, and
hurricanes. Monolithic domes are rated by FEMA as providing "near-absolute
protection" from Category 5 hurricanes and F5 tornadoes. Large numbers of
dome buildings recently survived major calamities, including Hurricane Katrina
and wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma, emerging virtually unscathed and having protected
their inhabitants from potentially fatal injury. This durability is due to the
aerodynamic shape of the dome, which also greatly reduces air pressure on the
building, eliminating drafting.
Regardless of the many benefits of choosing
dome housing, there are some noted concerns. Due to the sharp contrast between
the constructions of traditional buildings and dome models, only selective, skilled
crews are fit to install dome structures. Additionally, once the dome has been
erected, the division of the building may result in awkwardly-shaped rooms. Selling
a dome home can be a challenge, as its unconventional appearance is often a turnoff
to buyers.
Who lives in a dome house? One happy couple in Florida does.
Homeowner Deborah Razete-Elkins says members of the couple's extended family gathered
there for safety during Hurricane Frances."Even though the winds were blowing
in excess of 125 miles per hour outside," says Deborah Razete-Elkins, "the
dome was quiet inside." As the eye wall was passing over the dome, the guests
were enjoying a movie in the dome's home theatre.
References:
http://www.architectureweek.com/2001/0328/building_1-1.html
www.deltechomes.com
www.pacificdomes.com
Resources for interested readers:
www.geo-dome.co.uk
www.monolithic.com
http://www.calearth.org/EcoDome.htm
http://www.geo-dome.co.uk
www.deltechomes.com
www.pacificdomes.com
http://www.eric-randall.com/domes/
http://www.naturalspacesdomes.com/domes
Visit
Deltec Homes, Pacific Domes, and Natural Spaces for infomation on homes.
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