Replies

1. 
   deadmanmike | Oct 21, 2003 06:11pm | #1

   Not my style, but beautiful none the less. I like the molded-in overhangs and the ring of glass block(?) around the top of the main room.

   Mike

1. 
   CloudHidden | Oct 21, 2003 06:22pm | #2

   I can appreciate that sentiment. Lots of styles "aren't me" either, but I like seeing the work that went into them. In this case, the building is a retreat of sorts for people into holistic healing and healing energy, etc, which all seems to fit. And they're close to the middle of nowhere, or Colorado--whichever comes first--so it's not a style that has to fit with anything but the land....no log cabin next door, for example.

2. 
   Luka | Oct 21, 2003 07:22pm | #3

   Beautiful !!!

   Most excelent !!!

   How difficult is it to get this sort of structure accepted by stringent counties like mine ?

   This would be fantastic with parts of it set back into the ridge here.

   Can't we all just get a log ? - Paul Bunyon

   Quittin' Time

1. 
   CloudHidden | Oct 21, 2003 07:49pm | #4

   Thanks Luka. Knock on wood, I have never yet had even the slightest problem with a building department. What we do is directly covered in the IBC. We aren't an exception to it and don't ask for any exceptions. Recently took a project to an AZ county. They asked for an evaluation report, such as you'd need for a lot of pre-engineered and alternative stuff. I said nope, there is none. He said, can't do it then. I said there isn't one be/c it's in the IBC directly, and cited chapter and verse. He said, I'll be damned...never had to look there before.

1. 
   VaTom | Oct 22, 2003 03:18am | #7

   Recently took a project to an AZ county.

   If you don't mind my asking, which county?PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

1. 
   CloudHidden | Oct 22, 2003 03:46am | #9

   I believe that was the town of Eloy. I have one going in Mayer. Several existing ones in Mesa/Pheonix.

   Edited 10/21/2003 8:47:36 PM ET by Cloud Hidden

1. 
   VaTom | Oct 22, 2003 04:11am | #10

   Eloy!!!!  LMAO  That's Pinal County and not the best part.  Must have changed a bit in the last 30 yrs.  Mayer and Phoenix areas I could see. 

   Who'd a thunk!PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

2. 
   CloudHidden | Oct 22, 2003 05:29am | #11

   The one planned for Eloy is a tiny thing set amongst trailers. Hey, if that's where he wants to build, who am I to say nay!

3. 
   TLJ | Oct 22, 2003 05:56am | #12

   Yeah, when I lived in Casa Grande (circa 1977), Eloy was over 90% unemployed.

3. 
   TLJ | Oct 21, 2003 11:38pm | #5

   That is really awesome. I am actually dumbfounded.

   What's the construction? How does one make a bubble?

1. 
   brownbagg | Oct 22, 2003 12:15am | #6

   I like them, Boy would it give the building inspector hell here. He had problem with concrete block, this would really float his boat. Also the neighborhood club would love this, talk about property value going down, where can I get one.

1. 
   CloudHidden | Oct 22, 2003 03:42am | #8

   Trust me, everywhere we've put one in a neighborhood where such a thing could be measured, property values have risen. Often, it'd be a circumstantial case, be/c cause-and-effect is difficult to prove. But in my neighborhood, I can quote specific neighbors who specifically raised the price of their house be/c we established a new "high" value.

2. 
   CloudHidden | Oct 22, 2003 06:05am | #13

   Tim, construction is air-formed, insulated, steel-reinforced, thin-shell concrete. Fabric form is inflated. Polyurethane foam sprayed inside that. Rebar and shotcrete inside that. See back cover of August/September FHB for more.

1. 
   TLJ | Oct 22, 2003 06:35am | #14

   Yes, thank you. I remember those pix on FHB. How do you make the openings? Are the forms reusable? How do you keep the form from billowing out when you first start shooting the foam? How do you keep the form inflated as you go in and out with equipment, etc until the foam is in place? How do you gauge the thickness of the foam while spraying?

   Up for more questions? How would you install floor joists in a multistory dome?

   I'll quit now. Thanks.

1. 
   CloudHidden | Oct 22, 2003 06:59am | #15

   >How do you make the openings?

   You don't spray concrete there. Several ways to block and detail the edge.

   >Are the forms reusable?

   My preference is that the form be permanent, and coated with the appropriate acrylic elastomeric coating.

   >How do you keep the form from billowing out when you first start shooting the foam?

   Use sufficient air pressure, usually 2-ish water column inches. Can withstand 50+mph winds--that's just the inflated airform. 300+ after shotcrete.

   >How do you keep the form inflated as you go in and out with equipment, etc until the foam is in place?

   You use an airlock--a ply box maybe 3' x 6' x 8' with two doors. Stays typically until the shotcrete has set up a coupla days.

   >How do you gauge the thickness of the foam while spraying?

   Same as how you get to Carnegie Hall--practice! :) Seriously, the good foam applicators can apply it in consistent layers of 1/2" and it's as smooth as the peel of an orange. The not-good ones will give you knots the size of Anna Nichole Smith. (Can't think of a good end to that simile.)

   >Up for more questions?

   Sure.

   >How would you install floor joists in a multistory dome?

   Support on columns or walls from below, or threaded rod connected to the dome from above, or Simpson hangers, or resting on a corbel (my favorite).

1. 
   RogerDumas | Oct 22, 2003 02:51pm | #16

   Cloud,

   I happened to run across another of your houses.  The occupants seemed pretty happy to me.  Check it out...

   http://www.servus.at/DNS/tele/

   But then there's the one in the bad part of town...

   http://www.publijuegos.com/flash/TeleTubbies.htm

    

   And here's another below that I couldn't resist...

    

   Seriously, I think your work is tremendous.  Please keep posting pictures! 

   If ignorance is bliss, then apathy is sheer heaven!

   
2. 
   CloudHidden | Oct 22, 2003 03:09pm | #17

   har har :)

3. 
   TLJ | Oct 23, 2003 06:23am | #22

   Thanks Cloud for taking the time to answer my questions. You've whetted my appetite. Enough for now. My ragged brain is getting crowded.

4. 
   KGambit | Oct 22, 2003 04:06pm | #18

   Defiantly not my style, I'm more of the 1850's to 1910's type of guy, but it looks very cool! Do you have any pics of the interior? I'd be interested to see those. What is the material? Concrete? Looks like something the hobbits would build if they were still around!

   I don't understand! I cut it twice and it's still too short!

5. 
   sungod | Oct 22, 2003 06:48pm | #19

   Great ideas  BUTTTTT, not practical.

   Think about this - How do you keep it looking clean?

   Here in Los Angeles, that layer of dirty air you see is not smog, its all the dust and dirt thrown up into the air from leafblowers.   Every horizontal surfaces (roofs) attract dirt and when it rains, it result is a dirty dome with streaks.

   Good old ideas like eaves and gutter keep houses looking clean.

1. 
   FrankTate | Oct 22, 2003 06:58pm | #20

   Jim,

   Just wanted to say Thanks for posting the pic in the message.  Lousy firewall won't let me access the other pics here at work so I have to wait until I get home on the dial up and then its kids and chores...Anyway, just wanted to say Thanks and your work looks great!Frank

6. 
   lunar | Oct 23, 2003 12:11am | #21

   Cloud

   Very cool!

   It makes me think of those futuristic homes in my favorite Woody Allen movie "Sleeper"

   Does this one come (excuse the pun) with an "Orgasmatron"?

   C.

7. 
   Gabe | Nov 09, 2003 04:57pm | #23

   I like it.

   Matter of fact, I like it a lot.

   Gabe