Architecture

High winds and earthquakes should prove no match for a Biodomes home

High winds and earthquakes should prove no match for a Biodomes home
Biodomes can part-bury the dome to create an earth-sheltered home
Biodomes can part-bury the dome to create an earth-sheltered home
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Delivery for the Biodomes is available for the entire European Union
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Delivery for the Biodomes is available for the entire European Union
Prices for the Biodomes start at €1,000 (US$1,060) per sq m (10 sq ft)
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Prices for the Biodomes start at €1,000 (US$1,060) per sq m (10 sq ft)
Biodomes says that its homes can handle earthquakes up to 8.5 on the Richter scale
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Biodomes says that its homes can handle earthquakes up to 8.5 on the Richter scale
Biodomes also says that its homes can withstand winds of up to 320 km/h (198 mph)
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Biodomes also says that its homes can withstand winds of up to 320 km/h (198 mph)
Biodomes offers the geodesic homes as a turnkey option
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Biodomes offers the geodesic homes as a turnkey option
Built from metal and glass, which can be single, double or even triple-glazed, Biodomes come in over 20 different models
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Built from metal and glass, which can be single, double or even triple-glazed, Biodomes come in over 20 different models
So far, Biodomes has only built the smallest model, dubbed the Pollux, which measures 6 sq m (64 sq ft)
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So far, Biodomes has only built the smallest model, dubbed the Pollux, which measures 6 sq m (64 sq ft)
Romania's Biodomes is the latest in a long line of firms to design geodesic dome homes
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Romania's Biodomes is the latest in a long line of firms to design geodesic dome homes
A representative for Biodomes told us that it can partition one large dome to multiple rooms for privacy or each room can be a medium sized dome connected by tunnel
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A representative for Biodomes told us that it can partition one large dome to multiple rooms for privacy or each room can be a medium sized dome connected by tunnel
The idea of living in a geodesic dome has sparked people's imaginations ever since architecture luminary Buckminster Fuller popularized them
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The idea of living in a geodesic dome has sparked people's imaginations ever since architecture luminary Buckminster Fuller popularized them
Buckminster Fuller even lived in a geodesic dome throughout the 1960s
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Buckminster Fuller even lived in a geodesic dome throughout the 1960s
Prices for the Biodomes start at €1,000 (US$1,060) per sq m (10 sq ft)
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Prices for the Biodomes start at €1,000 (US$1,060) per sq m (10 sq ft)
Biodomes says that its homes can handle earthquakes up to 8.5 on the Richter scale
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Biodomes says that its homes can handle earthquakes up to 8.5 on the Richter scale
Biodomes also says that its homes can withstand winds of up to 320 km/h (198 mph)
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Biodomes also says that its homes can withstand winds of up to 320 km/h (198 mph)
Biodomes can part-bury the dome to create an earth-sheltered home
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Biodomes can part-bury the dome to create an earth-sheltered home
Biodomes says that magnetic blinds can be affixed for privacy and to reduce the sun's effects
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Biodomes says that magnetic blinds can be affixed for privacy and to reduce the sun's effects
View gallery - 16 images

The geodesic dome was made famous by Buckminster Fuller in the mid 20th Century and has remained popular with hobbyists ever since. Romania's Biodomes is the latest in a long line of firms to design houses centered around the geodesic dome and its models can operate off-the-grid and withstand severe earthquakes and winds.

Built from metal and either single, double, or triple-glazed glass, Biodomes currently offers over 20 different iterations of its eponymous product. Besides a turnkey option with all the furniture already installed and ready to move in, you can also order a greenhouse and indoor swimming pool, or just an empty shell to do with what you want.

Either way, it should be very durable. Biodomes says that its homes can withstand earthquakes up to 8.5 on the Richter scale and winds of up to 320 km/h (198 mph). None of which is particularly surprising or even unique to Biodomes, as the geodesic dome has long been known to be earthquake- and wind-resistant.

So far, the firm has only built the smallest model, dubbed the Pollux, which comprises 19 sq m (204 sq ft) of floorspace, but says it can build domes up to 314 sq m (3,379 sq ft).

Biodomes says that its homes can handle earthquakes up to 8.5 on the Richter scale
Biodomes says that its homes can handle earthquakes up to 8.5 on the Richter scale

A representative told us that the firm can either partition one large dome into several rooms or multiple domes can each serve as a room, connected to the others by tunnel. The domes can also be built atop a stone wall to gain usable height while retaining their shape. They require a foundation and are non-movable.

To mitigate the fact that you'll be essentially living in a greenhouse, Biodomes says that magnetic blinds can be affixed for privacy and to reduce the sun's effects. However, the firm can also part-bury the dome to create an earth-sheltered home and this should improve thermal performance by a lot.

Off-grid tech is also an option and custom triangular solar panels and solar hot water heaters can be added to the domes.

Prices start at €1,000 (US$1,060) per sq m (10 sq ft). Delivery is available for the entire European Union, and possibly outside the EU too.

Source: Biodomes

View gallery - 16 images
6 comments
6 comments
Alien
Question: Wouldn't the structural integrity of a geodesic dome be compromised by any opening (e.g. a doorway) larger than a single panel?
VirtualGathis
@Alien: It's my understanding that they can account for it in the engineering. If you just hacked a hole for a door it might be a problem.
I think the main picture is pretty foolish as a concept. These domes cost a huge amount per square foot of space. To willfully burry a majority of that expensive material is just nonsense. Get a Benishell or something like it instead and a partial dome for the exposed face. Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EWGGPhX0bU www.concretecanvas.com/
Pops Eagles
Obviously, the author has never heard of Monolithic Domes out of Italy, Texas, USA. They've been erecting domes for many different uses around the world for decades. Nothing new here. http//:www.monolithic.com
Schools, sports facilities, storage and YES, many many different homes. A whole subdivision of them in India... for a Canadian high tech company.
Research research research... or like the rest of the world... GOOGLE it.
Gizmowiz
It wouldn't be able to stand up to winds on Neptune.....they are in excess of 1,200 mph (2,000 kph) !!
Bob Flint
How's it deal with flooding, or and F5 tornado?
Tom Lee Mullins
I think that is really neat.