Sirmike
Instead of Malibu they should build one in Florida or wherever tornadoes and hurricanes are. If they can stand up against those sort of winds, their sales should be assured.
Buzzclick
Tornado and hurricane resistance is definitely a good thing Sirmike. I have an issue with the cookie-cutter homogenized neighborhoods shown in the photos. Most N. Americans mat not take to this kind of design, even though it is a "green" concept. If they can be built sporadically, they would have a much higher appeal and chance of getting realized...
It looks like the Tele-Tubbies live there : )
BigGoofyGuy
I think they are really neat. The ones with a green roof remind me of an updated Hobbit house.
lwesson
Now to rewire human beings to feel at home in bug type engineered dwellings. Why not? Social engineer types, are never satisfied with people anyway. Maybe it is all a really deep laden personal issue?
There seems to be a constant theme in some or all architectural circles, for Bug/Alien type of design. Perhaps the "invasion" has begun long ago...?
bergamot69
What if these were built with a double-skinned membrane? One sealed membrane underneath that could be inflated to give the building its shape and temporary support, and an outer membrane, also sealed, and containing some kind of reinforcement for the concrete (perhaps a flexible plastic interlinked honeycomb structure- wire reinforced maybe) that could be filled with foamed concrete?
The membranes could be kept in place, to provide both waterproofing and also an ideal moisture-retaining environment in which to cure the concrete. Once the concrete had cured to a greater extent, the air could be let out of the inner temporary support structure and replaced with a foamed insulation, eg polyurethane.
Of course, the membrane material would have to be inherently fire-resistant, and the property would have to be properly ventilated, preferably with mechanical heat recovery, or by other passive means.
taconia
Why to commentators keep touting a shell as affordable housing? The shell, even with insulation, is one of the cheapest components of a building. Among the more expensive: Windows Doors Electrical Plumbing Heating and a/c Flooring Tilework Cabinets
Fine this shell looks nice and can be produced quickly (if you can get a cement truck and all the rebar there. But it also makes doing the interior much more expensive because of all the fitting.
the.other.will
The only reason the neighborhoods in the concept drawings appear any more homogenized than existing subdivisions is that the artist chose to put many similar size homes of the same color together. A real neighborhood could have several different models, each in a wide variety of colors. The double-skinned membrane idea sounds pretty good.
Mr T
Not the same construction method, but a mob called RAL homes make nice modular dome houses here in Oz, and they use a lot less concrete! See http://ralhomes.com.au/
JSSFB
I love the look but do not think that it would catch on in Europe as they would cover too much ground and not have the required housing density.
Bruce H. Anderson
Another source (been around for a long time) is http://www.monolithic.org/