Love for Life

ECO-DOME: A Small House "Moon Cocoon" - Learning To Build An Eco-Dome House
Learning To Build An Eco-Dome House - Includes Diagrams And Photos
Earth turns to gold in the hands of the wise - Rumi - NK

Learning and building an Eco-Dome is an excellent way to prepare for building a larger design such as the 3-bedroom house, because it provides a hands-on learning experience on the essential aspects of Superadobe construction. The Eco-Dome's size of approximately 400 square feet (interior space), makes it a manageable structure for the first time owner builder. The finished "very small house" is self-contained and can become a small guest house, studio apartment, or be the first step in a cluster design of an Eco-Village of vaults and domes.

Cal-Earth Eco-Dome Images - Cal-Earth Eco-Dome Images - Cal-Earth Eco-Dome Images

Some features of the Eco-Dome include:

1. Built from local earth-filled Superadobe coils (soil-cement or lime-stabilized earth).

2. Tree free.

3. Maximum use of space through alternative options.

The main dome and four niches, depending on local code approval, can function as:

a) main living room, entrance hall, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom (called "bed-womb" because of it's small, organic form!)

b) living room, entrance hall, and three bed-rooms.

c) living room, entrance hall, two bedrooms, and a bathroom.

4. Self-contained single unit (potential for a guest house or studio apartment) or double unit (larger family residence).

5. Can be repeated and joined together to form larger homes and courtyard houses.

6. Can be built by a team of 3-5 persons.

7. Designed with the sun, shade and wind in mind for passive cooling and heating.

8. Wind-scoop can be combined with a rated furnace unit, depending on local code approval. Solar energy and radiant heating may be incorporated.

9. Interior furniture can be built-in with same material.

Stock Plans approved in Hesperia City and San Bernardino County.

San Bernardino County is the largest county in the United States consisting mostly of high and low desert areas. The Stock Plan is available until May 2008 for an 800 sq. ft. single family residence consisting of two joined Eco-Domes. A stock plan is one which has already been approved, therefore the builder can recieve a permit without additional plan check. Hesperia City has also approved a stock plan of the single Eco-Dome, and the Earth One 3-bedroom home: http://www.calearth.org/EarthArchitecture.htm

The package of Eco-Dome includes: construction document blueprints, engineering calculations for the 1997 UBC / 2001 California Code, a specification, title 24 energy energy calculations, and the engineering record. All plans are numbered.

To order please call: (760) 244-0614, and send a fax. to (760) 244-2201.

Price: $2,400 for a single unit (400 sq. ft. approx), $3,200 for double unit (800 sq. ft. approx.), includes shipping, California residents please add sales tax. Additional charge of 25% for each repeated unit.

Also available: A documentary DVD and video showing step by step construction of the Eco-Dome: http://www.calearth.org/products.htm

The Eco-Dome plan is a part of the Cal-Earth educational and research program. It is an educational construction document developed to be used in conjunction with the Cal-Earth apprenticeship course.

All plans and construction must be confirmed with local building and safety departments and prevailing local codes. Cal-Earth Institute, architect Nader Khalili, and their representatives and officers are not responsible for product defects, the actions or effects of individuals who build from these plans or follow it's instructions. Builders are expected to use common sense, caution, safety precautions appropriate to a construction site, and all necessary protection to persons and property.

Superadobe Technology, U.S. patent #5,934,027, has been tested on individual dome and vaults (1993-1996) for the City of Hesperia, California, Building and Safety Department, in consultation with I.C.B.O. These structures passed the California required codes. Licensing is required for commercial use.

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Link to website: http://www.calearth.org/EcoDome.htm