Posted by mjsouth on January 16, 2009
We finished the concrete spraying yesterday. We placed a propane heater inside the dome last night to help speed up the curing process, so that it would be liftable this morning.
First we set up a level area to the side where we could set the building. We then placed some concrete blocks down to set it on. The blocks are going to help keep the beams clean. We rigged up the crane and started lifting. The Monolithic Cabin came off the pad beautifully, and we were able to swing it around and set it on the pads.
Today we plan on painting the interior and starting to form the next dome. Next week we will continue to do both the new floor, and the interior construction of the first cabin.
Click here to see more pictures
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Posted by mjsouth on January 15, 2009
One challenge of documenting a dome that Javier is building, is that you have to almost stay on site the whole time he moves so fast. Not to mention on a smaller sized dome like the Monolithic Cabin.
We now have all the foam, rebar, and electrical done. Javier is now spraying concrete. He sprayed about an inch yesterday, and should finish the last inch to inch and a half today.
Once the cabin shell is complete, we can move it from the pad to another area to construct the interior walls. Click here to see more pictures
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Posted by mjsouth on January 13, 2009
We got the airform inflated last night and the door bucks installed. Javier has installed the door bucks, and is currently spraying the foam. We expect to have some rebar hung by the end of the day.
Click here to check out the pictures on Flickr
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Posted by mjsouth on January 12, 2009
We have started a new project here at the Monolithic Dome Institute. Monolithic Dome Cabins.
The Monolithic Cabin is a modified Monolithic Dome – like a tunnel with rounded ends. These domes all have a diameter (width) of 12 feet. The total length will depend on the model. The model number designates the total square footage. Thus the Model 150 is 14.3 feet in length. The model 201 (shown here) is 18.5 feet in length. The model 266 is 24 feet in length. All models will be nominal 10′ high from bottom of cross beams to top of roof.
These cabins are designed for many uses. Primarily we expect to sell them for rental units, in our efforts to create more low cost housing that isn’t necessarily “cheap” houses. These Cabins can be shipped anywhere, and setup in a few hours.
These cabins aren’t limited to just homes though. We have been talking about using them for freezers, utility sheds, communication sheds, housing for pipeline workers, etc.
Javier Figueroa is the crew chief on the job, and he has been doing a great job.
I will be taking pictures throughout the construction of the first Monolithic Dome Cabin and putting them up on my Flickr account. So be sure to check them out.
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