Geodesic Dome Homes (Neptune Beach: sale, house, utilities)

[PokerPlayer1]

Originally Posted by Robyn55

As long as all of us wind up paying for lousy construction in the form of assessments on almost all of our insurance policies (including our auto policies so it's not just homeowners' policies) - I think all of us have a right to complain about construction techniques. Here - I see no evidence of things like hurricane straps - the most minimal stuff to decrease the chances of wind damage. One reasonable gust of wind - and this thing is history. I've seen double-wides with better wind protection.

It's "wind protection" is the fact that it's a dome and it's drag coefficient is very, very low.

Also, I don't know how one would employ "hurricane straps" on a dome. Please explain that one.

[Robyn55]

Originally Posted by PokerPlayer1

It's "wind protection" is the fact that it's a dome and it's drag coefficient is very, very low.

Also, I don't know how one would employ "hurricane straps" on a dome. Please explain that one.

Well all you need is a breach of one of those silly (most likely non-impact) gable windows in the dome and the air whooshes in and lifts the "dome" from the walls/bottom of the structure.

As for hurricane straps - this isn't a monolithic structure. It's got walls - and a separate roof on top (even if it's round). Seemingly not connected to each another. Hurricane straps aren't that wide - and should be used to connect the roof here to the walls. JAX housing inspectors asleep at the switch again IMO. Robyn

[HollyinJAX]

Thanks for posting those pics...I agree...kinda tacky but also cool! Not for me, but for somebody else of course

[LA-VA-FL]

Originally Posted by Robyn55

I suspect it's some type of drip septic system. Solar water heating panels generally go on the roof. Robyn

Yes it probably is a septic tanks (i am not knowledgeable about them) And I am fully aware that most solar panels go on the Roof (while many sit on the ground as well).... However the coiled water pipes and insulated water storage does Not usually sit on the roof. Some newer systems have buried tanks, sometimes storing the heated water for the home, or set up to heat a pool- LA-VA-FL

[LA-VA-FL]

Originally Posted by Robyn55

As long as all of us wind up paying for lousy construction in the form of assessments on almost all of our insurance policies (including our auto policies so it's not just homeowners' policies) - I think all of us have a right to complain about construction techniques. Here - I see no evidence of things like hurricane straps - the most minimal stuff to decrease the chances of wind damage. One reasonable gust of wind - and this thing is history. I've seen double-wides with better wind protection.

Also - if this is a drip septic system - good luck. I live on a marsh (with a lot of wildlife) - and fought with other neighbors for 3 years about a new house on the marsh that was going to use a drip irrigation system. They are a difficult to use/prone to failure cheap way to try to deal with human waste - and have no place in urban/suburban areas IMO. FWIW - we won some battles in our sewage dispute - didn't win the war - but the economy has left the speculator in bad shape (half built house which he hasn't been able to sell).

Also note that the monolithic dome construction mentioned above is a totally different animal (I had occasion to investigate it when I was on the building committee for a synagogue that wanted a dome). Much sturdier - often concrete - construction. Pretty pricey too. Robyn

Haha, well as I said, different people have different tastes. I think (as long as someone isnt breaking a bunch of laws) they have the right to do something different. I wouldnt jump to conclusions that this home is some sort of monstrosity that is going to up our insurance policies. Its a breath of fresh air to see something our of the ordinary around here. Its not something I would own. But more power to them for going for it.

I personally would like to see some cool modern, self-sufficient, green homes around here like you see in LA. If anyone has any pics of some in this area plz post.

[Robyn55]

Originally Posted by LA-VA-FL

Haha, well as I said, different people have different tastes. I think (as long as someone isnt breaking a bunch of laws) they have the right to do something different. I wouldnt jump to conclusions that this home is some sort of monstrosity that is going to up our insurance policies. Its a breath of fresh air to see something our of the ordinary around here. Its not something I would own. But more power to them for going for it.

I personally would like to see some cool modern, self-sufficient, green homes around here like you see in LA. If anyone has any pics of some in this area plz post.

I'm a fan of mid-20th century architecture (the Julius Shulman show at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles was really terrific). Problem is that each area has its own very specialized building problems and solutions. We need houses that can withstand hurricanes. LA needs houses that can withstand earthquakes. LA (your basic desert type area) can have houses with fairly flat roofs. Our gully washers in the summer make those impractical. Very different construction techniques needed to deal with very different local problems. And what is "green" in LA or other areas of the country (like big expanses of glass facing in a particular direction) may not be "green" here (a big expanse of glass facing south or west that works in certain parts of the US is an energy disaster here). Think local - build local (just my opinion).

BTW - what do you think of when you think of "green"? Just curious to figure out what you're looking for. Robyn

P.S. The houses pictured in this thread have no resemblance to anything architecturally interesting IMO. Just plain ugly IMO.

[Magnolia Bloom]

Originally Posted by Robyn55

The houses pictured in this thread have no resemblance to anything architecturally interesting IMO. Just plain ugly IMO.

One thing is for sure, they aren't afraid of color!

[AliciaMaria]

I saw one the other day and thought of this thread. It's on A1A just north of Beach Blvd.. on the East side!

[Magnolia Bloom]

Alica- Would be neat to see pix of other domes in the area!

Well, the property between Beach and Atlantic is now posted, so no more inside pix...

The lot that the dome sits on has been built up and there is a retaining wall between it and the adjacent home. I would not want these structures so close to my home and def would not be happy about the retaining wall. Maybe the owner of the house is also the builder of the dome....

[LandShark99]

First thanks to HollyinJAX for spotting the dome constuction and mucho thanks to Magnolia Bloom for actually going over there and taking all those pictures. That was just over the top! Thanks for the Monolith link fastNinja500. That's much more like what I have in mind.

Although those do not appear to be very well constructed it certainly has been entertaining and interesting! I would consider them to be a worse case example and hideous to boot!

ttp://www.monolithic.com/stories/monolithic-dome-homes-1/photos/1 <<<<<I like this.

The one above is more like what I picture as having. It's somewhere here in FL. The other ones I have seen have been a natural tan/brown, something that blends in with the landscape more.

I like them because you never have to re-roof. I've read about some that are framed out in metal, not wood and some are poured concrete over that (form). Those are the most wind resistent. No termite contracts or worries ever. Due to the shape you get much more living space within the footprint. That's why Magnolia, you were so surprised and how big they were inside.

I'm learning about them and so far all pluses.