Construction of the Monolithic Protosphere Dome

www.susanehavelka.com/
cabinculture.tumblr.com/team
The Protosphere is a building system aimed for people living in the arctic. It is meant to offer an alternative to the current government homes. In this time-lapse, the first parts of the construction is completed.
Video by Susane Havelka and Vincent Van Duong

[@ExtrovertedCenobite]

Nah, we don't wish to see the finished product just 4:31 seconds of the initial stages.

[@christopherflynn6743]

Hahaha

[@debbieboring3422]

I don't know about the music, but I think it is impressive how many new techniques that are being use to help come up with housing needed for all over the world. Thanks for the video.

[@someguydino6770]

this project cost $70K +

[@kountryvaudeville]

Smart construction! Similar as this: Ron Noonan r seal plastic sheets together using paint stripper for heat seal 2) use swimming pool wall fitting for inlet 3 ) inflate with shop vac using exhaust end (some have exhaust valve same size as vac side) 4) cover inflated dome with cloth 5) splash wet cement mix onto cloth 6) After cloth stiffens, splash more cement mix until structure can stand alone 7) place poultry wire [chicken wire] as a structural mesh over concreted cloth 8)Splash a stronger cement mix/ mason sand over chicken wire until no wire is exposed. 8)Add additional stronger concrete mix using trowel until satisfied. OR USE this: 1) In 50's military piled up and shaped sand. 2) added rebar over plastic which covered shaped sand. 3) poured concrete over steel reinforcing rods. 4) covered concrete with DIRT (insulation and to hide structure 5) remove sand from under concrete creating free form structure 5 Then they pulled their aircraft into the hanger which only required 5 man hours to build. Yes it was a military idea! LOL! Korean "conflict" You could build several SOLID framed structures with less than 40 man hours of labor! [Or man made caves~LOL!] Gonna do some!

[@steveb365]

I saw a lot of blistering and plenty of wrinkles in the as-built condition...was the air pressure insufficient when the airform was foamed?

[@patricksmith2193]

Anyone know how to go about getting multi-dome air form like that? Is there a way to get the plans processed out of computer or cut sew?

[@Travelgirl0224]

Thanks for sharing this. We are researching building a dome. They are weather proof, mold proof, hurricane and lightening proof, and best of all they never catch on fire!Plus it takes only 1/3 of the energy to cool and heat. Saving money and resources. Looks like you made a very wise investment. Enjoy. 😉

[@marylesperance1928]

Travelgirl0224 b

[@rtbarshaw3766]

Do you have any update? Did you ever build your dome?

[@DarkWolf-et3dx]

We are getting closer to the era of self built homes of SciFi films.

[@ericperkins3078]

Finished product? What the hell. . . .

[@mattbrown837]

I built domes with this process in the1980's

[@surfviewgardens2396]

Do they ever spray the OUTSIDE of the dome? They jump ahead to having the interior coated and the last shot in this series shows a very outer smooth surface covering the dome - as if it was the original material of the membrane that was blown up. I'm confused? Is this a dome-making style that doesn't cement coat the outer surface, relying on internal rebar and urethane and only the internal spraying of the cement-like coatings?

[@suejane6996]

Back to the future. Our ancestors built homes very similar. Fire pit in the middle and oculus in the roof.

[@danerose575]

Great ideas. What happens to the airform at the end? How is the exterior finished?

[@MrApplewine]

Can we see the finished product? I don't see it on facebook.

[@GodsGotMe]

Is there a non metal material to replace the rebar with? Maybe bamboo? Trying to envision a dome dwelling able to withstand extreme wind, rain, diminished magnetic shield solar eruptions, and fire. The circular dome helps with wind and snow load.

[@deenibeeniable]

How much does it end up costing to build one?

[@inquisitorchristopher8527]

Wait - where did you find a piano version of Daft Punk - Around the World?

[@jake862944]

I knew it

[@paullambert7840]

Interesting video. I wish there were more footage of the rebar process as I have trouble imagining how it's all done.

[@garybiggs9010]

There are other videos that show this. You simply wire tie the rebar in a square grid pattern +/-. Some creative bending and tying is needed around doorways, dome connections, etc.

[@kountryvaudeville]

check out my comment above!

[@warsakengineeringsurvey7848]

plz make video on bbs of Dome .how to prepare BBs of dome

[@glenbegin9152]

How much to build it?

[@AndrewHelgeCox]

What is the music?

[@aliennotion2876]

Whoever built this had a lot of balls.

[@rtbarshaw3766]

There seems to be a lot of confusion about this video. This is not what monolithic domes look like when they are done. The airform (the inflated part that looks like a canvas bag) gets removed.

[@joeclarke9782]

Good job. Very interesting

[@AdeAmoenus]

Hello! wouldn't it be easyer outside? i mean, how will you recover de air Dome? thank you for sharing!

[@GuerreroUrbano100]

No, the air dome is one time use and serves as a plastic barrier.

[@kevenskilatonyius2178]

have u tried Air Create ?

[@craigmooring2091]

Where's the next installment? What are the pros/cons compared to earth-bag construction?

[@protonneutron9046]

Pros vs. earth-bag. MUCH Stronger in all ways, better insulated, will last longer, faster build, can't leak except for where you make breaks in the dome. More flexible design due to reinforcing. Cons: harder to self build due to skills needed.

[@JohnSmith-uy7sv]

a hollow house? where is the rest of it? wiring and plumbing and cabinets and toilet. how much was this???

[@matthewfocke5360]

Amusement parks used a special concrete and sprayed it over forms to create structures...This appears to be very similar. The sprayed urethane foam on the exterior bases of the different forms is concerning. I've seen rats make homes tunneling into the foam. Is that a problem with this process?

[@william385]

what is the cost for one of theses homes to be built ???

[@garybiggs9010]

You would need to know the size to determine the concrete & rebar cost. Also the cost of a trained labor crew to build it if you can't line out a friends & family crew to DIY.

[@rtbarshaw3766]

There are A LOT of variables there but I would say that your biggest one would be the side of the home, which is true of traditional building methods too.

[@williamhoeweler2343]

Who ever makes these videos please please lose the music

[@David-yg8tf]

I was searching for BIG mushrooms, saw your video icon. Wow, big mushroom. lol.

[@mmangla5575]

Thanks For The Information

[@Nomadcreations]

Wow Thank You For a Speed View Filming Process 2 Know the Separate steps. True This isn't a DIY Project But It Still Shows the processes 4 Learning!!!!! & How this can b Improved Is Individual Opinion. So Many Bashers, better If Suggesters bcz Its More respectfull & So Arrogant!!!

[@donaldgehre5964]

What do you do for light?

[@roysheaks1261]

Donald Gehre LEDs and solar panels and storage batteries

[@gateway8833]

This is not as difficult if you breakers this down into each process. The foundation is much simpler for this Dome because the self supporting nature of the Dome. The reinforcement is not difficult with a little research just about anyone could do it, and if you used Basalt rebar it’s lighter and simpler to work with. There is a method for hand placement of the Concrete, this size would be a lot of labor, but it is doable. Rockwool could be used to insulate and then be stuccoed over, can be done by hand as well.

[@B30pt87]

Wait- how did you spray shotcrete on the INSIDE of slick plastic? And what about the outside- it's just going to stay like that? I mean, thanks for what you showed, but that wasn't very helpful to people who would want to make a dome.

[@busterpiggle]

Not finding the company website.

[@rtbarshaw3766]

Monolithic.org

[@huryburly6025]

You inflated that thing how got inside it without loosing the air

[@mydungha8471]

The video sound is pretty good, beyond my imagination

[@oldtimer1451]

The rebar configuration does not look correct.

[@protonneutron9046]

Old Timer, get your structural engineering degree then it will look righ

[@raysarchet8463]

Impressive technique. The physics are that a form of some short is surely required to build a dome construction. This looks pretty dammed sharp!

[@SelectCircle]

Love the music! What is it?

[@sarahk.5308]

Wonderful ❤

[@j.danaclark89]

What do you do when the canvas wears out?

[@rtbarshaw3766]

The canvas gets removed. Is just there to maintain the shape of the dome until the concrete is set.

[@colinstace1758]

@@rtbarshaw3766 so why the spray around the outside base ? Looks like it stays there

[@singinglessonexpert]

Love this~!!!!

[@uhupatta]

you have no windows ?

[@rtbarshaw3766]

The airform give the dome it's shape. It's inflated then the foam insulation and concrete are sprayed. After everything is set the airform is removed. You didn't see the completed dome, the video ended with a shot of the airform still on the structure. It doesn't look like that now; that isn't the end result.

[@williamthomas1022]

outstanding

[@jul9cuz]

Is this some sort of dog house or grain shelter? Are you people from Earth?

[@kansaIainen]

Why terrible noise?

[@saosaqii5807]

Fall out shelter?

[@protonneutron9046]

A fall out shelter is best made of several feet of bagged dirt

[@diarsalim955]

airlock was removed??????

[@rtbarshaw3766]

God I hope so

[@i-spy-ty]

Where did you get the airform? Please and thank you

[@carlosdanielscala8605]

Molto bene grazie frufru.

[@Rameus]

Should of used aircrete. You can double your cement and the shit is even stronger.

[@roysheaks1261]

Rameus I take it that aircrete is the same as shotcrete, and I totally agree with you.

[@rtbarshaw3766]

I had no idea what aircrete was before this post. Thank you.

[@GuerreroUrbano100]

The monolithic dome institute has a great blog post about this: www.monolithic.org/news-feed/aerated-concrete-vs-thin-shell-concrete

[@docbrown3139]

@@GuerreroUrbano100 thanks for the info always wondered about this

[@2299jsimon]

Wondering about condensation...

[@roysheaks1261]

John Simon Ceiling fans, dehumidifier, windows, etc...

[@ramonadsimmons7926]

This is Not the Home I was Talking about. Mine was concrete and steel. Tied in steel forms. Heavy Duty with a Sun decks.5000 square foot for 10,000. They put it in Writing and back what they sell in Florida.

[@YossDome]

I love it

[@jckirby7994]

All my kids started dancing...had to turn off sound and rewatch. it all...lol

[@blackflag5107]

That my dream house iam saving for one not like that

[@gtrquest]

Good job on the music

[@thehippieman94]

is this around the world by daft punk

[@hyacinthdibley]

No

[@Jonathawkes]

yes that one section is the melody of around the world.

[@AndrewHelgeCox]

Anyone worked it out?

[@mwj5368]

Hi! A great contribution to the world with creating a preformed dome! What if you used aircrete and saved a huge amount of work and equipment? I was thinking instead of music you should have someone narrating this. Just me and my learning curve but wondering just how things happen. "Stage 1 Site Prep" and "Stage 2 Ringbeam and Floor" are clear to me, it's just the rest of it all. What happens between your "Stage 3: Airlock and Airform" to your "Stage 4: Eurathane and Rebar" because for me all of the sudden it goes from the plastic balloon being inflated to a cured and painted white I think Eurathane dome that you are lining with rebar, right? Is the inflatable form then taken away and reusable? Is it permanently sealed into the dome? Since I think you spray the Eurathane inside the plastic inflated form is it in the end that the very outside of this dome is Eurathane that has a layer of concrete and rebar on the inside? "Stage 5 Concrete" What about the electrical wiring and plumbing? I see the big equipment roll in and test spraying the spray-crete but not a filming of it being applied I think to either the inflated form or the already existing Eurathane dome lined with rebar by I suppose spraying from the inside, right? "Stage 6: Troweling" you give the most film time of all to this phase. At the very end they are spraying something white around the base and into the soil. What is that, more paint? Why into the soil? Also the final product, the domes are white and look like the white inflated plastic... but maybe it only looks that way because it was sprayed white and the Eurathane had pressed against the plastic form to appear like it's still the plastic form that stays with the dome... but maybe not. (?) Another important factor I'm wondering is, how much did this home cost, and how long to build? Where is it being built so one can know what kind of climate it can work well in. Thanks Again!

[@SHAWXIII]

So a Neff bubble building

[@voxellab4339]

WTF, where are your respirators?

[@orlandogonzalez3958]

I think Gunite is better than shotcrete.

[@numbereight886]

Wear proper breathing masks when spraying especially in enclosed spaces, the guy spraying polyurethane should definitely have had eye protection.

[@MeesterVegas]

Where's the money shot? No footage of post-airform removal? You guys would never make it in porn.

[@RealHankShill]

That airforms not getting removed, they sprayed the inside of it. You would have to literally cut it off in pieces, might as well leave it on to protect the concrete

[@pelomalo68]

What’s the cost per square foot? Looks like it be much more then a conventional house.

[@rtbarshaw3766]

There are a lot of variables of course but my understanding is that it's on par with, if not a little cheaper than a conventional house. You'll save a TON if money in the long run though. These homes are incredibly efficient.

[@fredyates3061]

One day!...

[@georgewashington938]

I bet that thing was expensive to have demolished and hauled to the landfill

[@rtbarshaw3766]

That house will outlast all of humanity

[@jameshart1028]

Looks like pretty lush vegetation for "the artic". Designed for people who want to live in a cave, but can't stand the idea of being underground.

[@protonneutron9046]

Why a cave? Caves have no windows

[@Barbarian4613]

how much they cost??????

[@nhourmess]

Good luck finding shelves

[@protonneutron9046]

In my "square house" I have no shelves in ANY room on an exterior wall. And none in my last three homes either. So, what is the problem nhourmess?

[@stevygee605]

Very complicated? Alot of processes the average person has to pay for? Prettywell the entire process must be completed by experianced people?? In other words? A similar price to if you actually did a DIY yourself? This is not DIY? I think building a cabin is less complicated then this? Because theirs no good will in the building design where if you make a mistake it does not matter as much? Everything has to be done perfectly? Mixes etc? Im sure the price will make people question this process?

[@Mary-Time-Event]

A School was built, using this Monolith Dome Method. They Saved So Much Money, on Electricity. That they Paid Off The School in Eight Years, instead of Thirty Years💲💲💲

[@davidmaddon554]

How is this not do it yourself no matter what you do you have to learn the skills to do it. You have to acquire the skills to do it.

[@olegkazakov6202]

Между двумя оболочками прокладывается арматура накрест в колечках , потом надувается купол и сверху заливается бетон между двумя оболочками.

[@jimbig3997]

Looks more expensive than I thought to build.

[@rtbarshaw3766]

Perhaps, but you'll save far more money in the long term.

[@clarencelederhos2918]

Urethane!

[@NMjack2000]

One of those guys is lucky to have a wife that helps so well. Good Going. Also those round designs should convince any pet cats not to be using any corners and instead head outside. And those ones doing all the work sure do know what they are doing a lot of hard work and will be very nice when they get it done. Thanks for sharing.

[@camilabooth7397]

Perhaps he's helping his wife, or even better, they both assist each other

[@TheBowersj]

way too many steps involved here

[@Bindahaha]

Agreed. I've spent a few months researching building design and the monolithic dome seems to have a lot of steps that require very specialized machinery. I'm designing molds for CEB machines that would create blocks for various size domes using dirt and I think the end product will be nicer and stronger.

[@TheBowersj]

Patrick Binder that is awesome

[@patrickeh696]

Not a chance in hell that it will be stronger.

[@TheBowersj]

Patrick EH CEBs would last longer (no uv damage), hold onto temperature, and no new skillset is needed, a conventional blocklayer could accomplish the job.

[@patrickeh696]

Guy Fawkes Nope. Completed monolithic domes have a 2" layer of a special basalt reinforced shotcrete. Will FAR outlast a CEB.

[@beer1for2break3fast4]

And no end product .... ? Music sucks.

[@jplaw61]

Meet the Flintstones !!! They live here !!! LOL !

[@SacGeoTV]

NOT what Bucky was talking about ...

[@andydufresne3635]

That music hurts.

[@lindsayjl0204]

No windows? 👎

[@twistalimes8351]

Spell check: Before making titles 👀

[@jesse977]

For all that work it didn't turn out that great. I rather live in a storage shed from Home Depot

[@protonneutron9046]

jesse, what ARE you insanely blathering on about? They didn't show how it turned out

[@yo-to3qw]

great.but not for me

[@frostfang83]

That's daft punk....

[@kenjohnson5498]

Probably the least informative video, you need to make a better vid and break it down a little better.

[@omersafter1571]

cok guzel

[@richardbirkett697]

Looks awful like a bouncy castle

[@tomthumb9839]

I sure don't want one!

[@blueferral3414]

90% of American Counties would make you tear it down as soon as the found out about it. None would approve it as shown. Fails code on ingress and egress. We have minimum door and window sizes for dwellings. I'm not saying it isn't a cool structure just that America home of the free won't let you do what you want with your own home.

[@maryestheraustin2505]

you may have to rely on unincorporated counties, do your homework

[@tommyodonovan3883]

blue ferral Home of the *Fee.*

[@RedfishInc]

blue ferral they are already all over America. It's the strongest building process ever conceived. As far as doors and windows, a quick visit with code compliance can get you on the right track to pass inspections. They aren't the most efficient for use of space but when it comes to resistance to tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, fire, nuclear attack... they are proven in their structural superiority.

[@rusosure7]

Good God. It's YOUR property to do with as you wish. Be a man and tell your servants to piss off.

[@TheChoncho212]

Looks terrible and the rebar doesn't look right.

[@crisrose9707]

i love the music :D

[@pidginmac]

outdated and outmoded method

[@protonneutron9046]

LMAO Mac, you are clueless. PLEASE show the more updated methods.

[@protonneutron9046]

As I thought, just another room temp IQ troll Mac

[@MrPeregrines]

One word: Horrible!!!!!!

[@oldsoul6421]

are you insane? where are the foundations ??? In the UK people have serious problems with mould, because they do no proper foundation!!! what is it like in the concrete dome, with concrete floor, no condensation at all???

[@martinfrieling8860]

Wer soll denn bitte in einer Plastiktüte aus Beton wohnen wollen ?

[@protonneutron9046]

No one. That's why these aren't moron

[@kennedyluu1571]

I found Mickeys house