Home  ·  About  ·  
Tipi		  ·  
Yurt		  ·  
Dome		  ·  Features  ·  Gallery  ·  Links


                        Dome
                        Geodesic Dome
                        Geodesic Dome Notes
                        Geodesic Dome Diary
                        Geodesic Polyhedra
                        Polyhedra Notes
                        Bow Dome
                        Triangulated Bow Dome
                        Star Dome
                        Star Dome Diary
                        Wigwam
                        Misc Domes


                        Site Search


                        Enter term & press ENTER
                        		 

                        Dome

                        July 25, 2007: First version, included dome typology with a brief overview of dome variants.
                        The dome or hemispherical dwelling is an ancient shelter form alike the tipi, and there are many ways to build a dome, with bent bows or straight struts.


                        The dome can be implemented in many ways, e.g. a geodesic dome composed by triangles is challenging to calculate and build, especially if not a canvas is used to cover it.

                        A dome done with bows is much easier to plan and implement, and very simple to errect and take down as well, and the portability is very good in that case. The comfort, if done with thermal insulation like with the yurt, is alike excellent.

                        Yet, there is one noteable disadvantage to be mentioned, the entire surface acts as roof and requires to be 100% waterproof therefore, whereas the yurt or cubic building have a comperable lesser vertical exposure or roof area.

                        Dome Typology

                        This dome typology gives you an overview of the different approach to compose a dome or hemispherical shelter:


                        Dome Typology

                        Geodesic Dome


                        Geodesic Dome
                        Simplicity
                        Size Flexibility
                        Portability
                        Comfort
                        Overall (2.75)
                        The geodesic dome is composed by straight structural elements, so called struts which themselves connect to hubs. It's a rather complex approach, and one of it significance and advantage is it can be fine grained as required, at any size - that why "Size Flexibility" has the highest rating.

                        Bow Dome


                        Bow Dome
                        Simplicity
                        Size Flexibility
                        Portability
                        Comfort
                        Overall (3.0)
                        The bow dome is composed by bows, either under tension or prevent to stay in shape, and tied to a central hub. Different ways of bending provides different shapes of the dome, like peak-tie or cross-tie bows.

                        Star Dome


                        Star Dome
                        Simplicity
                        Size Flexibility
                        Portability
                        Comfort
                        Overall (2.75)
                        The star dome is derived from a geodesic dome using bamboo splits as bows. It's a rather simple setup, but due its defined form does not allow larger domes, that's why "Size Flexibility" rating is low.

                        Wigwam


                        Wigwam
                        Simplicity
                        Size Flexibility
                        Portability
                        Comfort
                        Overall (3.0)
                        The wigwam stands here rather for the way the skeleton is made, with a canvas setup. The original wigwam is made with tree branches, and covered with leaves or grass.

                        Variant Considerations

                        Each of the approaches has advantages and disadvantages, e.g. the Geodesic Dome can be built almost at any size and fine grided as necessary with higher triangular subdivision and overhead to errect the dome raises significant, whereas the Star Dome is only suitable to 7-8m in diameter, after that the gaps become to huge and require additional structure. The Bow Dome provides many forms with its central hub approach as you can explore the Bow Dome Calculator, and also can be fine grided for larger domes.



                        Home  ·  About  ·  
                        Tipi                        		  ·  
                        Yurt                        		  ·  
                        Dome                        		  ·  Features  ·  Gallery  ·  Links


                        Print   ·   Contact   ·   Bookmark


                        Copyright © 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 by René K. Müller, All Rights Reserved
                        Graphics & illustrations made with Inkscape, Tgif, Gimp, PovRay, GD.pm
                        Web-Site powered by FreeBSD & Debian/Linux - 100% Open Source