Dome Facts

A sphere is defined as the geometric shape that encloses the most volume with the least surface area. A dome is the safest, strongest and most energy-efficient building. It takes less building materials to enclose usable living or working area in a dome than any other shaped structure. Forty feet of wall will enclose a 10 x 10 area, measuring 100 sq. ft., while 40 feet of wall built in a circle will enclose 127 sq. ft.—a 27% increase.

Geodesic domes offer the safest shelter in the most violent weather extremes around the world. In tornadoes and hurricanes, high winds and negative air pressure combine and get under the eaves and soffits of conventional housing, then rip the roof off, leaving the occupants exposed. A geodesic dome’s aerodynamic shape offers the best above-ground protection against winds from any direction, allowing gale-force winds to slip past. During an earthquake, a conventional house rocks off its foundation and topples as the earth makes lateral shifts. A dome has an even distribution of weight and a low center of gravity, so it moves with the earth. Engineering for incredible snow loads is intrinsic in its design. Insulating efficiently against extreme heat or cold is a direct factor of the exposed surface area, or outside wall area of any building. The vaulted ceiling in its free span interior allows excellent air circulation and heat recovery. You may design geodesic dome walls where you want them, if you want them, as you are unrestricted by bearing walls necessary to hold up a standard roof. There are no limits to interior design creativity.

Typically, a dome building is flat on the bottom so it will sit flat on the ground, and the profile is a percentage of sphere, expressed as a fraction. An example: The Imagination Room geodesic dome displayed at the Science Museum of Minnesota is a three-frequency, 36' diameter, 4/9ths sphere.