A Beautiful Day for the 2022 Tour of the Monolithic Dome Research Park
Welcome to the Monolithic Dome Research Park open house on October 15, 2022. Over one hundred people toured the offices (pictured), shops, and homes.
The US, Texas, and Monolithic flags fly over the Research Park, with the line of small residential rentals on Studio Street in the distance.
On a beautiful sunny day, hundreds traveled to Italy, Texas, to tour the Monolithic Dome Research Park. Bruco, the Texas Italian Caterpillar—with its painted boots and smiling face—opened its doors on October 15, 2022, along with the offices, classrooms, and industrial buildings at the site—plus two unique Monolithic Dome homes.
While some people came out of curiosity, having heard about it online, many came with hand-drawn plans, ready to discuss building their own Monolithic Dome.
Bruco was open with demonstrations of the Airform manufacturing process. Bruco is where many domes begin, with a layer of fabric on an automated cutting table, then seamed together with two 20KW radio frequency welders.
The tour included the main office of three interconnected domes, plus the shops and other structures on the property. Most domes at the Research Park were constructed as part of the Monolithic Dome Builder Workshops. Plus, the training center was open—where we often teach students how to build the Monolithic dome.
But the stars of the show were the two Monolithic Dome homes opened for tours.
The Callisto dome home should be renamed the Callisto dome complex because it has two Monolithic Dome structures—a 50-foot diameter dome and a 32-foot diameter hoop dome—plus a 24-foot diameter shop, a gazeedome, a 16-foot shop, and—constructed especially for the pandemic—a swimming pool.
The Europa is four connected 32-foot diameter domes shaped almost like a clover leaf. It encompasses 2600 square feet and was completely renovated inside during the pandemic. People went “ooh” and “aah” over the multi-arch shapes and the stylish interior.
We plan to hold another tour in October 2023. Check the Events calendar for more details.
The large cutaway entrance to the main office demonstrates how a Monolithic Dome is strong enough to allow wide openings without any columns or obstructions.
A young boy looking around at the domes at the Research Park during the dome tour.
Melissa Deleon and her family at the main office entrance. Deleon is a dome home designer at Monolithic.
A large map in the office entrance is marked with a selection of Monolithic Domes located worldwide.
Melissa Deleon (in back) is reviewing a floor plan with a couple planning to build a Monolithic Dome home.
Appropriately shaped round lights over the main office lounge.
Gary Clark (right) in the Training Center answering questions from two visitors during the dome tour.
The main door to Europa Dome Home.
The western dome of the Europa hosts the living room, dining area, and kitchen.
The intersection of three domes merges as archways over the Europa kitchen.
The elegant main bedroom in the Europa.
The hallway from the central dome to the bedrooms.
A child’s playroom with arched augmented windows and a doorway.
A bedroom with a large sliding door.
A comfortable home office in the Europa.
View of the Europa great room and the patio plus pond beyond.
A swimming pool is the center of activity in the backyard of the Callisto dome home and the hoop dome expansion (pictured).
The inset main entrance to the Callisto—a 50-foot diameter Monolithic Dome home.
Visitors talk with Mike and Tessa South in the living room of their dome home, the Callisto.
The Callisto kitchen is the center of the house—physically and socially—with a bar to sit and visit and the great room beyond.
A drawing on the family chalkboard shows that a family member is a fan of My Hero Academia.
The Callisto library is a quiet place to read and visit.
The Callisto primary bathroom was recently remodeled and updated.
A hallway behind the kitchen leads to a passage to the hoop dome.
A large pantry off of the passage between the Callisto and the hoop dome.
A connecting hallway leads from the Callisto into the hoop dome built later to expand the home.
The main living room in the hoop dome. Note how the walls are vertical, then turn into a dome shape.
A bedroom in the hoop dome complete with a cat tower.
A monk staircase leads to the loft in the hoop dome expansion of the Callisto dome home.
The loft in the hoop dome is a LEGO play land.
And back outside to the Callisto swimming pool.
A “gazeedome” in the backyard of the Callisto is a concrete-only Ecoshell. Inside the dome is a full kitchen with a fire pizza oven.
And that’s the end—sorry for the pun.