Building a New Monolithic Dome Home near Austin, Texas
Rendering of the new 43-foot diameter Monolithic Dome house near Austin, Texas.
Every Monolithic Dome house we build starts with a conversation about space, layout, and how the structure needs to work for the people living in it. For this project, the client selected a plan from our design portfolio, and we made a few key modifications to tailor it to their specific needs and lifestyle. Before construction began, we conducted a comprehensive feasibility study to establish the design, cost, and construction timeline.
The 43-foot dome home is 18-feet tall and features two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a spacious kitchen, and a dedicated utility space, all designed for comfort, efficiency, and long-term durability.
The photos that follow walk through the early phases of the build. You’ll see the dirt work, slab pour, and Airform inflation, followed by utility prep, rebar layout, and interior work inside the sealed structure. The process moves step by step, with each phase setting the stage for the one that follows.
The Foundation
[Left] Circular forms keep it simple—one center point, no corners or strings. Just set your radius and get to work. [Right] Center stake is set, along with markers for plumbing and electrical, laying the groundwork for underground utilities before the slab goes in.
With the concrete down, timing becomes everything. Cooler temperatures slow the curing process, turning the finish work into a matter of patience and precision.
[Left] We started the pour on a cool afternoon, and the crew stayed on it through the night, wrapping up around 4 a.m. [Right] The early morning view shows the finished floor and footing. Rebar uprights are set into the perimeter, and all plumbing and electrical lines are in place. Each one is marked and taped off to ensure we can build around them without any issues.
The Airform
Before attaching and inflating an Airform, we bend down the uprights (the perimeter rebar) so they lie flat on the slab. We also place all the scaffolding and materials for the door bucks on the floor. After that, we bolt the Airform to the foundation and inflate.
The Foam & Steel
With the foam layer complete, and the rebar hangers embedded, the crew starts tying rebar. Horizontal hoop bars go on first.
[Left] The crew straightens up the vertical bars extending from the footing and ties the horizontal bars to them. We refer to these vertical bars as the “uprights.” [Right] Rebar framing takes shape around one of the window openings.
Crews tie rebar at the top of the dome.
The Shotcrete
The interior shell after shotcrete has been applied.
The Completed Dome Shell
The dome shell is complete and ready for the next construction phases.