Luxury Monolithic Dome Home
This rare and exceptional Monolithic Dome home sits on nearly an acre of land, close to Cherry Creek State Park in Centennial, Colorado. Nearly 50 mature trees shade the dome and provide privacy.
Designed for energy-efficiency and durability by Chris Barnes, a former aeronautical engineer who worked with Howard Hughes, the dome was built in 1982. It is 30 feet high at its center and 60 feet wide, with four bedrooms and more than 4,500 finished square feet of living space.
Custom solid oak and ribbed glass front doors open to a tiled entry and a dramatic view of the curved oak staircase, suspended from a 14-foot-high arced stone wall. The open floor plan takes advantage of natural light coming through many windows and skylight.
In the main living space, the ceiling soars to 30-foot heights, topped by a skylight. A 25-foot-long stone planter wall separates the living space from the indoor lap pool and spa.
Kitchen includes hardwood floors, a breakfast nook, a freestanding fireplace, custom solid cherry cabinets, a large pantry and a stainless steel triple sink.
The 1500-square-foot upper level consists of three rooms, each with a cozy window seat and generous storage, and a luxurious bathroom.
Inside, a temperature difference of only three to four degrees exists between the first and second floors, since there is no air stagnation. The house was positioned so that all of the winter sun comes in and enters the pool surface for winter warmth, while no sun enters in the summer, and humidity control settings provide maximum comfort.
The rock column, with waterfalls, in the center of the home also serves as a natural heating and cooling structure, reducing temperature variation, even in the winter, to no greater than five to six degrees on average, over a 24-hour period.
Every window has exterior rolling shutters for additional temperature and light control. Window shutters around the pool are motorized and electrically operated.