Exploring the Creative Possibilities of Air-formed Construction
The Airform for this future underground home has multiple oblate elipsoids connected via tunnels. It took less than 15 minutes to inflate to low pressure for inspection.
One of the most exciting parts of our work is designing and inflating complex shapes and connectors with Airforms. These flexible, inflatable molds allow us to push the boundaries of architecture—opening up almost limitless possibilities in building design.
Round window augments on wide-radius saddles present real challenges. We have innovated solutions to these challenges that consistently produce excellent results.
Recently, we’ve had a blast bringing some truly creative projects to life. From small clusters of domes linked together with inflatable tunnels to massive interconnected structures, we’ve seen our designs become more ambitious, artistic, and dynamic than ever before.
Residential Airform construction has taken a big step forward. We’ve inflated more homes that are not only larger but also more unique and architecturally complex. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see our customers’ bold visions align with our ability to design and deliver them.
On the commercial side, we’ve been co-pioneers with South Industries in using large hoop-style domes featuring structural steel rings that support vertical wall portions. These designs presented significant technical challenges, particularly in maintaining tight tolerances, but we delivered with precision and care.
Some of our favorite projects took place across the country—in Florida, Texas, Arkansas, North Carolina, Virginia, and more. Each location brought its own challenges and opportunities for creativity.
My son Mikey fills up a water ring embedded around the perimeter of an Airform we tested here at Monolithic for a company that wanted temporary projection domes. He had to make a lot of trips with our small 250-gallon tank.
In the midst of all this, we also found time to experiment. One standout project involved a temporary structure anchored by a water bag at its base. It was a fun and educational experience that gave us deeper insight into the practical aspects of inflating temporary buildings.
Whether it’s homes, commercial spaces, or experimental designs, we’re constantly inspired by what Airform construction makes possible—and we’re just getting started.
Following are some of my favorite photos from recent projects.
Innovative Airform Images
Commercial Transition Ring Airform
The Eagle Event Center in Hennessey, Oklahoma, used a transition ring Airform with a 180-foot diameter. It’s a big dome, and getting the shape right meant carefully calculating how the membranes and steel ring would behave as it inflated. It was one of the first of its kind, and it turned out great.
This transition ring Airform was manufactured for an 180-foot diameter Monolithic Dome school in Hennessey, Oklahoma.
This was a very technical Airform due to the tolerances of the bottom wall section. The material we use is flexible, so certain compensations are calculated and welded into the Airform to ensure it inflates to the desired shape.
Residential Transition Ring Airform
South Industries recently did a residential job that stretched the application of Transition Ring Airform technology to build a single Airform to inflate a Monolithic Dome home composed of multiple Hoop Domes.
We built this Airform for a South Industries residential project. It has three hoop domes and a tower that utilizes the same method of construction. The garage dome has a large augment which will be squared off with interior framing for the garage door.
A Big Project with Two Very Low-Profile Domes
This project pushed the limits with two ultra-low-profile domes—some of the flattest we’ve ever done. When you’re working with shapes this shallow, everything has to be dialed in just right or it won’t hold the curve. From the patterning to the inflation, it’s a fine line between success and a big mess. But with the right design, you can cover a huge area without going tall, and that’s exactly what we pulled off here.
This Airform is for one of two super low-profile ellipsoid domes. The Airform looks almost like a tarp at this point.
The seams reveal the Transverse Airform design—a patented innovation developed by Monolithic.
Shallow ellipsoids are difficult Airforms to get right, but we make them look simple.
This aerial view illustrates the scale of these two large, low profile Monolithic Domes.
A Proof of Concept
We are always researching new ways for air-inflated structures to be re-usable and mobile. This experiment was a fun one.
This Airform was designed for a projection dome company. It’s held to the ground by a water ring built into the dome’s perimeter.
Once inflated, the doorway looks clean, and you can see the seams of the Transverse Airform pattern. Unlike the other Airforms we build, this was constructed of blackout material, which blocks the sun from shining through.
Even with the water’s weight, the fans could easily lift the dome off the ground. A simple manometer keeps that from happening.
A Complicated Commercial Clubhouse
This clubhouse project took some serious coordination. The layout included multiple connected domes with different shapes and sizes, and every merge had to line up just right.
These large domes are connected with simple merge or soap-bubble connections.
The backside of this dome will have a beautiful view. Two stories of window augments will maximize access. This clubhouse Airform is made up of six domes.
We use our CNC machine to paint logos on areas of the Airform that will be removed once construction is finished.
An Experimental Shape
At first glance, this shape doesn’t look all that complicated—but it was fairly new to us. We love performing tests like this at our research park.
We patterned this fun, Hershey’s Kiss-shaped Airform for a recent project. We tested it on our property to ensure it met the customer’s profile requirements.
Two Multi-Dome Homes with Many Augments
The following two homes, Stone Dome and the Brown Residence, were built using similar Airform strategies but with completely different floor plans and styles. One utilizes Gothic arch augments, while the other favors rounded openings.
The Stone Dome
The Airform for Stone Dome has many augments and is comprised of five domes connected with large radius saddles.
Inside Stone Dome’s inflated Airform, the starburst at the apex of each dome always draws the eye.
Windows can be integrated into Airforms in many ways. here, six round, three-foot diameter windows will look out over the entry and garden area at Stone Dome in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Inside the Airform, we leave fabric covering some augments to ensure the shape of the house stays true. After some supporting temporary bucks are built, we will cut the fabric covering the augment.
The Brown Residence
The large, rounded fronts of these augments in the Airform for the Brown residence in Aubrey, Texas, will be cut away once the structure is solid.
This is an Aiform augment for a Gothic arch. It has a peak at the top. The wood frame helps hold its shape until the foam is sprayed.
This will become a hobbit-style front entrance to this home. The augment is a round, tunnel-like extrusion with spray stops installed. After the structure has cured, the wrinkled central fabric will be cut away.
The starburst and round augment before spray stops were installed.
This illustrates well the intricacies of patterning multi-dome homes with smooth saddles.
Differing sizes of domes joined with saddles create dramatic double arches. From this angle, you get a feel for this house’s size.
Part of a hill was removed to make space for construction and will be replaced when the home is finished. The back side of the house will blend nicely into the hill.