Monolithic Dome News &amp; Stories

Riding Out the Storms: Monolithic Dome Home Survives Two Hurricanes

Life on the Water in the Tinsley Monolithic Dome Home.

By Kiesa Kay Posted 10 Aug 2023

When Paul and Shirley Tinsley chose to build a Monolithic Dome home in Cudjoe Key, Florida, they had no idea that they were building a home that would withstand not one, but two Category 4 hurricanes in six years: Hurricane Irma, in August of 2017, and Hurricane Ian, in September 2022. … read more

Humpback Whales Frolic in 3D Dome Experience at Maui Ocean Center

By Kiesa Kay Posted 17 Jul 2023

The Maui Ocean Center—one of the top ten aquariums in the world—chose a Monolithic Dome for its 3D “Humpbacks of Hawaii Exhibit and Sphere” experience, bringing visitors eye to eye with these denizens of the deep. … read more

BYU students designed and built a solar-powered Monolithic Dome

By Todd Hollingshead Posted 12 Jun 2023

For the first time ever, BYU will be a stop on the Utah Valley Parade of Homes. The reason? BYU students have designed, engineered and built a truly one-of-a-kind sustainable, transportable, affordable home—right on campus. … read more

State of the Art Health Facility Comes to Pecos

Aerial view of the Rec from the football field.

By Brandan Briggs Posted 10 May 2023

Local residents are enjoying the years of planning and work put in to improve the well-being of the community offered at the Reeves County Recreation Center. The facility began as an idea among the county commissioners in early 2012. Though elected officials changed over the years, each court has had at least one torchbearer who refused to let the dream lose momentum. … read more

Students Learn and Work Hard at Spring 2023 Workshop

By Dave South Posted 27 Apr 2023

Bad concrete is today’s topic. A projector flashes picture after picture of concrete voids, poorly embedded rebar, and a concrete mess all over the ground. It’s Friday afternoon at the Spring 2023 Monolithic Dome Builders Workshop and Gary Clark is giving his presentation, “The Worst Shotcrete Job, Ever.” … read more

Interior Surfaces of the Monolithic Dome

Natural Rough vs Trowled Smooth Finishes.

By David B. South Posted 30 Mar 2023

There are various finished interior surfaces to choose from when building a Monolithic Dome. The texture of shotcrete is naturally rough. Applying final coats of shotcrete to the interiors of smaller Monolithic Domes—using a sand-only shotcrete mix and a small nozzle—makes the natural finish much smoother. If the client desires an even smoother look, there are several ways to achieve a semi-smooth or totally smooth interior dome wall. … read more

The Shamrock Chateau Is for Sale [Sold]

By Dave South Posted 17 Mar 2023

While the house has sold, we still want to talk about this beautiful dome home because it’s unique, plus it’s the residence of retired Monolithic Dome designer Larry Byrne and his wonderful wife, Marilee. They designed and constructed a genuinely unique Monolithic Dome home, and we want to give it—and them—a proper sendoff. … read more

Throwback: A Stone Covered Dome Mansion

By Dave South Posted 21 Feb 2023

Today we look back at the astounding Whiteacre Monolithic Dome home in College Station, Texas. The triple-dome structure is impressive, as is the backyard pool—complete with waterfalls. But the most striking feature of the house is the stonework. The main house, guest house, garage, walkways, and landscaping are stone-covered. We love it. … read more

Transition Ring Airform Membrane

Telescoping forklift stabilizing the tension ring during inflation.

Updated 29 Mar 2024

The Transition Ring Airform membrane is a composite air structure used as the formwork for constructing a hoop-style Monolithic Dome, aka the hoop dome. It is manufactured to inflate with a cylinder-shaped stem wall and a dome roof. To achieve this result, a steel ring is incorporated at the junction between the wall and dome membranes. … read more

Central City Opens the First Monolithic Dome Gym in Nebraska

Main entrance to the Bison Activity Dome.

By Dave South Posted 14 Dec 2022

Earlier this month, a new Monolithic Dome gymnasium and safe room opened at Central City High School. It’s the first Monolithic Dome gym in the state of Nebraska. Steve White of Nebraska.tv was there to cover the open house. … read more

Canadian Artist Creates a Spanish Courtyard Inside Her Monolithic Dome Home

Exterior of the Yorkton Monolithic Dome Home in Saskatchewan, Canada.

By Dave South Posted 4 Nov 2022

CTV News recently featured a Monolithic Dome home in Saskatchewan, Canada. Tonia Vermette constructed the home 18 years ago, and it’s a wonderful place to live, but as an artist, she never seemed to be finished with the house. Over the years, she’s painted murals, vines, and textures on the walls, turning the home into a living artwork. … read more

A Beautiful Day for the 2022 Tour of the Monolithic Dome Research Park

Welcome to the Monolithic Dome Research Park.

By Dave South Posted 19 Oct 2022

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. … read more

Keeping up with the Domeses