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Monolithic Dome News & Stories

MDI Updated 20 Mar 2023 Share this via Email Share this on Twitter Share this on Facebook Share this on Reddit Share this on Pinterest
Johnson Creek School in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin

The Monolithic Dome Institute News & Stories section with news stories, blog posts, curated content, and feature stories about the world of Monolithic Domes, thin shell structures, and curved architecture.

Feature Stories | Dome News | Think Round | In The Media

The easy way to calculate a dry bulk storage dome

Sketch of the medium dome design template.
6 Photos 6
Think Round Posted 15 Jun 2021 By Dave South

How big is a Monolithic Dome that stores 10,000 tons of ammonium nitrate? Or 750,000 bushels of corn? Or 34,000 metric tonnes of gypsum? These are straightforward questions without quick answers — until now. … read more

Throwback: Breckon Sports Center at Park University’s underground school

Nighttime at Breckon Sports Center.
Dome News Posted 11 Jun 2021 By Dave South

Today’s throwback is the story of an innovative school with an equally innovative campus — the largest underground educational campus in the world. When the school needed a new gymnasium they sought a solution as innovative as building underground — the Monolithic Dome. … read more

The dome builder workshops are back!

Monolithic Dome Builders Workshop Alumni.
Dome News Posted 3 Jun 2021 By Dave South

It’s back! After a year and a half hiatus, the Monolithic Dome Builders Workshop resumes again in September 2021. Coronavirus restrictions are lifting. Travel is returning. We can finally gather to teach, discuss, and build another Monolithic Dome. … read more

A stunning tour of the red rock Chavez Ranch Road dome home [SOLD]

Red rock coated Monolithic Dome home
18 Photos 18
For Sale Posted 20 Apr 2021 By Dave South

Stunning is the only word for it. It is a massive, red-rock coated Monolithic Dome nestled among the red landscape of Sedona, Arizona. The house contains 10 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, a fitness room, a theater, a beautiful kitchen, and so much more. … read more

Over the edge with vertical ellipsoids

Sketch of concepts used in the vertical ellipsoid dome calculator
Think Round Posted 18 Mar 2021 By Dave South

Inflatable shapes are the basic components of Monolithic Dome design. If it inflates, it can be constructed … probably. There are two primary shapes that dominate dome design — the sphere and half-ellipsoid. However, these are not the whole design palette. Sometimes we need to go beyond the basics. or in this case, beyond half of the ellipsoid. … read more

Rare winter storm wreaks havoc in Texas

The Callisto.
5 Photos 5
Think Round Posted 23 Feb 2021 By Mike South

Monolithic Domes are amazing. The insulation, coupled with the concrete’s thermal mass, creates an atmosphere that is hard to describe. Simply put, it feels the same today as it does in the middle of summer. If you set the thermostat at 70 (21°C), it just stays there. During the two-degree, 24 hour period, my heater ran for a total of 9 hours. This is a small heater, with only 30,000 BTUs. Most homes the size of mine have 100,000 BTU heaters, but even my neighbors with electricity struggled to stay warm with heaters running nearly 24/7. … read more

Refactoring the ellipsoid calculator

Ellipsoid dome conceptual sketch
Think Round Posted 28 Jan 2021 By Dave South

Circles and spheres are easy to measure. Calculating a spherical dome’s floor area, surface area, perimeter, and volume are straightforward mathematical formulas. When I wrote the new Spherical Dome Calculator, the challenge was the scaled drawing, not the computed values. Ellipsoids — on the other hand — are hard. … read more

WSAW-TV covers gymnasium dome inflation in Spencer, Wisconsin

Partially inflated Airform membrane for Spencer gym
In The Media Posted 7 Jan 2021 By Dave South

“It’s a great day to be a Spencer Rocket,” said district administrator Mike Endreas at the Spencer Public Schools gymnasium dome inflation. District officials turned on the fans to inflate the 107-foot diameter dome on Saturday, January 2. WSAW-TV was on hand to capture the event. … read more

TBT: Design inspiration in a frozen hotel

"White Santorini" art suite
12 Photos 12
Think Round Posted 17 Dec 2020 By Dave South

In today’s Throwback Thursday we revisit the Ice Hotel — 200 km north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden. This unique hotel is built and rebuilt every winter using ice, snow, and a lot of creativity. It’s a masterpiece of design and is an inspiration for curved architectural elements that could be built — permanently — in a Monolithic Dome. … read more

Obituary: David Barney South, 1939-2020

David and dome map
6 Photos 6
Dome News Posted 3 Nov 2020 By Dave South

We are sad to announce the passing of David Barney South Sr. — husband, father, entrepreneur, and inventor. David was married to the late Judy Lynne South (née Bates), and they raised nine children together. He co-invented the Monolithic Dome with his brothers, and they built a new construction industry. … read more

Tour a remarkable underground Monolithic Dome home for sale in North Texas [SOLD]

The hobbit house entrance to the underground Monolithic Dome house in Buffalo, Texas.
18 Photos 18
For Sale Posted 21 Oct 2020 By Rebecca South

The underground dome house in North Texas is getting a lot of attention. This completely hidden Monolithic Dome home is totally unique, absolutely private, and currently up for sale. In addition to real estate listings and coverage by local news websites, national news outlets like HouseBeautiful.com and Today.com have published stories about this unusual house. … read more

Visualizing the spherical dome calculator

Spherical dome calculator conceptual sketch
Think Round Posted 14 Oct 2020 By Dave South

Eighteen years ago, I wrote the first dome calculator for our website. I’d used the formulas before in spreadsheets, pattern programs, and even a script for the Palm Pilot. Writing the little program in the new web language of Javascript was fun. We still use it today, but it’s showing its age. The old calculator doesn’t work well on phones, and it has a dated, turn-of-the-millennium style. We have a new website; it is time for a new calculator. … read more

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© 1996–2023 Monolithic Dome Institute LLC