Foam dome homes! Would you live in one?

[Flaxbee]

:hi:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/inspiration/foam-dome-homes-pink-tentacle-091974



Made from polystyrene foam, the modular pieces of these igloo-like homes create buildings that are super-insulated, inexpensive, lightweight, easily assembled, and extremely durable (being both earthquake and typhoon resistant).

[BiggJawn]

1. Whooooooooooooooooooooo Lives in a Pinapple under the Sea?

Man, that looks like something Strawberry Shortcake would live in.
But, is that a Jalousie door? I haven't had one of those since my last mobile home!

[Flaxbee]

8. to me it looked like a ladybug :)

Not sure if I'd want it to be permanent, but it's still an interesting concept. Maybe a bigger dome. The only problem is with their resale value ...

[Avalux]

2. Yes but please don't paint it like that! Black and white please. n/t

[Flaxbee]

9. I think there was one at the site that had been stuccoed with red tile

roofing over the doors. Looked very nice.

[RebelOne]

3. Not if it was in a tornado or hurricane area n/t

[Flaxbee]

10. they're supposed to be typhoon and earthquake resistant...

probably also pretty good in a tornado because of the shape. Not sure about the heft of the material, though. I do assume they're anchored well...

[kentauros]

19. I looked at the linked and tried to find any details about that "resistance" factor

and came up empty. For those of us that do live in hurricane and tornado-prone areas, full specs are important.

And while it may be resistant to high winds, I do question just how "resistant" they are to the debris that is often flying at equally high-speeds in those same winds ;)

They look cool, but you can do the same shapes and insulating characteristics with pumped concrete or stucco and rammed-earth. Maybe those aren't as "prefab" as the styrene domes, but there are also the fire-hazard problems to consider with styrene.

[RebelOne]

23. Cool as it looks, I would not live in a home like that,

especially where I am in North Georgia. There had been some near misses last year in my area. One direct hit was in Cartersville just a few miles from me and it wiped out a large bit of the town. I live in a mobile home and I cringe every time I hear the tornado sirens go off. But I think my mobile home would better withstand heavy weather than that structure.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

4. is that the same stuff they call dryvit?

Dryvit, the leading North American manufacturer of exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS), realizes the significant role the home plays in all our lives. That is why we offer residential cladding systems designed to protect your investment and enhance your quality of life in the home you choose.

Homes with a Dryvit exterior are far more than just uniquely beautiful structures that stand out in a largely cookie-cutter housing market; they offer performance attributes no other exterior can offer. They are highly energy efficient, saving up to 30% on annual heating and cooling energy costs. That does more than save you money: it helps the environment too. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels, energy efficient Dryvit systems help make the world a better place too.

You can get all of that performance with a look limited only by your imagination. Dryvit offers premium finishes that look like brick, limestone, granite, aged Italian plaster and a host of other stone-like appearances in almost any color you could want. When accented with easily incorporated architectural shapes and trims, you can achieve a sophisticated look that will separate your home from the pack and create the curb appeal we all desire.
Dryvit is owned by RPM, Inc. in Medina, OH, a more than $3 billion operating company that also owns leading brands like Rust-Oleum, Zinsser, DAP, Testors, and Tremco sealants, among many others.

http://www.dryvithomes.com/residential/about.asp

if it is then I think I will pass.

:hi:

[TheMightyFavog]

5. Reminds me of the old Xanadu Houses...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanadu_Houses

[Tuesday Afternoon]

18. that sounds like Dryvit also.

[Flaxbee]

11. not sure ... this is from a Japanese home grouping

I just like alternative homes / housing ideas :)

[Tuesday Afternoon]

17. if it is made of Dryvit, you can take your fist a punch a hole in it -- so,

while I like the design I have to say No to the execution.

[struggle4progress]

6. i think I like the hobbit house better

http://www.simondale.net/house/

or the high modern stuff

http://www.trendir.com/house-design/architectural-firm-high-modern.html

[Flaxbee]

12. both really nice ... I like the modern design too --

I just want extreme energy efficiency. Hobbit house is probably better for that than the lovely modern glass designs.

[GoCubsGo]

15. I love that modern house.

Especially the bathroom. I'd live there in a heartbeat, if given the chance.

[sakabatou]

7. That place must really be hard to fit furniture in.

[Flaxbee]

13. yup.

:)

[Courtesy Flush]

14. Live in a house made entirely of toxins

What could possibly go wrong?

[Deep13]

16. I was just wondering if styrofoam out-gasses.

Hope it doesn't catch fire.

[kentauros]

20. I haven't seen anything so far in my search on VOCs and polystyrene.

All hits seem to be only concerned with the VOCs in the manufacturing process and nothing on out-gassing after the fact. Maybe it's negligible and considered relatively inert or stable, so long as it doesn't catch on fire...

[jmowreader]

22. Styrofoam is flammable

They have to put a fire barrier on both sides of it, and then it's okay.

[MiddleFingerMom]

21. kick n/t