I designed the interior of this dome–the exterior (the dome shell) was already built by the time they called me, but the inside floorplan was a mess and not to their suiting. That means one thing we couldn’t change was orientation to sun. So in SE Texas, and with a southern exposure, the main entrance gets too much sun and too much rain…or at least more than they want. My idea for solving this, while respecting the shape of the front opening, is shown in the other two pix.
View Image View Image View Image
How would you build it? My idea is to have the frame built of extruded aluminum, bolted together, with a translucent uv-resistent fabric canopy. Looking to see if there are better ideas or if anyone’s dealt with a company that does this sort of thing well. Thanks.
Edited 7/19/2003 8:04:13 PM ET by Cloud Hidden
Replies
Jim, Your pictures arre not loading for me but I can guess what you are describing.
Right across the bay from me in Belfast is the home of Moss Tents. They custom design and manufacture tensioned fabric shelters all around the world.
This link shows one of their products. I'm looking for a direct link to them for you. Is this the kind of thing that can help? No frame to it.
http://www.msrcorp.com/tents/heptawing.asp
Excellence is its own reward!
I love tensioned fabrics, and think they can be such a cool compliment to domes--hard curved surfaces against soft curved surfaces (I don't think that turned out the way I meant it to sound). Been looking for a project to incorporate them. The shape of this one presents a challenge that may require a frame. Maybe not. I'll forward them the link.
If anyone else has trouble with the pix, give a yell. Did 'em the same way as always.
No image at all in Netscape. I openned explorer and got boxes. I rught clicked and chose "show picture" on each one.
Still so small I could make out too much
but here's the link to Moss
http://www.mossinc.com/
check out their gallery and I think you'll be convinced they can handle it.
Excellence is its own reward!
James
Seems a bit stark to me around the house. Sun and rain also equal possibilities to not only naturally beautifying the front but also shedding rays and water with foliage along with some sort of trellis/lexon type work.
a
In his first interview since the stroke, Ram Dass, 66, spoke with great difficulty about how his brush with death has changed his ideas about aging, and how the recent loss of two old friends, Timothy Leary and Allen Ginsberg, has convinced him that now, more than ever, is the time to ``Be Here Now.''
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Pics open automatically just fine. Must be that yankee computer...
What about an igloo type strucdture in front, made of the same material as the dome? Or a semicircular canopy on columns? I think I have a problem with the horizontal wings.
Do it right, or do it twice.
Edited 7/19/2003 10:39:34 PM ET by ELCID72
Ask Andy to move his teepee a little closer to the entrance. That'll dress it up and provide some shade.<G>
House looks a bit like a dumbell as it is. Maybe add another bulge at the front to look like the Cingular logo and reposition the entrance off to the side of that away from the sun.
Agree re having a prob w/the horizontal wings. I would prefer a solid curve, asymmetrical even, to implement what Ralph suggested--offsetting the entrance. IOW, their front door can remain there, but the FRONT front door will be at one side or the other of the augmentation. As others mentioned, looks like the place is ripe for trees that could shade.
That pic looks like one of your renders.
A good heart embiggins even the smallest person.
Quittin' Time
I'd laminate the curved frames out of steam-bent oak 1x's until they were thick enough to make my engineer smile, then stain and varnish the frame a black walnut colour to give some contrast to that stark white dome and make both elements jump into focus.
Then, if they've got the money and you've got the patience, 'roof' it with stained glass, for a wacky touch--or photosensitive glass that darkens to the sun, for the practical slant; keep the entryway cooler).
Your photos loaded fine in IE; they were so small I couldn't see a thing until I saw the little hand appear when I rolled the cursor across them and duh! clicked to enlarge them. How you do dat!!?? I can't even get my stupid dinosaur.gif to show up in my signature line although I can see the code the graphic never comes up.
Dinosaur
'Y-a-tu de la justice dans ce maudit monde?
I got the pictures OK, but not many good ideas for you. If glass could be bent to that shape, would mirror tint do enough for the UV? For what it is worth, I like the shape.
On a different note, if they are already paying to fix the inside, is really not feasible to move the entrance. I know nothing about domes, but I also know that most things can be fixed, it is just a question of whether or not the cost makes any sense. Just wondering, and thinking you probably already figured it for them.
Dan
Hey Cloud,
I really like the concept, I think it adds a good character to the larger structure.
What comes to my mind looking at the simplistic rendition you did (on purpose?) is to use wasp waisted kidney shapes for the concrete "feet."
If the "beams"(?) were made from thick guage oval or radius corner rectangular steel you could hang a shade of foam and wire and stucco it to match the larger structure leaving the "beams" exposed for contrast.
The use of paneled shade could give you an interesting play of light.
SamT
I'm not sure how the fonts will turn out when I post this. ST.
Sleepless in Columbia.
Diurnal rhythm? What songs did they do?
It'd be pretty simple to build the structure out of 3" square tube.
Make the curved areas into angles, then face it with 2X Redwood cut to the curves you want. These would face out. Don't put any on the house side. Weld some 2" tube between the two halves, string good field fence on top of that, and plant a Mountain Laurel, Wisteria, or Honeysuckle for shade. These'll grow good in central Texas where I am, so south of here would be even better.
Thanks for the ideas. Luka, it is a rendering superimposed on a site photo I took. Dino, if you want, I'll find the thread that describes how to post pix like that. Others, the front door cannot be moved. Walls are all done and built. Mission was limited--given the existing structure, how to we block the driving rain a bit and not lose the original curve of the opening. The guy who's doing the exterior finishes is on sight now, so there wasn't much time for thinkin' and plannin'. I'll think these through some more.
Cloud,
Looks to me like a great candidate for ferrocement with inset panels. PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Don't think you'll ever get a weather proof seal against the roof and the structure. Might want to consider a grate drain directly under the drip line of the opening. What ever is placed against the roof will trap water and increase it's volume. Remember the hurricanes we get. Think you might want to give about 6" clearance between the back side and the roof. Attach the structure to the roof at the center and ends so it would more or less float and not cause structural problems when the ground moves.
If you're gonna use plants, put in a drip to water them. You can get a cheapie at HD for $20.
As far as rain blowing in, bring the walk out a little past the structure, and make a ninety degree turn. Plant some crape myrtles along this to make a wind/rain/sun break. Drip'em and they'll grow fast.
Cloud--
Yeah, if you could steer me to the thread on pic-posting techniques I'd appreciate it.
Somebody else posted a doubt about keeping the portico/dome-wall joint water tight; I don't see that as a problem, but I'd definitely arrange things so the portico roof slopes away from the dome enough for drainage. What's the material of the outside wall of the dome? Sprayed concrete à la 1964 NYC World's Fair, or stucco? If sprayed, cut a groove at the same up angle as the roof slopes down for drainage, and insert the back edge of the roofing bedded in white-lead putty (or silicon caulk, if that'll take the sun down there; don't know). If stucco, probably best to add on an eyebrow and set the roofing under it same way....
Dinosaur
'Y-a-tu de la justice dans ce maudit monde?
I like Andy's idea of some sort of trellis. I like to use plants as solutions to shade problems as much as possible, but it requires a homeowner who will care for the plants. Around here lots of people use silver lace vine or virginia creeper for shade-on-lattice situations. Both grow like crazy, DW prefers silver lace vine.
Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one.
cloud .. i'd take my inspiration from the architecture of Santa Fe / Taos.. .. but that is just me..
your dome concrete shells have always pushed those southwest buttons in my mindMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Oooh, now Tom's idea of making the curves into angles fits in w/Mike's comment re the Southwestern feel and my dislike of the flat part as it stands. Again, this is just me; and I echo everyone who is urging plants. It's so great that domes are finally (IMO not since Whole Earth Catalog) getting some publicity. Of course, it doesn't hurt that it's la creme de la creme, like your work, that is being spotlighted--and, as you said, most recently on the best periodical of its type, FH. Next time I go to the drugstore I will turn some of them around so you are the front cover LOL!
That's funny, kai! Maybe I'll do the same at Lowes........er, umm, except that I never go there, that is. What's most interesting about this thread is the variety of ideas. So many people, so many good ideas. Tastes vary across the board!
Tastes vary indeed! Just in case Sysop is monitoring, I will obviously leave some of the FH mags facing forward, but place some copies elsewhere, backside out :-) Give a clerk a job, eh?
My first thought was an Arts & Crafts pergola. Then I read Andy's post, and thought a number of things (<grin> really, no more of the purple tabs . . . ).
A two level pergola, and of some nice beefy timbers, to respect the two levels in the entrance, might be the "trick," being able to "reach" (to use archy-speak) the feeling of greeting out, while also providing shade. The pergola could be rigged with fabric panels (adjustable to the seasons), glass panels, or vegetation. Or some mix of all three. Gives a nice "scaleable" project to the owner, too.
My inclination would be a solid sort of roof over the center, with colored/stained glass panels in the "clerestory" between upper and lower "roofs." Then, use fabric and vegetation for the "wings" of the lower pergola. Illiana would be nice, you've probably seen the bright orange trumpet shaped blossoms of late. English Ivy & Asian Jasmine are very tolerant of the central Texas heat without being too thirsty in the dry climate.
Some bright colors on the fabric, and some nice scroll work on the pergola "tails" might just add a bit of "organic" to the house.
For aluminum & glass systems, you could look up Win-Con out of New Braunfels--but they normally do fairly large curtain wall systems.
I have to admit, I like Mike's southwestern pitch. Some projecting vega's would be nice on the front of that dome..
Excellence is its own reward!
Cloud - a bit along the lines of what Dino said, but here's an interesting example:
http://westsystem.com/ewmag/other/lam_shelter.html
did
Unencumbered by knowledge or fear...
Jim,
With the organic form of those melded domes and the nearby tipi I think Piffin may have offered the most appropriate aesthetic solution to your dilemma - tensioned fabric.
By anchoring the tensioned fabric at several points around the existing opening then flaring it out like a sail with pine logs jutting up from the ground and angled sharply away from the dome, you would create the effect of the existing opening shape gracefully reaching out to welcome the approaching visitor. Either that or you would get the effect of a nuclear mushroom cloud blowing up a tipi - but I like the first imagery better. :-)>
The tensioned fabric would respect and project the original opening shape outward to create a very dramatic entry way. Perhaps most importantly, the organic style curves of the stretched fabric would just look so much more "natural" than trying to marry a semi rigid form to the dome. I would separate them into two sails with one of them flaring up to overlap the other one slightly as well.
Don't get me wrong, I think you've got a pretty workable solution already it just doesn't have the same freeform feel as the dome and tipi. If you go with the canopy design you've worked up I would still see if you can work in some pine logs jutting up (like the tipi) supporting it.
I really like the juxtaposition of the ancient dwelling sitting beside the space age dome. This entrance gives you a great opportunity to make those two structures work together. Good luck!
Kevin Halliburton
"I believe that architecture is a pragmatic art. To become art it must be built on a foundation of necessity." - I.M. Pei -
Hi,
I work in the trade show exhibit business and we've worked with a competitor to the Moss company that Piffin mentioned. That company's name is Dimension Design out of Chicago. They do some nice curved aluminum tube work with stretched fabric over it. Give them a try. They do have a website, just do a search on that name. Good Luck!