Looking For A Home That’s Out Of The Ordinary?
We have had a spaceship on realestate.co.nz before, but today I came across another unusual listing that I thought was worth a mention! It’s a geodesic dome home:
I think it’s pretty fascinating. Take a look at the Open2view photos and let me know what you think. Would you live in a house like this? I was quite interested to know whether there were other homes like this in New Zealand, so I had to check it out on Google! According to the results there is an Auckland based builder, John William Rich, who has designed 68 geodesic domes which have been built throughout New Zealand and Australia. No doubt there are others too, so it may not be the only one of its kind, but this home is certainly more unusual than most!
According to what I have read, geodesic domes are the most efficient building system known. Due to their unique design and shape they use less building materials than standard construction, are more energy efficient and extremely strong.
The curved dome facilitates the natural circulation of air inside the home, while outside wind can pass over the home with less resistance thanks to its aerodynamic structure. In strong winds or earthquakes, the stress is distributed evenly throughout the structure, meaning there is less chance of damage to your home. For more detailed information about the advantages of this type of building click here.
Disadvantages include difficulty conforming to code for sewers, chimneys and fire escapes (if required). The dome shape also results in areas which are difficult to use due to lack of head room and the fact that standard furnishings are rectangular.
Seems to me the advantages outweight the disadvantages, particularly if you have the money for custom-made furniture and fittings! So why don’t we see many more of these homes around the country? If you’ve owned or lived in one fill us in on your experience?
Geodesic design is not just limited to housing. Check out this alternative venue, children’s climbing frame and aviary!
If you would like to know more about geodesic design and structures, check out the following links:
- Introduction to Geodesic Domes and Structures
- The World’s 10 Largest Geodesic Domes
- Geodesic Dome – Wikipedia
If there are any salespeople who have had, or currently have, any ususual properties among your listings let us know!
April 17 2009 | General | 3 Comments »