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Smartdome: The Mobile & Modular Prefab for All Climates

dornob — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 15:00:42 +0000

There’s something inherently cozy about geodesic dome homes. Maybe it’s their rounded profiles, which are reminiscent of J.R.R.Tolkien’s hobbit houses. Maybe it’s the fact that these little structures are often placed in scenic locations like forests and lakefronts. Popularized by Buckminster Fuller back in the 1950s and 60s, geodesic domes are strong but lightweight thanks to their “omnitriangulated” surfaces. They’re also prime candidates for prefabrication, a process that eliminates most of the mess, noise, and waste caused by standard construction techniques. Prefab dome homes can be made from several different materials and are often sold in kits for DIY assembly in a location of one’s choosing.

Recently, a Slovenian company put its own spin on the geodesic dome home with its “Smartdome” series, which features four models all designed for different climates. “Sky Domes” are raised off the ground by a large central pillar, while “Aqua Domes” are intended for installation over water. “Tree Domes” are covered in foliage to blend into forest environments, and “Snow Domes” are built to withstand cold weather conditions. On their website, the company has shared a series of illustrations that depict their domes built into hillsides, set on elevated walkways and decks above the tops of trees, and clustered together in larger, interconnected communities.

Of course, the company’s vision goes far beyond a set of pretty pictures on the internet. Since launching in 2015, they’ve been able to manufacture a few beautiful examples of their modular, affordable geodesic domes. These mobile homes can be placed virtually anywhere and start at just 20,000 Euros, or about $22,400 USD. Almost no technical knowledge is required for setup, and the domes’ modularity allows them to be expanded, taken apart, or transported to new locations at the owner’s convenience.

Since each Smartdome unit rests on a set of adjustable steel legs, they can easily be placed on uneven terrains. The domes themselves are made from a laminated, moisture-resistant timber framework, a set of UV-resistant rubber gaskets to protect them from leaks, and galvanized steel. Depending on your preference, the home’s four-sided geometric components can be transparent, translucent, or opaque. The see-through varieties are made using a 3-D thermoformed polycarbonate, while the solid ones are lined with mineral wool for insulation.

Modular homes like these could help make geodesic units more attractive and accessible to people who want the expansive feel of a dome without having to go through the hassle associated with conventional construction. They make for great vacation homes in natural settings — places where normal buildings and homes would just seem disruptive. In particular, the transparent Smartdomes offer an unbeatable closeness to the outside world. Imagine laying in bed and gazing at the stars, or experiencing all the drama of a thunderstorm from the comfort of a dry, protected space.
Smartdomes are designed, manufactured, and sold in Slovenia. If you’re living in the United States and want to get your hands on your own geodesic dome home, there are a lot of manufacturers on this side of the Atlantic producing similar creations, like Pacific Domes and AiDomes.

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Central Courtyards Connect Historic + Contemporary Design

Delana — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 15:00:23 +0000

In southeastern Slovenia, a small region known as Bela Krajina or White Carniola sits among birch forests, karst hills, and sprawling vineyards. It is in this picturesque setting that architects 3biro set about building this home, a blend of traditional and contemporary Slovenian design.

The building site was large and flat, and the client wished to constrain the building to a single story. The architects employed an architectural style traditional to the area: a series of chambers arranged around a central courtyard.

The largest connection area is at the entryway, where a span of timber and glazing reflects both the traditional and the contemporary.

Across an open courtyard from the home’s main entrance, and closest to the street, is a covered parking area for up to three vehicles.

Three wings of the home arranged around that main courtyard contain bedrooms to the north, leisure rooms to the east, and an open living area to the west. Here the house opens onto another courtyard containing a pool. From this vantage point you can see an orchard in the distance, always connecting this modern home to the area’s history.

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Ancient Meets Artsy in Contemporary Farmhouse Rebuild

sdeProfile29685 — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 11:00:09 +0000

Near the medieval Slovenian town of Škofja Loka, a farm property was transformed by the replacement of an ancient farm building with this crisp, modern three-story home.

The home, built by Arhitetektura d.o.o., sits in exactly the same location as the farm building it replaced, sharing the very same dimensions, with the same slope used as a prominent influence in the home’s shape.

The huge horizontal strips of windows allow a constant view of the idyllic farm scenery around the home. A recessed wall on the middle floor (seen here at ground level) allows residents to look out over the “farm courtyard” from the living and dining rooms.

A large garage occupies the first level, which is below ground level when viewing the home from the low side of the grade. The middle floor contains the public spaces while the top level houses the sleeping rooms.

Although the exterior dimensions and some features of the home had to comply with historic regulations, the architects at Arhitektura d.o.o. were free to make the actual aesthetic and interior of the home as modern as the young, educated owner required.

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