The Orion
by David
B. South
Reprinted from The Roundup, Winter 1999
An astronomer will define Orion as, "a constellation on the equator east of Taurus." But at MDI, Orion is defined somewhat differently, Orion is the name we've chosen for a series of Monolithic Dome homes we are building and teaching others to build. It is a new dome design which features a Monolithic Dome on top of a concrete wall.
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The construction process for an Orion consists of three major parts: foundation, wall, and Monolithic Dome. Of these three, the construction of the wall is the newest development. This new wall-building technique is similar to the one used in building a spray-in-place, concrete fence (Roundup Journal, Spring 1998, p. 25).
Monolithic Constructors, Inc. recently completed its first, two-story Orion with 2200 square feet of living space. Its foundation has a diameter of forty-six feet, and in shape resembles a circle-one that has seventeen sides. This Orion's eight-foot high wall consists of seventeen panels, each measuring 8'x 8', joined around the exterior of the foundation. The Monolithic Dome atop the wall measures 48' x 12' - providing an overall height of 20-feet.
With the foundation poured and cured, construction of the wall began by using 8' x 8' plywood form-panels. Each of the panels had a twelve-inch wooden form attached along the length of its top edge. When sprayed and cured, the wood was removed and the concrete ledge formed the eaves of the house. Window and door openings were measured, cut to size and nailed in place onto the form-panels.
Six plywood form-panels were braced against the adjoining sides of the foundation and, on their interior, sprayed with two inches of concrete. Once that concrete cured, the crew removed the plywood panels. For this dome, this process was repeated three times. Spraying the plywood forms one section at a time will allow the builder to save money on form costs.
After finishing the wall, the crew secured the Airform to the concrete eaves running along the top of the wall and inflated it. The Airform and wall were then sprayed with three inches of foam and an additional 2.5 inches of reinforced concrete, following standard Monolithic Dome construction procedures.
Orion Advantages
- Easier to mount doors and windows.
- A more conventional look.
- More straight wall area-preferred by many home owners for hanging pictures, placing built-ins.
- Easier public acceptability in traditional, conventional areas.
- Variety of exterior finishes: brick, stucco, paint.
- Strength and durability approximating that of the Monolithic Dome.
- Low, ongoing maintenance and energy consumption.
- Versatility of size and shape: Wall can consist of virtually any reasonable number of panels. These can be arranged in a variety of shapes. Airform can be relatively low for a single-floor Orion or tall enough to accommodate second and third floors.
Disadvantages
At this point, we see only two disadvantages to the Orion. We expect
the cost of the Orion's shell to be approximately ten percent higher than
costs for a conventional Monolithic Dome. However, we anticipate some
savings on the finish-out of the Orion, since its doors and windows will
just "pop" in place, much like those in traditional houses. The second
disadvantage involves the Orion's wall construction. Since it takes place
outdoors, inclement weather could result in construction delays.
Conclusion
The Orion Series Dome is a great alternative Monolithic Dome. Some like
it, some don't. In any case it provides more options for those wanting
to build and enjoy the benefits of the Monolithic Dome.
177
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