Living Small, Cheap and Simple. Try A Dome House

If I was a teenager that needed some space to myself, I would really like a Dome House out in the backyard. Or as a writer, this could be the solution to all my troubles: who doesn't need privacy! These prefab domes come from International Dome House Co. Ltd. and are approved by the Japanese Ministry of Land and Transport. The material is "expanded polystyrene", that is formaldehyde-free, with measures taken for excellent air circulation. The company also claims that the walls have high thermal insulating properties, meaning air-conditioning or heating could be reduced, and the polystyrene is "free from rot, rust and termites".

What I don't like: plastic. I am a big fan of wood. Here in Japan I currently live in an old-style wooden farm-house, with the traditional tatami mats on the floor. While I could probably use them in a dome home as well, there is a special feeling when walls, ceilings and other parts of the home are made of natural materials. Having said that, I'd love to try a dome home, maybe as a studio or a meditation room.

Ultra-short assembly timeThe Dome House can be built by assembling Dome Pieces. Each Dome Piece weighs only 80kg. Since assembly is quite simple, if performed by 3 or 4 people, it takes approximately 7 days to complete a Dome House.

Ultra-low costThe Dome House is simple, since it is a prefabricated building with a small number of parts. Each Dome Piece is light and easy to carry, making the assembly quite easy. Because the construction of the Dome House requires only minimal manpower and a very short period of time, it is possible to reduce the substantial amount of labor costs.

Environmental measuresSince expanded polystyrene is made only from carbon and hydrogen, casting of expanded polystyrene is extremely clean. Construction of the Dome House does not produce any waste, nor does it involve any deforestation.

When Treehugger briefly mentioned this company back in March 2007, the comments include tips on how to order them abroad: Dome Was Built In One Day.Do have a look at American Ingenuity Dome Home for details.

Written by Martin Frid at greenz.jp

source: treehugger.com

Shell House in Japan by Kotaro Ide

Located in Japan, the Shell House is a sculptural large shell shaped structure that built in the woods of Karuizawa, located in Kitasaku, Nagano. The Shell House was designed by Japanese Architect Kotaro Ide, ARTechnic Architects, the concrete home building comprises two tubes with oval sections is meant to function as a vacation home, which is able to withstand the humid summers and cold winters of the region. To accomplish this, Kotaro Ide opted not to use the typical wood structure of two-storey house design in the area because of their susceptibility to decay easily.

Instead, used reinforced concrete to construct two elliptical shell forms which are supposed to represent a conch. Ulin wood is used to create terraces around the Japan house with a courtyard into the centre of the main living areas.

The ‘Shell House’ takes on a j-shape which is raised above the ground by 1400 mm resulting in the ‘floating’ masses. The villa’s simple aesthetic lends itself well to the traditional Japanese landscape, creating a balance between the futuristic man-made structure and the environment which surrounds it. The entire project took more than 18 months to realize and two and a half years to complete.

Description from architect:
A large shell shaped structure finds itself in the middle of the woods. It is hard to determine what exactly the structure is, and unlike the surrounding caves and rocks, it clearly is not a part of nature – nor is it a ruin. A frame, a shape, made at a completely different place for a completely different purpose. Within this shell shaped structure will one find floors constructed, wall separating spaces, and rooms furnished. The scenery conjures a SF film-like image, in which locals inhabit over an abandoned spacecraft. With time, trees start to grow encircling the spacecraft, harmonizing it into the landscape….

Project Name: Shell House
Location: Kitasaku, Nagano, Japan
Architects: Kotaro Ide / ARTechnic architects
Assistants: Moriyuki Fujihara, Ruri Mitsuyasu, Takashi Mototani (former member), Kenyu Fujii
Collaborator: Manami Ide (designer of customized metal work)
Structural Engineer: Naomi Kitayama / NAO
Mechanical engineer: Hiroshi Nakayama / TNA
Electrical Engineer: Jyunetsu Satou / EPS
Contractor: Kenji Kusunoki / GIKAKU
Site Area: 1,711 sqm
Constructed Area: 329 sqm
Construction year: 2008
Photographs: Nacasa & Partners Inc.

 

source:nikiomahe.com