"do they really intend for this to be a HOUSE? if not, then why not just use a frickin' tent!?"Obviously you've never been to Burning Man, where the surprisingly strong desert winds make putting up a tent, and then KEEPING it up, an incredible amount of work. Last year my tent almost blew away, twice. And that was with thirteen-inch metal stakes at each corner. Most people at the burn use domes, especially for the big structures, 'cause they're really stable in high winds. Plus, they look cool.
I'm glad somebody knows enough to see that this is one of Buckminster Fuller's ideas (cudos Swift2). He patented this in the 40's or 50's or something and sold it to the U.S. Army as a quick field housing solution. Rip off no digg.
Further on dagfooyo's comment.The reason domes are so much better than tents on the playa is because regardless of the direction the wind/sandstorm is coming from, a dome is aerodynamically the same. The force of the wind pushes a dome straight down into the playa, so you can be free to run and help your campmates or neighbors batten down their tents or shade structures, secure in the knowledge that your dome home is gonna be juuuust fine!
hippies don't go to Burning Man. They go to Rainbow Festivals. Only stupid dot-com hipster types go to Burning Man... cuz they're the ones with the $200+ for the tickets (and all the money they spend on their wannabe 'art' crap)Burning Man is f**king stupid.
It may be cheaper and lighter to buy a tent and yes we do indeed do that at Burning Man too. In fact my girlfriend and I have a very sizable tent that is slightly bigger than the domes. In general we use the domes to contain art projects one of which involved two domes connected by a tunnel. In the first dome we tried to create an abstract idea of being bug lava, after passing through the tunnel you entered the adult stage, where we had robotic insects amongst other things. It was bizarre and a really fun project to put together. The domes stand up very well to the stress of being in the desert; they are cool inside during the day and don't move when the wind blows, unlike a tent. Being made out of cardboard and wood they have two additional benefits: you can paint them however you like and at the end of the week you can throw them on a fire and, believe me, they burn beautifully.
carbontwelveFeb 11, 2006
that looks awesome :o
juboodiFeb 13, 2006
There needs to be a South Park episode where Cartman is trapped inside a village of these domes surrounded by giggling stoner hippies.
burymeFeb 13, 2006
I'd love to build one of these. Then one day, when somebody asks why I'm in such a bad mood, I'll say, "My geodesic dome burned down!"
theundoneFeb 13, 2006
I know this was on hackaday but I could've sworn I already saw it on digg too....apparently not since no one else has mentioned it.
dagfooyoFeb 13, 2006
"do they really intend for this to be a HOUSE? if not, then why not just use a frickin' tent!?"Obviously you've never been to Burning Man, where the surprisingly strong desert winds make putting up a tent, and then KEEPING it up, an incredible amount of work. Last year my tent almost blew away, twice. And that was with thirteen-inch metal stakes at each corner. Most people at the burn use domes, especially for the big structures, 'cause they're really stable in high winds. Plus, they look cool.
jd2mclarFeb 13, 2006
I'm glad somebody knows enough to see that this is one of Buckminster Fuller's ideas (cudos Swift2). He patented this in the 40's or 50's or something and sold it to the U.S. Army as a quick field housing solution. Rip off no digg.
lazerdaveFeb 13, 2006
Further on dagfooyo's comment.The reason domes are so much better than tents on the playa is because regardless of the direction the wind/sandstorm is coming from, a dome is aerodynamically the same. The force of the wind pushes a dome straight down into the playa, so you can be free to run and help your campmates or neighbors batten down their tents or shade structures, secure in the knowledge that your dome home is gonna be juuuust fine!
bbqribsFeb 13, 2006
hippies don't go to Burning Man. They go to Rainbow Festivals. Only stupid dot-com hipster types go to Burning Man... cuz they're the ones with the $200+ for the tickets (and all the money they spend on their wannabe 'art' crap)Burning Man is f**king stupid.
seminomadicMay 4, 2007
It may be cheaper and lighter to buy a tent and yes we do indeed do that at Burning Man too. In fact my girlfriend and I have a very sizable tent that is slightly bigger than the domes. In general we use the domes to contain art projects one of which involved two domes connected by a tunnel. In the first dome we tried to create an abstract idea of being bug lava, after passing through the tunnel you entered the adult stage, where we had robotic insects amongst other things. It was bizarre and a really fun project to put together. The domes stand up very well to the stress of being in the desert; they are cool inside during the day and don't move when the wind blows, unlike a tent. Being made out of cardboard and wood they have two additional benefits: you can paint them however you like and at the end of the week you can throw them on a fire and, believe me, they burn beautifully.