Domes are easy to build, cheap and exceedingly strong. Domes are, in fact, so strong that they provide close to 100% protection from earthquakes, tsunami and storms. Concrete domes are almost 100% fireproof. The lifespan of many domes is measured in centuries, not years. Domes require minimal maintenance. Domes look cooler than anything humans have ever built...
There are 3 main types of dome; geodesic, monolithic and sectional.
Geodesic domes are domes made from straight members. Tokyo Hackerspace can make some geodesic dome kits for people working in affected areas.
One-piece domes, typically concrete.
Made of curved sections of metal, concrete or foam.
- Temporary shelter or base.
- Long-term housing.
We need to build a small geodesic dome model from bamboo, PVC pipe or metal pipe. We should then build a 4-meter diameter dome for the hackerspace garden, and experiment with different coverings. This would become the THS Dome, and would serve many useful purposes at events.
1 tonne press to flatten ends of metal pipe struts: http://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-arbor-press-3552.html
Background on the mathematics of geodesic domes can be found here: Geodesic Math and How To Use It
Example of a metal pipe dome using custom-built connectors: http://www.chaos.org.uk/~markt/7m-dome.html
How to make a geodesic dome from metal pipe: http://www.desertdomes.com/tips.html
Eco-dome website: http://calearth.org/building-designs/eco-dome.html
Detailed video on monolithic domes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yJfcnIFYqg
Video showing PVC pipe dome: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osnv4IFZW5o
Video showing assembly of metal pipe dome: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9b1usybzEo
52-foot geodesic greenhouse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAX0A6yfb0k
Sectional dome: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHljTXBAwXU
- Books (All Amazon.co.jp)