While stopping for a refreshing beverage this weekend in Mission, Kansas (we do love our Midwest convenience stores), we caught a glimpse of this super fun home with a dome. We're dying to see the inside (being brave enough to trek up the long driveway to ask for a tour is in the works) and are wondering in the meantime, have you ever lived in a place that's 100% round? Would you want to? Click through the jump to leave us your thoughts!
Although this home is located in the most bizarre location, directly across the street from a major highway and busy convenience store, we think it would be an interesting place to live. The challenges that would present themselves are intriguing to us. How would you hang artwork? Where would you put the head of your bed in a round room? Would it feel more natural than a square home with 90 degree angles? We're so curious and hope to be touring it soon!
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I lived in a dome in the 70s in the mountains in CO (yes I'm that old) - it had a half loft and sat on a four foot wall: the point of the wall being so cabinets would fit in the kitchen. It was 39 foot diameter. It was really easy to heat with wood. You could whisper into one wall and hear it on the other wall. We had skylights in the panels so there was plenty of light. It was very cool on summer days. The temperature was very stable, the most stable one I've ever lived in year round. I would never use the insulating foam at this point, but perhaps they have new products that are not so toxic. I am sure that one could create a similar environment with a traditional home. Domes are hard to finance and therefore hard to sell. "Nonconforming" etc.
I grew up in a dome house in the mountains of CO too. My parents built a three story behemoth. It wasn't at all energy efficient and quite impossible to heat. The entire ceiling was open to the rest of the house, so sound travelled quickly and easily. Though unique, it was impossible to stay warm and get any privacy in that house.
Oh my gosh! I knew what this house was before I even scrolled halfway down the picture! This house was an amazing and magical part of my childhood and I grew up DETERMINED to have a domed home. As an adult I was educating myself on energy efficient buidling design and felt like I won the freaking lottery when dome structures were mentioned...Childhood fantasy here I come!!
Thanks for the nostalgic heart-string-puller, sarahrae!
(and, no, I never had the guts to go up to the door...)
I guess there are a lot of dome houses in CO. I didn't live in one, but my mother in law did for a while. And my Aunt and Uncle did in Louisiana. I remember both complaining about furniture placement and the difficulty of finding curtains that would fit on the strange shape windows.
There's a rustic dome in Porter Beach, In. Or was anyway - haven't been on that road in a while. I wish they'd bring back the foam houses that were built then, which would be great with our new foam technology.
I live about 15 min. from this house! Have always been intrigued by it when I pass it!
An old family friend built his own dome house in Shasta CA. It's a wonderful home - cozy, beautiful, and the giant triangle windows forming a circle frame a perfect view of meadows, forests and the mountain. Seems like it's a great place for a single person or couple, but I can't imagine more people than that living in such a small, open space.
"Where would you put the head of your bed in a round room?"
I live in a round building too - The rooms inside aren't round, they're pie-shaped.
BTW - The head of the bed goes against a wall...
I live in the Kansas City area and have driven by this house many times and would love to see some pictures of the inside. I always wondered how many levels this house was!
*stare* Wow. Is that a house or a dome telescope? XD
was bored so i went on google images and searched mission kansas (where i live) so heres my message everyone grow some balls and just go ask to see the inside i live on 51st like 4 blocks away from them i know them i go to school with there kids
Here's the skinny on the big white dome at I-35 & Lamar. I purchased the dome kit from "Oregon Dome" and drastically modified it by adding 27 skylights and 12 side triangular windows. The bottom is concrete and used as my studio space. It was erected in 87 and 88 and I moved in: 10-31-88. It's called the Johnson Art Center cause that's what we do. The reason it's on the highway is to be able to get anywhere in the city in less than 30 minutes. Took 2 years to find the land and 4 years of planning to get it going. I'm listed in the book under United Art Directors in Mission, KS. Yes it has quite the rep from near and far. It was built to make a social statement that there are alternative solutions to all problems that we must deal with, including housing. Good for the kids to think outside the box. As most, we dream of the country, but for now this is great. Email me for a possible tour. If I have time, I'll consider showing you the place. Email address is: rich.mktg@gmail.com
Nothing is really round in the dome and there is plenty of wall space to hang art or place furniture. FYI: Gravity works the same inside as it does out. Thanks for your comments:-) Warm regards and happy dreaming of your next habitat!
We just purchased a dome home in northern Texas. It will take some time to get used to not having regular walls. I use an art easel to put large pictures on and in the main dome there are some tall straight walls. The hallway had straight walls. So far haven't had to use alot of electricity, stays pretty cool. We have 3 very beautiful skylights.