You know the caterpillar off Interstate 35, right? We all do. Unless you’ve never headed that way, I guess. If that’s the case, it’s time for a road trip. Hit Waxahachie or the other city that’s near there. Or any city along the way. Or keep going and blow it all out and hit Austin.
Or do nothing. Sit there and let me take you on a journey of dome-like proportions. And yes, there is a house that was for sale, but is now under contract attached to this story but we’ll get to that.
First, the Monolithic Dome.
There are two types of domes — Geodesic and Monolithic. EarthtoDome.com broke it down pretty succinctly:
“Monolithic domes are fortresses of concrete and polyurethane foam sprayed over round forms. Geodesic domes are made of interconnected triangular panels.”
Now you know.
The little village off I-35 is the home of the Monolithic Dome Institute. The way they make those domes is very loosely described above and only a little more tightly described below. I’m not a general contractor, but eXp Realty’s Paul Fritz first explained the construction and then the crew at Monolithic Dome confirmed it.
Basically, they start with a big round membrane and cover it in concrete and rebar, then add another layer of concrete, more rebar, and then — I believe — one final layer of concrete or the finish of your choosing. Most stick with the sprayed concrete, which gives it a stucco look, some add lines so it looks like a little stone-colored hobbit house, some people shingle the entire dome a la The Keebler Elves, and so on. It’s paintable, it’s durable and it’s basically indestructible.
Marilee Byrne, the owner of 102 Dome Park Place and wife of one of the original Dome Institute architects, said a few years back when wildfires were ripping through California, some firefighters were out in the forest and came across a monolithic dome structure. The family that lived there had evacuated, but they left their dome unlocked knowing someone would likely need the shelter. Sure enough, the firefighters ducked inside as the fire raged too closely behind them. They survived and so did the dome.
That’s what they do. They’re essentially tornado shelters. The way they’re constructed plus the shape makes them incredibly safe and energy efficient.
Gary Clark, Sales Manager at Monolithic, said they literally use half the energy of traditional homes. The one I toured, which was listed for sale, has a total of three connected domes. The main living doesn’t even have dedicated ductwork. The heating and cooling from the bedrooms keeps the whole house comfortable.
Now, I mentioned there’s a neighborhood out there. How’d that happen?
First, the company started in Idaho in 1977. Their first dome was a potato shelter. That’s a true story. As requests for dome construction came in, Monolithic soon discovered they needed a more central location. And one that was construction friendly. And that’s how they wound up in Italy, Texas, right off the interstate for ease of transport.
It wasn’t feasible for the core dome team to travel the world building domes in every state and 62 countries around the world, so they created The Monolithic Dome Institute. (It’s the little plot of land with the caterpillar, neighborhood, and home office.)
Once a dome was purchased, they invite the crew to learn how to build the dome on-site under the Institute’s supervision. It was also an opportunity to experiment. The dome house at 102 Dome Park Place was one of the experiments. It was the first time three membranes were inflated simultaneously.
The other function of the Institute is short-term dome rentals. They’re basically efficiency apartments but in a way cooler package. There’s a waitlist that never ends. Once people move in, they rarely want to move out. The rental cost is minimal and so are the utilities — you can see the draw. It also kind of makes you think, gee, is this an affordable housing solution? Maybe.
The home that just went under contract was that of Larry Byrne, the aforementioned architect for the Monolithic Dome Institute that obviously designed his own dome. When you step inside, myths and misconceptions are immediately busted.
Domes don’t have squatty low ceilings and they aren’t dark and devoid of natural light. The ceilings in the main living area were soaring — easily 12 feet and the sunlight was abundant.
Final misconception? Because of the sphere shape, there’s wasted space on the interior. Not even close. There are closets and bedrooms and utility rooms all carved out of the dome. Sure, some of the ceilings get lower at the perimeter of the room, but then again, that’s just part of the charm.
Seriously, I could go on and on about domes, but instead, I’ll just direct you to the website and give you a head’s up that there is an official dome life magazine called Dome Living. It’s filled with domes from around the globe and they are amazing. If you’d rather opt in for an email, you’re invited to do that under the header, “Keeping up with the domeses.”
Fritz listed 102 Dome Park Place at $300,000. If you’d like to tour, reach out to Fritz and he can make it happen.
