Project geodome diary

A detailed account of my own geodesic dome project.

Introduction.

The main principles behind my own project was a need for an extremely efficient building system as I have a very tight budget of around 15-20k to build a self contained workshop flat and office building in around half an acre site. I'd decided at this point that any structure had to be environmentally sound and my Ideal building would have zero co2 emissions, It sounds almost impossible but you've got to try.

spring of 2001.

After digging about the web looking for cheap to build structures for my workshop I came across a site that had some information on Geodesic domes, From then on I've been hooked, it took me about six months of working in the evenings to Draw the plans up apply for and get planning permission. I make it sound easy but it wasn't, the parish council objected and so did the man from next door, it wasn't in keeping they said. But after pointing out the possibility of disguising the dome by means of growing some sort of vegetation over it, like ivy the council succumbed and granted full planning permission, the only condition being to supply drawings of the hard and soft landscaping before I start. Not a bad start at all, most people I had told about the dome to this point had thought "no way would you get planning permission for that".

Autumn 2001

and I'm just about ready to start, all the panels have been dropped off by the fabricators, got the domed skylights all the timber is here and I'm ready to go.

November 2001  

In just over a week I,ve put up the riser walls and the top dome, it only took Sunday afternoon to put up the dome panels.

It was at this stage I had a few problems, the parish council took a dislike to the dome and made a complaint to the planning department they said it looked taller than the plan. So out came the planning officer to take some measurements, and you guesses it .... it was 400mm taller than the plan, oops (looks like my technical drawing skills fell a bit short of the mark).

This was bad news because I had to reapply for planning permission and stop all building work.

   Have a look at the plans section and see if you think my drawings look lower than the dome, I didn't think they were that bad myself.

Spring 2002.

Not a very productive few months with having to go back and do all the plans again and resumbmit them for consideration by the planning department, the parish council are making a concerted effort to stop the dome being built, they compain about everthing that they can but the main objection is " Its not in keeping" forget the benefits that this type of building has over conventional buildings they just don't want it in there back yard.

 Summer 2002.

 At last planning permission has been passed