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| 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
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