*In this difficult time, azureazure is here for you. We are committed to helping both our readers and the industries that have been most impacted by the pandemic. Until the crisis is over, we will be publishing relevant content alongside our regular stories, which we hope offer you a few moments of escape. We would like to hear from you. Email us at azure@azureazure.com*

In homes built in the shape of geodesic domes, occupants maintain a close relationship with nature. The geodesic dome was patented and popularized in the 1950s and 1960s by American inventor, architect and mathematician R. Buckminster Fuller. Fuller’s theories about “design science” sought solutions to future problems, including overpopulation, and attempted to create suitable housing that could be made with eco-friendly materials that would leave minimal impact on the environment.

In homes built in the shape of geodesic domes, occupants maintain a close relationship with nature

Fuller, a keen observer of nature, was inspired by the geodetic shapes of honeycomb cells, the eyes of Dipteran flies, and even the Earth’s gravitational forces, to design a mobile dome. With the geodesic dome, he created an efficient living space, as it used very little energy and its circumference did not occupy much space.

These transportable homes can be placed anywhere, and you don’t have to possess advanced technical skills to install them, as they are easy to assemble and dismantle.

Over the years, his project (which could change the future life of human beings), was tucked into a corner, and geodesic domes were used only for projects such as the United States Pavilion at the Montreal World Expo in 1967, or, more recently, London’s O2 Arena. But no one, until now, had really appreciated the idea of building a transportable dome residence.

Geodesic domes in different places and in different models

Smartdome Constructions, a company based in Slovenia, had to wait for the 21st century to make Fuller’s concept of a mobile dome home a reality. The company markets their domes with the intentions of developing a new way of life that combines technical efficiency with care for nature and resources.

The price of a dome starts at US$ 22,400 and there are four models serving different climates. The Skydome model is lifted from the ground by a large central pillar, the Aquadome was designed to be installed over water, the Treedome is designed to be integrated into a forest environment and can be covered with foliage, and the Snowdome is designed to withstand wintry weather conditions.

These transportable homes can be placed anywhere, and you don’t have to possess advanced technical skills to install them, as they are easy to assemble and dismantle. Since each unit rests on a set of adjustable steel legs, they can easily be positioned over uneven ground. The vaults themselves are made of moisture-resistant laminated wood and a set of UV-resistant rubber joints and galvanized steel. Depending on user preferences, the geometric components on all four sides of the house may be transparent, translucent or opaque, and may be fabricated with 3-D thermoformed polycarbonate. The solid units are coated with mineral wool for better thermal insulation.

Transparent domes are a sound housing proposal: they offer an unbeatable proximity to the outside world, allowing you to lie down in bed and gaze at the stars or experience the most dramatic moments of a storm, all within the comfortable confines of a dry and protected space.  ■