As the years go by, natural disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes are becoming more frequent. Meanwhile, architects have been battling with this situation by coming up with new design ideas that are resilient and stronger, capable of withstanding the growing forces of nature. One such design solution—the bioceramic geodesic dome—comes from an eco-friendly architectural firm in Seattle called Geoship, run by two brothers. Dome homes and earth-sheltered houses represent a growing movement toward sustainable, resilient architecture.
The “home of the future” they have proposed is not made from conventional building materials such as wood or concrete. It is made from a bioceramic material that can withstand disasters and has the potential to dramatically lower construction costs. One of the owners of the firm, a young engineer called Morgan Bierschenk, told FastCompany that the idea to use this material first arose when he asked himself: “Why we’re still pounding nails in wood like people were doing 100 years ago?”
When Bierschenk began researching better ways to design, he came across the architectural revolution of the geodesic dome, promoted in the 1970s by Buckminster Fuller. That was when the lightning bolt struck. While Fuller envisioned the design solution to be something that could help the housing crisis after WWII, he was a little ahead of his time because the materials and methods were not advanced yet to make his idea revolutionary. He realized the idea itself was brilliant, and it’s relevant to today’s crisis too, maybe even more so… and now we do have advanced enough materials and methods to mass make these geodesic homes affordably to house all the people in need of shelter! From this moment, Bierschenk and his brother founded the Geoship startup.
Advantages of the Bioceramic Geodesic Dome
- The overall shape is inherently strong and efficient. The structure should be able to withstand extreme forces from wind and weather.
- The main material is ceramic composite (CC), which was originally developed at Argonne National Labs for use in shielding nuclear waste—it is a highly resilient substance made from minerals, and it is reliable.
- The CC can be made into any shape one wishes. They had the material made into modular triangular panels for their geodesic domes.
- The CC is lightweight.
- The CC is fireproof up to 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit; in a fire, the house won’t burn.
- The CC reflects more than 80% of the heat from the sun, helping keep the inside cool in heatwaves, a plus with the onset of climate change.
- The CC resists insects and mold. It absorbs little water, so it is also ideal in case of flooding.
- The panels are chemically bonded together, so there are fewer connections and, therefore, fewer chances for failure.
- The homes are modular and can be disassembled and rebuilt elsewhere.
- Any repairs are easily done by simply using the same material again to patch up a panel. The bioceramic acts like glue and bonds to itself.
- The homes are estimated to have a 500-year lifespan.
- Overall costs are said to be 40% less than traditional construction. The geometry shrinks the amount of material needed.
- The primary material in CC is phosphate, which can be recycled from wastewater.
- The panels would be mass-made in a factory, then delivered in a shipping container and assembled on-site. It would only take a few days, saving heaps in labor costs. “Essentially, it’s like Legos going together,” said Bierschenk.
- The homes are chemical-free and chemically inert. The materials don’t create any indoor air pollution.
- The homes are self-venting and full of natural light. Vents at the top and the bottom of the dome help cool the house naturally. Insulation is made by making hollow panels—the same ceramic material is used but filled with air. This makes the home “passive,” so it can be heated and cooled without external energy, therefore saving on energy use and costs.
- The homes sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Geoship Villages
The company has plans that could make it possible for people with little money to afford a home through community land trusts. They aim to help groups start land trusts to create dome “villages” and even offer co-op part-ownership of the company to the buyers. “We think to really solve the affordable housing crisis, you have to have some way to kind of transcend the single-family home with land ownership and take land speculation out of the picture,” Bierschenk said.
Geoship is even building a platform that groups of people can use to collaborate on the design of a village of homes. They will then walk groups through the process of setting up the community land trust and provide them with a cooperative ownership model in which customers will ultimately own between 30% and 70% of the company. “This fundamentally reshapes the home building industry and capitalism itself,” Geoship writes on their website. “Our success becomes your success.”
