After being popularized by Buckminster Fuller in the 1940s, the geodesic dome has been used to construct everything from small garden shelters in backyards to large sports arenas in major cities. Among other reasons for its choice as a shelter, the dome is an extremely strong structure for its weight while also possessing the greatest volume for the least amount of surface area.
Aside from the structural benefits, Fuller’s futurist side was drawn to the dome’s efficient interior atmosphere as an ideal location for human dwellings because air and energy are allowed to circulate without obstruction. Ultimately, this atmosphere enables heating and cooling to occur naturally and geodesic shelters have proven to be the most efficient human shelter in a variety of climates and temperatures.
Although there have been some tutorials and build plans for constructing your own geodesic dome floating around over the past few decades, none of these have approached the build as functional all-in-one ‘kit’ experience – until now.
Fresh out of a successful Kickstarter campaign, UK’s Hubs is aiming to change that and has just put their geodesic dome construction kit into production after having raised nearly $65,000 to bring the project to life on July 24th.
“We’ve created hubs, which enable quick (under an hour, in fact about 20 minutes if you know what you’re doing), easy construction of durable geodesic domes,” explain designers Chris Jordan and Mike Paisley.
“Making domes accessible to anyone and everyone without the need for specialist skills, lots of tools, complicated construction or lots of money.”
Leading up to the campaign, the designers were successfully able to test their kits using rounds of 3D printed prototypes, however they are now getting the tools made for having their parts made via injection molding.
Initially, the designers are focused on launching a single build kit that contains clear instructions and “everything but the sticks” for creating a “dome-based something”. Ultimately, this will include all of the necessary connecting hubs, ball joints, screws and other hardware. For those who don’t want to go through the hassle of sourcing their own sticks, the designers will also be offering kits with a number of pre-fabricated sticks, too.
As for that “dome-based something”, it can be anything from a garden room, fruit cage, outdoor reading room, greenhouse, chicken run, children’s den, aviary, festival tent, hideaway or nearly anything else one could think of.
Find out more about how to order your own kit over at Hubs.
