The "Crestone Sphere"

11 meter diameter sphere, of which 5 meters are underground. The underground portion consists of 2" of modified masonry with stucco wire mesh. Despite being only 2" thick (normal foundations are 8") there are no cracks, and this is with 4 floors of framing [dead load] and extreme weather conditions. Therefore I conclude that 2" thick is adaquate. This is only possible due to the inherent strength of a sphere.
The above grade portion is covered with 16"x16"x36" straw bales = r 40. It utilizes a vapour barrier protected with recycled lumber wraps on both sides of vapour barrier.
There are 4" tubes that surround the buried portion. These will naturally cool and warm the sphere.
Tire foundations supports all the truncations,ie the additions off of the sphere. They all have offgassing mitigation, see separate clip on youtube.
With adding tires for the sphere to rest on, It will be earthquake proof.
With adding a EPDM rubber to the lower portion I believe it could be flood or tsunami proof.

Update This is the 5th spring for the sphere. With 4 floors and a observation deck compleated, the dead load on the sphere has had no effect on shell.There are no cracks in shell. The tire foundation for the concervatory is straight and solid.
This design is now ready to float. I intend to float a 11 meter sphere. A wrap around deck will also function as a stabilizer. Similar to the rings of saturn
There is a good chance this design can be earth-quake proof. The lower shell will be bearing on used tires, this will serve as a shock absorber.
Will finish up, the outside spring 08. Then go float one in Italy.
Versions that are hurricane,fire and radiation proof available soon.
peace

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Sphere+
• Earthship+
• Straw
• Bales+
• Tire
• Foundation
• +earthtubes+
• Domes+greenhouses+earth
• sheltered+sand
• bags+
• straw
• bale
• ventilation+

[kannon9]

Thanks for posting this people need to be more empowered with knowledge on how to build Cobs instead of being enslaved to a huge un-eco friendly house with a 30 year mortgage.

[skilletsduc]

ur welcome, This will soon be available in kit form. For a fraction of the cost of conventional dwellings this will be safer and stronger. People we need to realize the greedy corperate home builders are poisening people with formaldahyde layden and inefficient homes.

[SpiderMan1307]

Are you going to put solar panels or anything of that nature on that home? You might as well, it seems fit for th stype its built in. :) great job!

[skilletsduc]

I intend to use DC lighting the power can come right off the panels to the batteries. Low voltage DC lighting has improved to more white spectrum than the previous blue. The bulbs last a very very long time. I havent figured out beyond that yet.

The other aspect I'm working on is a gray and black water system. All the H2O from cleaning.and showering will be seperated from the toilet H2O. This gray water can be used for irrigating. Water consevation is going to be at issue sooner than we think.

[kannon9]

I love people like you! I wish this would become mainstream so us concerned humans in the US & elsewhere could live in greater harmony and help save our earth.

[Micaleth2]

I think this is one of the coolest homes I have ever seen.

Thanks for sharing it with us.

[reclaimedwood]

Love the video... We've posted a short (under 2 minute) video about Reclaimed Lumber called "A Tree Can Live Forever" that you might find interesting... click on our name to see it.

[dumbnetworks]

yawn

[josephdupont]

I pick up bagged leaves.. i take the bags and heat seal them together. with an iron

and aluminum foil

you could make a roof out of this concept.

[quaheedus]

Maybe you should call George Bush and ask him about the H20...he recycles all the water used inside his Crawford Texas ranch and even stores rain runoff for house for irrigation.I wouldn't bother calling Gore, he is too busy eating endangered SeaBass and enjoying his heated pool and pool house.

[HighPlainsWoman]

I like the "castle-like" look of this earthship. Gives it a lot of class.

My husband has been gathering up tires to try an earthship project of our own. It's just in the first planing stages, but I sure like your design.

[Yousignhere]

I miss Crestone! Haven't been there since '99... My girlfriend and I are going to be there in about a month. Peace!