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Eco-Friendly Dome Homes Built From AirCrete Are So Affordable, You Can DIY One For Up To $9,000
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Eco-Friendly Dome Homes Built From AirCrete Are So Affordable, You Can DIY One For Up To $9,000

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Even though the world is buzzing with news concerning climate change and health threats, pollution and efficient recycling remains one of the main global concerns of this age. We live in a society where “zero waste life” and “ecofriendly” are phrases commonly used in everyone’s vocabulary. Therefore, it’s only natural we stick to this phrasing when thinking about modern architecture. Turns out, the search for alternative building materials and housing solutions is so advanced, there are available options even for DIYers.

More info: SteveAreen

Image credits: steveareen

As it’s like with the rest of the world, construction has its trends and modern technology as well. It all started with foamcrete, then the world got obsessed with papercrete. Hempcrete was an even bigger hit and now it seems like finally, it’s the time to shine for aircrete. Turns out, aircrete is a mixture of air bubbles and cement that is really cheap to make but is waterproof, fireproof, and very DIY project friendly.

Image credits: steveareen

Image credits: steveareen

The key to making aircrete is in the foaming agent that suspends tiny air bubbles in the cement mixture, as well as a continuous foam generator which disperses a mix of the foaming agent into the cement mixture. The good news for all the eco-friendly guys out here, the foaming agent can be something as simple and easy to obtain as an all-natural “high foaming” dish detergent.

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Image credits: steveareen

Image credits: steveareen

Just like regular concrete, aircrete has good compressive strength but it can also double as an insulator. Its low cost is probably the most attractive thing for DIYers since it can help to save up a lot in construction, maintenance and furthermore, helps you stay cool in summer and warm in the winter.

Image credits: steveareen

Image credits: steveareen

But the quality that draws the most attention to aircrete is the ecological factor. It has a special appeal to those concerned about ecology since it gained international recognition as an ecological material for modern buildings because of its resource efficiency.

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Image credits: steveareen

Image credits: steveareen

Furthermore, the material is easily applied in creating elegant shapes which is crucial to building a house that’s dome-shaped. You have to admit that just seeing a dome home is somehow freeing and uplifting. All those graceful arches, round windows, and oval doorways just make you feel like you’re living in a fairytale or as if you suddenly woke up as a hobbit in one of Tolkien’s books.

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Image credits: steveareen

Image credits: steveareen

A keen traveler, photographer, and musician Steve Areen was able to build his cheap house for as little as $9000. “In 2011, I had a wonderful visit with my friend Hajjar Gibran. For years, he has inspired me with his creative ideas. This time, he was building domes at his retreat center in northeast Thailand. He and his wife offered me a spot on their mango farm to build my own dome. With Hajjar’s guidance and design ideas, along with my own, and his son-in-law Tao’s masonry skills, I had my dome home up and painted in six weeks.”

Image credits: steveareen

Image credits: steveareen

“The cost for the basic structure was under $6000. It took a few more weeks to add the details such as doors, screens, pond, upstairs structure, stonework, and landscaping. All this, including furnishings and plumbing to the well, was under $3000… Bringing my total cost to about $9,000. Please keep in mind this is in cost-friendly Thailand,” he said.

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You can watch a video on tiny dome homes below.

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Judita K

Judita K

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Incurable book lover and thinker, Marvel geek and social media enthusiast with a Bachelor's Degree In Creative Communication. Will write everything about anything as long as it brings joy to pandas all over the world.

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Judita K

Judita K

Author, Community member

Incurable book lover and thinker, Marvel geek and social media enthusiast with a Bachelor's Degree In Creative Communication. Will write everything about anything as long as it brings joy to pandas all over the world.

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kennykulbiski avatar
Kenny Kulbiski
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Buckminster Fuller was pushing domes back in the 60s but they never really caught on. I'm not sure why but I can think of a few drawbacks. Heating and cooling, wiring, unusable wall space, bathroom and kitchen would have to be towards the middle of the dome, etc. No matter how you arrange things a globe doesn't have as much space as a cube.

heathergregg avatar
H05
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

$3K to finish this structure? Thailand must be really "cost effective" indeed. The cost for those funky custom windows and doors would exceed the entire finish budget in the US.

edc_82 avatar
spikey-bunny avatar
Spikey Bunny
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Could be a fun she shed, art studio, or guest house kind of thing... I'm not into the bright orange color. Somehow I don't think US building codes would allow it as a dwelling.

Load More Replies...
chinturupali avatar
sammyanne1_sh avatar
Helen Haley
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Heating and cooling because not everyone lives in a climate that doesn't need it. Also, internet.

Load More Replies...
christopheferreira avatar
kurisutofu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It looks like they're living in the dragon ball universe :)

billmarsano avatar
bill marsano
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a very poorly written story whose only excuse is good photos and the likelihood that the enormous gaps in factual material would be filled in by reader comments (see below). Otherwise, high-school-grade amateur work.

ninmini avatar
Nini* Mini*
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can definitely live in one of these homes.peacefiles and cozy

f_h_ avatar
F. H.
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So... it's basically made from Ytong, but in a very space-ineffective way that makes furnishing and putting windows in expensive and difficult?

cjucz22 avatar
Christina Uhlir
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are builders who use recycled, ecofriendly materials, build residential structures in "normal" shape.

will_fenton avatar
Will Fenton
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very misleading article. The production of cementitious concrete has a massive environmental impact- the industry is responisble for around 8 percent of global CO2 emissions each year. All parts of the process, from quarrying to the energy needed in the production of clinker are all highly polluting. If we are to seriously tackle climate change we don't just need to end our addiction to concrete as a building material, but utterly change our attitudes to buildings. Billions of tons of carbon is currently embedded in the existing built environment- the key to the future is keeping it there. We shouldn't be demolishing and rebuilding. We should be adapting and recycling- using modern sustainable techniques and materials to bring buildings up to date.

frogglin avatar
Little Wonder
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I want one, but I think I want one entirely for the pillows in the windows. Imagine sitting there all comfy reading during a rain storm!

tahadata avatar
Lara Verne
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Try to build house like this in the middle of European town.

cslogan240 avatar
Chris
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very deceptive article. Way to wait until the very end to say it was $9000 in Thailand. Shame on you.

imatic86 avatar
ivan bolitekurac
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Every now and then i see some incredible cheap diy homes.But the further you dig,the more you realize that it isn't that cheap or/and practical.

buzzjane avatar
Jane Thorne-Gutierrez
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

May be using newer material but it's an old idea, like the Dome Homes of the 50's and 60's. Some took to the idea, but not many.

jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's an interesting idea, but I'm not sure it's entirely practical.

megakitty8808 avatar
Erin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is very interesting! I don't know if I'd personally live in one though.

ellimay123 avatar
Mimi Heyser Briggmin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

awesome start though! keep it up dreamers and inovaters of sustainable indepenfant future!

Load More Replies...
kathinka avatar
Katinka Min
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cute but not ecofriendly. There really is nothing ecofriendly about the idea of everybody living in their own little, uninsulated house. Much less a cabin that is seems to be a holiday get-away and probably standing empty a lot.

weyanim458 avatar
weyanim
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

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steverob avatar
steve rob
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

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kennykulbiski avatar
Kenny Kulbiski
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Buckminster Fuller was pushing domes back in the 60s but they never really caught on. I'm not sure why but I can think of a few drawbacks. Heating and cooling, wiring, unusable wall space, bathroom and kitchen would have to be towards the middle of the dome, etc. No matter how you arrange things a globe doesn't have as much space as a cube.

heathergregg avatar
H05
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

$3K to finish this structure? Thailand must be really "cost effective" indeed. The cost for those funky custom windows and doors would exceed the entire finish budget in the US.

edc_82 avatar
spikey-bunny avatar
Spikey Bunny
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Could be a fun she shed, art studio, or guest house kind of thing... I'm not into the bright orange color. Somehow I don't think US building codes would allow it as a dwelling.

Load More Replies...
chinturupali avatar
sammyanne1_sh avatar
Helen Haley
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Heating and cooling because not everyone lives in a climate that doesn't need it. Also, internet.

Load More Replies...
christopheferreira avatar
kurisutofu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It looks like they're living in the dragon ball universe :)

billmarsano avatar
bill marsano
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a very poorly written story whose only excuse is good photos and the likelihood that the enormous gaps in factual material would be filled in by reader comments (see below). Otherwise, high-school-grade amateur work.

ninmini avatar
Nini* Mini*
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can definitely live in one of these homes.peacefiles and cozy

f_h_ avatar
F. H.
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So... it's basically made from Ytong, but in a very space-ineffective way that makes furnishing and putting windows in expensive and difficult?

cjucz22 avatar
Christina Uhlir
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are builders who use recycled, ecofriendly materials, build residential structures in "normal" shape.

will_fenton avatar
Will Fenton
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very misleading article. The production of cementitious concrete has a massive environmental impact- the industry is responisble for around 8 percent of global CO2 emissions each year. All parts of the process, from quarrying to the energy needed in the production of clinker are all highly polluting. If we are to seriously tackle climate change we don't just need to end our addiction to concrete as a building material, but utterly change our attitudes to buildings. Billions of tons of carbon is currently embedded in the existing built environment- the key to the future is keeping it there. We shouldn't be demolishing and rebuilding. We should be adapting and recycling- using modern sustainable techniques and materials to bring buildings up to date.

frogglin avatar
Little Wonder
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I want one, but I think I want one entirely for the pillows in the windows. Imagine sitting there all comfy reading during a rain storm!

tahadata avatar
Lara Verne
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Try to build house like this in the middle of European town.

cslogan240 avatar
Chris
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very deceptive article. Way to wait until the very end to say it was $9000 in Thailand. Shame on you.

imatic86 avatar
ivan bolitekurac
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Every now and then i see some incredible cheap diy homes.But the further you dig,the more you realize that it isn't that cheap or/and practical.

buzzjane avatar
Jane Thorne-Gutierrez
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

May be using newer material but it's an old idea, like the Dome Homes of the 50's and 60's. Some took to the idea, but not many.

jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's an interesting idea, but I'm not sure it's entirely practical.

megakitty8808 avatar
Erin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is very interesting! I don't know if I'd personally live in one though.

ellimay123 avatar
Mimi Heyser Briggmin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

awesome start though! keep it up dreamers and inovaters of sustainable indepenfant future!

Load More Replies...
kathinka avatar
Katinka Min
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cute but not ecofriendly. There really is nothing ecofriendly about the idea of everybody living in their own little, uninsulated house. Much less a cabin that is seems to be a holiday get-away and probably standing empty a lot.

weyanim458 avatar
weyanim
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Check it out for yourself >HERE →→ W­­w­­w­­.­­L­­i­­f­­e­­s­­t­­y­­l­­e­­s­­R­­e­­v­­i­­e­­w­­.­­c­­o­­m

steverob avatar
steve rob
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

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