Geodesic Domes

Are you looking for something fun and challenging to keep you busy in lockdown?  Maybe you’d like some covered space outdoors to use as a play area, somewhere to socialise or as a greenhouse?  Whatever the reason, building a geodesic dome is a rewarding and educational project that the whole family can get involved in, and it’s great for home schooling with a difference; there is maths, physical activity, design, planning and art involved in this construction.

Geodesic domes are ideal structures for a home project because they require no foundations and minimal ground prep work and can be moved easily around your garden.  All the materials can be acquired cheaply and there are several detailed how-to guides, including videos, on the internet.  Depending on the size of your geodesic dome you may use triangular or hexagonal sections – the main point is that they tessellate well.  When deciding on the size of your geodesic dome consider that the central height will be half the diameter, so if you only have a small plot to build on the internal size may mean stooping or crawling to get in – not a problem if it’s for the kids, but if you want to use it as a greenhouse you’ll find it a challenge to carry things in and out on your knees.

To do the calculations it’s a good idea to use an online tool such as Acidome to ensure you get the right measurements.  If you’re incorporating this build into your home schooling then you can get the kids to work out what they think the size should be and compare it to the results of the online tool.  You can also use the results to explain how the geometry and mathematics works (if you have a good grasp on it!).

When choosing a covering material, consider what the purpose of the geodesic dome is.  If you’re building a greenhouse you’ll want all the panels to be covered with a translucent material such as greenhouse plastic, or clear polycarbonate panels.  If you want to use it as a covered outdoor room you might use a mix of opaque and clear materials to create a more cosy effect with a skylight feature, while if you want to use it as a chill out space for the evenings you might opt for an opaque covering all around, using battery powered lights to illuminate the interior.

As geodesic domes in domestic gardens aren’t permanent structures you don’t need to get planning permission, but it is worth checking with your neighbours that they don’t mind, and be mindful that the dome can’t be see over fences or blocks any light to neighbouring gardens.  You might even inspire your neighbours to create their own, or get some help from them in the building phase.

Building a geodesic dome can be done in a weekend, but equally it can be turned into a week or fortnight long project if time constraints mean a two-day turnaround is unfeasible.  If you’re using it as a home school project, a week or longer is a good timescale to work to.  Even when the initial construction is done there is still plenty of work to be done choosing flooring, plants, lighting and other features, so there’s a lot to get involved in.  You might even choose to camp out in it on a nice night before turning it into a greenhouse and who knows, you might love it so much you keep it as a home glamping pod for yourself and guests.