Domes

Hi! 

My name is Avalon.  My son, Ian, and I are professionally trained Monolithic Dome builders, currently living on St. Croix, USVI. We call our business "Dome Sweet Dome", Conscious Construction.  It was wonderful receiving Jonathan's (Zimmerman) e-mail listing so many e-mail addresses of people interested in building a Monolithic dome.  As I want to touch base with all of you Jonathan mentioned, I felt I'd e-mail you, to introduce myself, with the hopes of connecting with each of you personally in the next few days.

My son and I have built 6 domes in Colorado, one dome in Oregon and the first dome in the Bahamas, on a remote beach front on Cat Island.  So yes, we do travel when manifesting Dome dreams!

I was very excited when I contacted Jonathan Zimmerman and he told me he was looking for someone to build his dome designs in Florida, Latin America and the greater Caribbean area.  I have been in the construction business for 39 years, general contractor in Colorado for years.  My son, Ian, has been in the business 14 years.  We have been involved with Monolithic Dome for the last 8 years plus. I am also fluent in Spanish, should that be a factor.

I greatly enjoy Jonathan's excellent eye for aesthetically pleasing and beautifully flowing curves in his design work  It is so easy to get excited over the high quality of his creative ideas and visionary designs.

I would appreciate hearing your dome ideas, your desire for building and your questions! 

I have no doubt about the superior qualities of Monolithic Domes.  They are, without question, the strongest, most energy efficient, disaster resistant structures on Earth.  It takes a very special person to resonate with a dome, so pat yourself on the back for that.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Most sincerely,

AVALON

Phone #: 340-719-5850

E-MAIL: ATHENASTX@ATT.NET

MAILING ADDRESS:  James "Avalon" Nelson

                                      207 Prosperity

                                       Frederiksted, St. Croix 00840, USVI 

I agree. Dome contruction , if done properly, is probably one of the safest hurricane safe structures that can be built.

However,,,in my opinion...it is also about the "UGLIEST" THING YOU CAN BUILD on any Caribbean island. So if you want to hunker down and feel safe...do it. (or move somewhere else) ... but if you want to live in an attractive, comfortable home...find another option. There are many.....

It is simple and Virgin Islanders (and other Caribbeans) have been doing it for many years.

You do not need to be ugly to be safe.

NO igloos...

anti, i agree.
sorry dome'rs
there are other ways to be safe without a dome.
there are tons of other options-- for proof just look at the number of well-built, post and beam 'classic' west indian homes and buildings on the island. even minimal amounts of wood, when designed and fastened properly, can withstand hurricanes and [perhaps more importantly when you see the number of "strong" hurricane-resisting concrete houses perched on 30-foot concrete columns on the hillsides] the periods of high seismic activity here.....

You really should look around and see how far domes have come. Try and be open minded. I have seen plenty of traditional buildings which are not that attractive. To be honest I have not seen very much original architectural design for a very long time. I believe safty and beauty have do not have to be exclusive.

Iris

Iris,

Best wishes as you proceed with your dome house. Note that the builder doesn’t have much experience with domes. I would proceed with caution.

I wonder if anti igloo guy and kudzu are the same person. Study the posts carefully.

hi iris!

how are you? i was just thinking about you, and i'm glad to hear your plans are proceeding smoothly. take care.

-celeste

Thanks, I will ask for references and I believe he mention he build one dome in Ohio. I will certainly want to visit at least one of the domes he has build. It will still be a wile before we can begin. First we have to get the dome designed. I really want to make it blend in with the natural suroundings. That is very important to us. We are not about to upsat the whole Island with an eye sore.

Thanks

Ps I was wondering why someone would come up with a brand new screen name just to make a point.

Iris

Domes are better than more ugly concrete boxes that permeate the landscape, especially if one hooks up with an architect that can 'modify' the dome for the best effects, as in more than one upside cupcake.

Iris,

I think it is great that you are pursuing a dome home. I have also looked into it for safety, and energy efficiency. Looks like the dome would be hard to beat! Everyone has their own personal opinion as to what is important to them. I commend you for being individual enough to look into something outside the norm, and going with what is in your heart.

Where in Ohio is the dome located. I live in OH, and if it is close enough, I would consider taking a ride, and looking up the owners, and checking it out. I also like domes.

Good Luck,
Ray

Sorry I mixed the O states up. It is actually in Oregon. As this is a large undertaking I don't mind flying to one of the Domes and check them out. I want to talk to the owners of the domes as well to see how the whole project went. How well they worked together etc.

Actually my husband has a distance relative in Ohio. We want to visit him sometimes soon as he is getting old.

Iris

Hi Iris,
I am another "Dome" believer if you remember from our earlier discussions on the board. I just emailed Avalon(thanks to your posting his email to you) and had planned on contacting him before since he was a builder listed under the Monolithic dome site. I also purchased that book of plan that the Monolithic dome site was offering and they have some very interesting designs.

I am trying to meet with him when I am on Island(STX) 12/30-1/6 so we can look at my lot and see what he thinks would be best. Are you going to be in STX during that time? If so I would love to meet you and we can have a "Dome" chat!!
Thanks,

Sorry, no I am not going to STX sometime soon. It would have been great to get together. But I am due with baby #2 any day now. I am 39 weeks lol. So no traveling for a wile.
You liked the book? I was wondering if it had anything more to offer than what I have already read up about. I am also still thinking about the design and who the architect will be. It is a good idea to have the lot inspected. I am still wondering how he would go about the water reservour (sp). That is one detail I have not gotten any more information about. Accustic is one of the other things I am wondering. That would be one reason we would have a 2 story dome rather than a one story. I think the floor in between would solve that problem.

heh. no we're not but i s'pose we both do ramble on in the same manner and use very few capitals... nice =) good eye for detail =)

Hi Avalon

I noticed that you are a dome builder. WOW that is a plus for me. Currently moving to florida soon here. Am have also looked at building a house on the islands. Glad to know that you are there.. Will keep you in mind.. Chip

Sounds interesting -

Iris - where in Oregon - we are in Sisters.

At one time we researched Yurts - obviously NOT hurricane safe. 🙂

- Andie

Did you ever meet up with the builder in December? I am so curious how it went. I am getting more excited about the whole idea. But as I am getting info we might need to start the process sooner just to make up for all the permit delays. I gather if they take a year or more to get we can just apply for them sooner. I wonder if there is a time limit to a permit. Does one then have to start building right away? Does anyone have the answer to this?

Thanks
Iris

I was wondering if there was a community of these domes?? i really like the idea. thanks for all the info.

We have one person here who is planing such a community. I am not sure when the project will actually come to reality.
Iris

Iris,

I do believe that permits do expire, I was looking at a home that did not have a CO and the listing said that improvments were permited but expired. I know here in NC you have 6 months to start construction or the permits would expire. Hope that helps! Keep us posted on your progress!

Donnie

I just wonder if anyone knows how long it takes to get permits. It gets real difficult to plane if one has not somewhat of an idea when to start the process. If a permit runs out and you are not really ready because you thought it would take longer to get one that is a real pickle unless it is very easy to get an extension.
If anyone knows the answer I really would appreciate it.

Iris

Hi Iris,
Yes, I did meet with Avalon, the dome builder when I was in STX 12/30-1/6. I also met his wife, Athena, who is a lovely person who has a business doing massages, facials, colon hydrotherapy and other energizing spa therapies. I spent a lot of time with them and we went to see the abandoned Rockafeller Dome home on STX. 5000 sq feet with an interesting cistern system in place. Wish it was for sale and I had money to buy and renovate-it is fantastic.
I really enjoyed my time spent with Athena and Avalon and it was very informative.

We looked at my lot and talked about what would work-thinking about a boomerang shaped dome to take in on the views. I drew up a plan that I think could work so my next step is to send to Monlithic dome institute for them to turn into an actually workable drawing. But I am a ways off from starting that project as I needed to get my condo/townhouse at Reef spruced up for renting.

So I hired Avalon to do my tile in living/dining/kitchen area and steps and hallway. He also removed my kitchen cabinets and old appliances as I am having new cabinets and appliances installed. He is painting where it needs to be painted and he took out old vanity areas in 2 bathrooms as I am installing new vanities, tops and mirrors there. He is coordinating the electrical and plumbing work that has to be done with plumber and electrician. He has also come up with a way to hide my ugly wash/dryer combo that is sitting like a sore thumb in the lower bedroom and will be building that enclosure.
He will also be putting up my new ceiling fans that have blades that were made by an artist who sells them on Ebay after electrician finishes wiring. They are beautiful, shaped like banana palm leaves, very unique and I knew Avalon would take care with them.
I am going down for spring break with my 16 year old daughter and her friend on 3/26-4/2 so I will see the finished product then. According to Mary at Gulf Coast Kitchens(who I recommend for being efficient, responsive and reasonably priced!) the floor looks good and she said he did an excellent job on the steps(that is an area I always see lacking in tile work so I was pleased).
Well, I will update you on the finished results when I see it and what is happening with my dome project.
Hope to meet you one of these days. If you are going to be be there when we are, please let me know so we can get together!
Bye for now,

Sounds like you got a lot of research done. Having Avalon do some renovation work is a great way to get to know him and his work. I am sure he appreciate the chance to work with you and make your dream come true. I will have to meet with him at one point as well. I would love to see how the dome you visited is set up.Can you descripe it?

hi,
iam anil doin my architecture in andhra university and iam studing about the domehouses and they construction tenq..
types of domes we used and they internal space how do they react with the surrounding and all aspect through i want to cover the study
so please send me some information regarding the dome construction

thanking you

I am just wondering how you collect water on a dome? Also, they have advertised that the VI building code is now available on-line somewhere on www.virginislandsdailynews.com.