Concrete Tent: links, youtube

Pretty nifty. I think it could be developed to be a good fit with earth berm and underground applications although I disagree with the narrators thermal efficiency comments. Heating climates would benefit from some insulation on the exterior.

Pretty neat. Just wondering if they have outlets in the USA? Might be a lot of money to ship it from the UK.

http://www.concretecanvas.org.uk/

http://www.designboom.com/contemporary/concretecanvas.html

Edit.. Looking around the website it looks like they do have a contact in the US and they have pictures of someone doing an earth berm with one.

I would love a DIY version of this.

Here's how I think you could make it happen: semi-rigid inflatable forms. Make a form that is basically PVC with an inflatable balloon. The PVC shapes the balloon and keeps it rigid. The balloon creates dome shapes required.

Then, using a mesh (orchard netting, nylon mesh, muslin, etc), cover with Acrylic Concrete: http://www.velacreations.com/shelter/building-components/roof/item/172-latex-concrete-roof.html

I did a roof for a cistern last year with this method. PVC frame with vinyl billboard tarp as the form, covered with orchard netting and acrylic concrete. It worked great: http://www.velacreations.com/component/k2/item/313-cistern-howto.html

If you can spray the acrylic concrete, even better: http://www.tirolessausa.com/

Interesting tirolessa sprayer Abe. Have you or anyone you know used it?

Brian Knight wrote:Interesting tirolessa sprayer Abe. Have you or anyone you know used it?

I haven't used it, but several friends have, and they all loved it. I tried to make my own, once, but I didn't have an air compressor that was up to the job. You need high volume on those things.

You can get plans for a DIY version here: http://ferrocement.net/

But, they do seem to work well, and make quick work of stucco.

Something like that sprayer and a decent form, you could easily build a concrete dome in a day or 2.