The Shell House
Farther field: This house in Roxbury -- in the northern Catskills -- caught our eye over at Upstater. It's basically a giant shell with windows on one side -- along with three bedrooms, and 2.5 baths. It's currently listed for sale at $349,000.
The house was designed by architect Seymor Rutkin, who talked with Architectural Record about the house in 2004:
Since the creation of a shell shaped house is not the customary brick-and-mortar type construction found normally in the Catskills, Rutkin found it difficult to obtain a general contractor comfortable taking on the job. So, he took it upon himself. Working closely with manufacturers from the Monolithic Dome Institute, Rutkin was able to design an air-form shell to his exact specifications. The shape of the house is formed within Rutkin's reusable air shell. The form was sprayed on the interior with foam insulation. Next, steel reinforcements were attached to the interior side of the insulation and sprayed with concrete. Once the air form is removed the exterior of the concrete shell is sprayed with what Rutkin refers to as its "protective skin."
The home has been available for weekend rentals in the past.
In other news: The Monolithic Dome Institute sounds like something from Lost.
photo: Keller Williams Upstate
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Comments
Nothing new- this is a version of the Wallace Neff "Bubble House" - albeit higher tech and more graceful. http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2013/09/19/wallace_neff_s_bubble_houses_a_concrete_solution_for_low_cost_housing.html
... said Eric Scheirer Stott on Feb 25, 2015 at 7:55 AM | link
What about the taxes?
I bet you the parking situation is horrendous!
... said Daniel Nester on Feb 25, 2015 at 11:40 AM | link
Nothing new? These are very different. The technology is much better. WN's bubble house was very limited in size, for good reason. The combination of chain-link fence embedded in concrete (bubble house) is not sufficient for larger domes. The monolithic dome combines concrete with re-bar embedded and foam insulation on the outside. The bubble house was maybe 25' diameter? The largest monolithic dome is nearly 300' diameter. The Monolithic company has continued to develop every aspect of their technology.
... said Jon on Apr 20, 2015 at 12:39 PM | link