Is this the future of housebuilding? A community-based in Thailand just found a way to build low-cost homes that are both artistic and innovative.
The dome houses in the Gibran Center hold valuable secrets and may pave the way for advanced architecture, engineering, and significant ecological pursuits.
Gibran said that they developed the house-building technique when they were erecting low-cost dome homes. The dome homes, as whimsical as they seem, were well-received by any person who came across them.
Gibran shared that they were swamped with build requests and consultations regarding the houses.
Looking from the outside, the houses look like terracotta pots turned upside down. It almost looks like the house Anakin and Luke Skywalker grew up in.
Thai masons Dow and Dom built the dome home with a budget of only $9,000. Through sheer creativity, engineering genius, and vision, they made the dome house dream into a reality.
Building the house is almost as simple as it looks.
First, the masons would drill a hole at the center of the area for the main structure. They’d plant a pole with a swinging arm. The arm’s length is the base radius of the house. This enables them to make precise measurements.
They would then lay the building materials, slightly leaning towards the center as they go up. To prevent the whole structure from caving in, they’d tie counterweights onto the highest bricks.
To this end, several people have used a variety of materials to create their dome houses – adobe, packed earth, earth bags, wood, cinderblocks, and recycled materials like bottles that acted as small light holes.
Through these creations, Gibran stumbled upon what architects dubbed the “building material of the future.”
Aircrete is a lightweight masonry product that is infused with tiny air bubbles. These bubbles then expand, providing thermal and acoustic insulation. The material is also fireproof, leakproof, and impervious to insects and pests like termites.
It’s also made from completely recyclable non-toxic and non-corrosive materials. It also doesn’t warp when wet, get molds, or break down as easily as concrete. As Gibran stated, since its primary component is air, aircrete is eco-friendly and inexpensive to produce.
However, some of the equipment used to produce aircrete isn’t as accessible.
Some of the equipment is big and bulky and can cost a lot of money for small-scale builders like Gibran and his team.
To work around those limitations, Gibran and his son Joel had to be creative. Aircrete is mixed with a foam that has the consistency of shaving foam. Joel invented a way to simulate this substance and was able to do it with ordinary dish soap.
It was a crucial moment for their project.
With the main building material secured, the team can now focus on making their domes easier to build. They’ve standardized designs which now include interwoven wooden strips for ceiling support, window and door arches, and even premade aircrete slabs that builders can put together.
Gibran shared that they aim to reduce the use of timber and concrete as these can be detrimental to the environment. They hope that through aircrete, they can revolutionize housebuilding by providing high-quality but low-cost processes.
Watch how this team creates dome houses from air bubbles.
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