Rentals and Ecoshells: a good first step for your dome building business

Shown here is an Ecoshell with a 20’ diameter. It’s one of the first ones we built as a commercial building. Notice that it is spherical in shape. Made as an Ecoshell I, it was built during a Monolithic Workshop, here at our plant in Italy, Texas. It is about 20 years old and has worked very well for us. The structure was painted with a white exterior coating.

Shown here is an Ecoshell with a 20’ diameter. It’s one of the first ones we built as a commercial building. Notice that it is spherical in shape. Made as an Ecoshell I, it was built during a Monolithic Workshop, here at our plant in Italy, Texas. It is about 20 years old and has worked very well for us. The structure was painted with a white exterior coating.

This is a 40’ diameter Ecoshell that has been modified with two augmentations. It is an Ecoshell I that allows for the addition of the augmentations without modifying the Airform. It has been coated with a tan color.

This is a 40’ diameter Ecoshell that has been modified with two augmentations. It is an Ecoshell I that allows for the addition of the augmentations without modifying the Airform. It has been coated with a tan color.

This is a 40’ diameter Ecoshell I, with augmentations added to the Airform. It was spray-coated with a polyurethane. The owner has told me that he would never do that again, but would build a Monolithic Dome. We suggest strongly that Ecoshells be built as Ecoshells and not modified into Monolithic Domes, as the cost and the problems are huge.

This is a 40’ diameter Ecoshell I, with augmentations added to the Airform. It was spray-coated with a polyurethane. The owner has told me that he would never do that again, but would build a Monolithic Dome. We suggest strongly that Ecoshells be built as Ecoshells and not modified into Monolithic Domes, as the cost and the problems are huge.

One hundred twenty-five Ecoshells were built in Hyderabad, India. Each of these buildings encompasses six apartments. The apartments are 40 square meters, which seems small by U.S. standards but luxurious in India. A few of the buildings were also designed as offices.

One hundred twenty-five Ecoshells were built in Hyderabad, India. Each of these buildings encompasses six apartments. The apartments are 40 square meters, which seems small by U.S. standards but luxurious in India. A few of the buildings were also designed as offices.

This is a 30’ diameter Ecoshell. It works extremely well as a garage. You can put a Monolithic Rotating Door on this building.

This is a 30’ diameter Ecoshell. It works extremely well as a garage. You can put a Monolithic Rotating Door on this building.

Shown here is a series of 40’ Ecoshells, hooked together as a fertilizer plant. It took a bit of extra work and some preplanning, but the Ecoshells make a relatively inexpensive fertilizer plant that operates well.

Shown here is a series of 40’ Ecoshells, hooked together as a fertilizer plant. It took a bit of extra work and some preplanning, but the Ecoshells make a relatively inexpensive fertilizer plant that operates well.

Obviously, this Ecoshell serves a dual purpose: It makes a big garage and it makes a workout area for the local goats. It’s a 30′ × 13′ dome, built by Noel Neighbors in Arkansas.

Obviously, this Ecoshell serves a dual purpose: It makes a big garage and it makes a workout area for the local goats. It’s a 30′ × 13′ dome, built by Noel Neighbors in Arkansas.

Noel Neighbor’s Ecoshell has been modified for the entry door. In an Ecoshell I that’s easy to do.

Noel Neighbor’s Ecoshell has been modified for the entry door. In an Ecoshell I that’s easy to do.

When building an Ecoshell I, we use about six to eight inches of water column pressure. As can be seen, that’s a huge amount of uplift. These men are totally supported by the Airform, atop the reinforcing. The door augmentation will be added before it’s concreted.

When building an Ecoshell I, we use about six to eight inches of water column pressure. As can be seen, that’s a huge amount of uplift. These men are totally supported by the Airform, atop the reinforcing. The door augmentation will be added before it’s concreted.

Ecoshell I can be built using strictly hand labor or the Shotcrete machine. Note the scaffolding. A simple, standard type, lean over scaffold works well for building these Ecoshells.

Ecoshell I can be built using strictly hand labor or the Shotcrete machine. Note the scaffolding. A simple, standard type, lean over scaffold works well for building these Ecoshells.

These Ecoshell Ones are in New Ngelepen, Indonesia. They form a complete village, built using local help. The only equipment used was the inflator and the cement mixer.

These Ecoshell Ones are in New Ngelepen, Indonesia. They form a complete village, built using local help. The only equipment used was the inflator and the cement mixer.

Here are two medical clinics built in Kenya, by hand, using Ecoshell I technology – extremely useful technology for low cost structures. Be sure to use Basalt reinforcing on the Ecoshells.

Here are two medical clinics built in Kenya, by hand, using Ecoshell I technology – extremely useful technology for low cost structures. Be sure to use Basalt reinforcing on the Ecoshells.

This Ecoshell I was done before we knew that Basalt reinforcing was available. We always recommend Basalt on Ecoshells. If water gets through the paint and into the concrete, steel rebar will rust and bust the concrete. We do not have that problem with Basalt.

This Ecoshell I was done before we knew that Basalt reinforcing was available. We always recommend Basalt on Ecoshells. If water gets through the paint and into the concrete, steel rebar will rust and bust the concrete. We do not have that problem with Basalt.

This is another photo of one of the domes in Hyderabad, India. This Ecoshell is a spectacularly effective structure, built at a minimal price.

This is another photo of one of the domes in Hyderabad, India. This Ecoshell is a spectacularly effective structure, built at a minimal price.