Up and Down in the Round

Vista Dhome in Yucaipa, California  — Its 4500 square feet of living space include an ornate spiral staircase that merges into the balcony’s banister, a giant music sheet with lyrics to “Oh, Give Me a Home.”

Vista Dhome in Yucaipa, California — Its 4500 square feet of living space include an ornate spiral staircase that merges into the balcony’s banister, a giant music sheet with lyrics to “Oh, Give Me a Home.”

Shangrila, near Aguilar, Colorado - A curved staircase leads from the gourmet kitchen to the upper levels of this 5600 square-foot Monolithic Dome home, that consists of 8 interconnected units.

Shangrila, near Aguilar, Colorado - A curved staircase leads from the gourmet kitchen to the upper levels of this 5600 square-foot Monolithic Dome home, that consists of 8 interconnected units.

The Disappearing Dome in Manitowac, Wisconsin — Fashioned using natural hickory, a sweeping stairway leads from the main floor to the third level of this Monolithic Dome home with 4000 square feet of living space.

The Disappearing Dome in Manitowac, Wisconsin — Fashioned using natural hickory, a sweeping stairway leads from the main floor to the third level of this Monolithic Dome home with 4000 square feet of living space.

Yuma Dome in Yuma, Arizona  — This staircase leads to the second and third levels in this multigenerational dome that encompasses eight suites, each with at least one bedroom, bathroom, sitting room, laundry area and closets. Dome has 3 stories, 84’ diameter, 40’ inside height, 11,000 square feet of living space.

Yuma Dome in Yuma, Arizona — This staircase leads to the second and third levels in this multigenerational dome that encompasses eight suites, each with at least one bedroom, bathroom, sitting room, laundry area and closets. Dome has 3 stories, 84’ diameter, 40’ inside height, 11,000 square feet of living space.

Antelope Springs in Blackwell, Texas — This Monolithic Dome hunting lodge has 5200 square feet of living space, a 60’ diameter and a 30’ height. Its owners call it their “Dome on the Range.”

Antelope Springs in Blackwell, Texas — This Monolithic Dome hunting lodge has 5200 square feet of living space, a 60’ diameter and a 30’ height. Its owners call it their “Dome on the Range.”

Eye of the Storm on Sullivan Island, South Carolina — A white oak, hand-crafted stairway, following the slope of the interior wall, leads to the third level of this dome, a prolate ellipse, 80′ × 57′ × 34′, with four levels and 3500 square feet of living space.

Eye of the Storm on Sullivan Island, South Carolina — A white oak, hand-crafted stairway, following the slope of the interior wall, leads to the third level of this dome, a prolate ellipse, 80′ × 57′ × 34′, with four levels and 3500 square feet of living space.

Garlock Home in the Colorado Rockies — It consists of 2 domes merged into a unique, kidney shape: a 32’ diameter garage gently blends into the larger, 50’ diameter shell placed 9’ below it. Home has 3 levels and 3800 square feet of living space.

Garlock Home in the Colorado Rockies — It consists of 2 domes merged into a unique, kidney shape: a 32’ diameter garage gently blends into the larger, 50’ diameter shell placed 9’ below it. Home has 3 levels and 3800 square feet of living space.

Monolithic Dome Home in Centennial, Colorado — At this 4500-square-foot home, the solid oak and ribbed glass front doors open to a tiled entry and a dramatic view of the curved oak staircase, suspended from a 14-foot-high, arced stone wall.

Monolithic Dome Home in Centennial, Colorado — At this 4500-square-foot home, the solid oak and ribbed glass front doors open to a tiled entry and a dramatic view of the curved oak staircase, suspended from a 14-foot-high, arced stone wall.

Le Chateau de Lumiere in Mesa, Arizona — A winding stairway intersects the middle of the entry area and curls gently up to the second floor balcony at the Monolithic Dome home of Architect Rick Crandall. It consists of two towers, each with a diameter of 23’ and vertical wall 16’ high.

Le Chateau de Lumiere in Mesa, Arizona — A winding stairway intersects the middle of the entry area and curls gently up to the second floor balcony at the Monolithic Dome home of Architect Rick Crandall. It consists of two towers, each with a diameter of 23’ and vertical wall 16’ high.

House of Cards in Ann Arbor, Michigan — So nicknamed because its construction was initially financed with credit cards, this Monolithic Dome home sports a wooden “monk” staircase, standing about a foot away from the wall and following its curvature. Made like wooden ladders, monk stairways were first used in monasteries.

House of Cards in Ann Arbor, Michigan — So nicknamed because its construction was initially financed with credit cards, this Monolithic Dome home sports a wooden “monk” staircase, standing about a foot away from the wall and following its curvature. Made like wooden ladders, monk stairways were first used in monasteries.

Ananur in the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, Colorado — A ladder joins the two levels of this 35′ × 15′ sphere, built at 8500 feet above sea level and heated only with a 30,000 BTU propane fireplace.

Ananur in the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, Colorado — A ladder joins the two levels of this 35′ × 15′ sphere, built at 8500 feet above sea level and heated only with a 30,000 BTU propane fireplace.

First Monolithic Dome home in Moscow, Russia  — Its builder and graduate of a Monolithic Workshop said, “We spent a lot of time on the stairs. We had to come up with an inexpensive way to build it. Most troublesome was the railing because of the spiral form. But … we found a way ….”

First Monolithic Dome home in Moscow, Russia — Its builder and graduate of a Monolithic Workshop said, “We spent a lot of time on the stairs. We had to come up with an inexpensive way to build it. Most troublesome was the railing because of the spiral form. But … we found a way ….”