Styrofoam Dome Homes

But they're so ugly and cheap looking!

Not nearly as ugly as 99% of the tract homes in the US.

Explain to me how EPS doesn't give off toxic gasses when it burns?

How do they cope with heavy wind?

Keep your eyes peeled. When an orb comes screaming through the atmosphere carrying a Saiyan baby, cut their tail off ASAP.

Plus they look so chic.

Heh - I thought these were cakes (we posted a lot of cakes lately on Neatorama) before I read the post. ;)

I'll take one in my back yard. I think it would be cool.

I think they look a bit small and not sectioned off enough to be quite right for being a permanent family home, but I can see lots of potential great uses for them the article missed. They'd be fine for post-disaster housing. They'd be fine for overnight use like as a guest house or pool house. They'd be great for a separate rec-room, work shop, artist's studio, or band practice space. They'd even work out pretty well for short-term single occupancy housing, like for a college child to live in during the summers when they're home from school or for business people on extended stay business trips.

i thought this home was a model, we need a big ground to set such a home maybe. nice.its more life a home as my childhood's dream

uhh carpenter ants believe it or not do eat polystyrene. I am in construction and have discussed this a numerous amount of times with representatives from companies that produce Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs). If those were stuccoed, maybe it wouldn't be bad. But, fire retardant or not, it'll still light up in a matter of seconds.

Ok now I totally have to look up carpenter ants! LOL!
Seriously, the web-site claims they are easily recycled...how? They also claim to mix in antioxidents to the foam so these homes are somehow more healthy to live in...really? How does that work after you coat it with spray on concrete and paint the insides?
Such a wonderful fantastic idea, but ugh...so many holes in the theory. Like it or not even as temporary building structures, you have the HUGE "Now what?" issue with how to recycle/dispose of a matierial pretty well defined as less than great for the enviorment.

I however would LOVE to see some genius come up with a VIABLE build idea for 10$ per square foot!

I like them. The rendering on this example is not so good, and reflects the taste of the owner. Some of the add-ons can make quite presentable designs. Their basic idea is roundness, so I can't see how they can be ugly. A basic dome comes in a grey colour, and probably needs some sun protection coating, but not much more.What is unclear is the flooring. Concrete slabs don't sound so good.

Great homes, government in most USA would create a nightmare for you though.

Modular / prefab homes will offer solutions to the world’s housing shortage for the deprived, under-privileged and low income populations in society by providing a total system for basic, low-cost, quality built housing. The modular housing constructed with sandwich panels is the lowest in cost, most rapidly erected, simplest in design, and most structurally sound basic housing in existence today. Plus, you can ship 21 houses in a 40 foot container.