While styrofoam may be most commonly associated with disposable coffee cups, meat trays and packaging, prefab home manufacturer Japan Dome House Co., Ltd. uses it to construct easy-to-assemble modular kit homes.
Dubbed the “habitat for the 21st century,” the Dome House is an igloo-shaped structure built from snap-together wall sections made of 100% expanded polystyrene foam (styrofoam). It might seem like an odd choice of material for a house, but the company lists a number of advantages that styrofoam has over traditional materials. Unlike wood and metal structures, for example, the styrofoam Dome House does not rust, rot or attract termites. It is also highly resistant to earthquakes and typhoons. In addition, the walls, which are treated with a flame retardant, emit no toxic fumes in a fire. (link)
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I want to get a 4 bedroom unit / kit. How much will that cost me or are the units single units to be assebled as we need?
Thank you
noreen
Sounds better than a cardboard box, but I’ll stick with concrete and wood for now.
this maybe a good alternative to traditional construction materials.
thanks for this post.
I’m glad to hear they treat it with flame resistant coating. My dad is an artist and he uses styrofoam in construction of his models so I have a lot of experience with it. It would take about 30 seconds for an entire house to melt into a flaming puddle if strong enough heat was exposed to it. But with the right coatings to shield the styrofoam core from the elements, you could have an extremely good, cheap, light weight but very energy efficient home.
Such a house ought to be automatically well-insulated, but does it breathe, and how do you wire it and plumb it?
THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA THAT JUST BE WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED FOR THE OVERPRICED HOUSING MARKET IN THE US. WHAT ARE THE MATERIALS COSTS FOR THE US IF AVAILABLE.
Thanks,
I like your style.
Marta G.
I have a great idea for a dome home up to 2400 square feet which can be built in one day. The interior is basically framed with interior walls which can be completed in one week ,talk about down time of building a house of wood etc, I am planning to do smaller ones about 900 to 1600 square feet for temp housing, all can be recycled, My homes have a concrete and rebar core system to withstand about 350 lbs per square inch, a home in a day .. im looking for info, investors, etc want to get it out on the market just need the right contacts call if u have any helpful info.. 231-887-4744. The government can use them then grind them up,, ummm free housing or evacuation shelters ..
If it’s not too redundant…here’s some art for those Styrofoam homes. Nice post, thanks….
http://artistatexit0.wordpress.com/