Economy, Strength and Practicality
This design has been very successful for
cottages in the woods, small offices and studios, storage buildings and
gathering places.
Costing about $1,000 each for materials (in the
1990's), they can be built by 2 or 3 persons in a short time.
The structure is very strong and wind resistant.
They also have a unique, energizing esthetic,
with the possibility of large, panoramic windows.
Huts or Domes?
While nicknamed Domes by some friends, because of
their Crystalline-like structure, these are not the Geodesic Structures
designed by Buckminster Fuller.
Rather, these are technically described as
Partial Dodecahedrons, as they would have 20 sides if the bottom pyramid
were not eliminated in favor of a flat floor.
The Roof is a 5 sided Pyramid, the floor is a
Pentagon, and the walls are a ring of 5 up-pointing and 5 down-pointing
equilateral triangles.
The shape (especially with the earthy colors
applied to the exteriors of the ones in the Florida forest)
reminds some people of the classic huts of Africa or Polynesia. thus the
name Penta-Hut.
Durability
All of the structures pictured have survived multiple
hurricanes in Central Florida, while some neighboring buildings of more
conventional design were
ripped apart and blown for hundreds of feet.
Design Possibilities
All of these shown were built with 2X4" or
2x2" wood frames,
plywood sheathing, water-sealing wood stain, latex paint and tar+gravel
roll roofing.
All wood was pressure treated pine and fir for
durability, though cedar, cypress, redwood, etc. would not have required
treatment.
Many different materials could be used in this
type of structure, including Glass, metal, cement, stucco, Plexiglas,
etc.
Windows and doors can be any size, shape or
material desired.
Foundations
Foundations can be similar to those used for
conventional buildings, except for the Pentagonal Shape.
Foundations for the buildings shown here consist
of treated 4X4 posts put into the ground to support the floor beams of
the Pentagonal Platform upon which the structure is built and securely
attached.
Cluster Concept
A group of these structures could be arranged in a
cluster, connected by roofed walkways allowing each building to serve as
a room would in a conventional house. This concept is very popular in Polynesia.
This cluster concept is applied in the plan for the proposed International
Arts Center in Costa Rica.
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Unique, Sturdy, Economical
Structures
Donna's 1st Hut
Built in Ocala, Florida in 1998
12' Floor Diameter
Jeff's House
Gainesville, Florida - 1994
10' Floor Diameter
Donna's 2nd hut, with Screen Porch
Silver Springs, Florida - 2000
12' Floor Diameter
Denny's hut
Silver Springs, Florida - 2003
12' Floor Diameter
Ian's Hut
High Springs, Florida - 2005
14' Floor Diameter
Construction Photos
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A World Harmony
Center is planned for developing,
teaching and practicing sustainable living strategies, in Costa Rica.
Participate
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