Palo Pinto Dome — By January 2008, this Monolithic Dome home was nearing completion.
Palo Pinto Dome: Eleven Years in the Making
Sweet fruition!
Most of us have experienced it at least once — that wonderful feeling when something we’ve planned for a long time finally comes true. In March 2008, Sharon and Terry Smith enjoyed such a euphoria when they moved into Palo Pinto, their new Monolithic Dome home.
Located on an unincorporated, two-acre site, outside of historic Mineral Wells, Texas, Palo Pinto Dome has a diameter of 50 feet and a height of 20 feet, including a two-foot-high stem wall.
It has 2400 square feet of living space. The main floor embraces a master bedroom and bath, a guest bedroom and bath, an open design living/dining/kitchen area, and a laundry room. The very open loft, that Terry and Sharon use mostly for their hobbies, includes a bathroom, a storage closet, and a closet for their 3-ton heating/air conditioning unit.
In addition to a bank of six windows in the living area and windows in other rooms, Palo Pinto Dome has two skylights. VELUX manufactures these skylights that it calls roof windows since they actually open to provide both fresh air and light.
Long time coming
Terry said, “Our dome was an 11-year project. We first started working on it in 1996 after spotting a Monolithic ad in Popular Science Magazine. We began gathering information, and on one weekend we drove down to Italy, Texas (Monolithic headquarters) to look at actual domes. I thought Sharon would be a hard sell on the idea, but once she toured the completed domes and learned about their energy efficiency and the other positive points, she was sold.”
The Smiths visited Monolithic’s Dome Park Place in Italy many times and attended several Monolithic Dome Building Conferences. In 2006, Terry participated in one of Monolithic’s 5-day, hands-on Workshops. Although he had no intention of personally building their dome, he wanted to actually see the technology in action.
In 2007, the Smiths began designing and planning with the help of Linda Ware, one of Monolithic’s in-house designers. Later that year, a Monolithic Constructors’ crew actually began the dome construction.
It’s a wonderful home!
So said Sharon. She admitted that at this point they have not lived in their dome-home all that long, but it’s already proved its energy efficiency.
“While we were under construction,” Sharon said, “we lived on-site in a 900-square-foot apartment that we put in our barn. The ceiling and exterior walls of that apartment were well insulated. We used window units for air conditioning and small oil heaters for heat — which we didn’t use that often. That tiny apartment cost us more to cool and heat than our dome does. The dome’s utility bills are about two-thirds of what we had to pay for the apartment.”
The Smiths also enjoy the serene environment their dome provides. Sharon said, “It’s been super windy here lately but you would never know it inside the dome. It’s super quiet — makes you feel peaceful and safe.”
January 9, 2009
Great Room — It’s open and spacious with separate areas for comfortable living and gracious dining.
Living Space — The 2400 square feet include 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, great room, kitchen, laundry and spacious loft.
Dining — The dome includes areas for both casual and formal dining.
Finished Kitchen — Custom made, hickory cabinets provide beauty as well as storage.
Floor — The wood in this easily maintained kitchen floor compliments the wood used for the cabinets.
Efficient — Appliances and furnishings are efficiently placed, making this a comfortable work area.
Decorative balusters — A forward S and a backward S enhance the wrought iron balusters.
Heading up! — This lovely stairway leads to the loft. Its banister and stair treads are made of red oak.
Bedroom — This dome includes a master bedroom and a guest bedroom.
Shower — The tile shower in the master bath includes a built-in shelf and safety rail.
Guest bath — An efficient use of space provides all the necessary comforts in this guest bathroom.
Master bath — A wall of mirrors sits above the double sink and custom cabinets in the master bath.
Hobbies — Sharon and Terry share space in the loft for their hobbies.
Roof windows — They can be opened to provide fresh air as well as light.
Welcoming entrance — A Texas Star dominates the decorative, cut-glass inserts in this ornate front door. Soft lighting adds a glowing warmth and welcome.
A dream-come-true! — It has a diameter of 50 feet and a height of 20 feet, including a two-foot-high stemwall.
Long time coming! — In April 2007, the Airform for Sharon and Terry Smiths’ Monolithic Dome home was inflated and the Monolithic Constructors’ crew began building. The Smiths first began their research for energy-efficient, green housing in 1996, so their Palo Pinto Dome was 11 years in the making.
Snow-covered Palo Pinto Dome — The Smiths’ Monolithic Dome home stays cozy and warm even during record snowfalls.