Next-Gen Geodesic Dome Greenhouse – Free Open Source Plans!
Great design is often born from necessity. In the case of this incredible geodesic greenhouse dome, it is the necessity to re-localise our food supply and begin to build resilience back into our local communities and even into our own backyards. In the true spirit of helping to build a better world, the whole project of this next-generation geodesic dome greenhouse is also completely open source.
This geodesic greenhouse was designed by Anthony Light of Alightmouse Ltd, a company based in Christchurch, New Zealand, which specialises in creating open source projects to “help those folk, who need help disengaging themselves from a system that has long forgotten how to look after the very things that maintain it’s own existence”. Overall, their goal is to design projects that will “make one less dependent on utilities, services and the monetary system”.
The first beta release of their open source geo-dome already includes some incredible design features. The geodesic dome is very well constructed with features to perfectly regulate the temperature of the dome and create ideal growing conditions for your food crops. The dome is solar powered and is also designed for incorporated aquaponics systems.
This geodesic design was inspired by the work of architect Buckminster Fuller. A geodesic dome encloses the greatest volume for the least surface area. For this reason it is a very effective use of space for food production in small areas. You are able to produce more food vertically in a geodesic dome while allowing for the least energy waste. The more surface area a structure has, the more heat it allows to escape. Since geodesic domes have the least amount of surface area for the most volume, a lot of energy is saved by utilising this shape.
In order to learn more about the geodesic design, Anthony constructed a very simple geodesic greenhouse in his own backyard as an experiment. Over the course of a year he monitored it’s performance, grew food and learnt as much about the structure as he could. These learnings all helped create the next-gen design that is now available.
The raw construction materials for the prototype dome.
The geodesic dome under construction.
The completed dome prototype.
Relaxing in the dome.
There is lots more information available on this prototype dome and the trials and tribulations with the design over the course of the year long experiment on the Alightmouse website.
The full open-source plans are now available from Alightmouse Ltd, and can be downloaded here.
