Long Island’s Green Dome is the Largest Geodesic Dome Home in the World
Measuring 70 feet in diameter and 45 feet high, Kevin Shea‘s spectacular dwelling is proudly the world’s largest geodesic dome home. Dubbed Long Island Green Dome, this LEED-certified building sets an example for both family life and sustainable living. The power comes courtesy of the wind and sun, and the home has trees growing inside and a lovely outdoor terraced garden made from recycled tires.
The Long Island Green Dome is one of the most sustainable houses within the New York area. Built over nearly four years, it features a wooden structure and 16 custom-made, high solar heat gain windows that lighten up the interiors and provide plenty of fresh air through small vents. Its huge interior spaces are celebrated through an open-plan design with smaller spaces that can be open or closed.
One of the private spaces, the bathroom, has a deep basin sink collected from a local firehouse, low flow toilets for saving water, a waterless urinal, and a special system that captures the shower’s leftover hot water and recirculates it for heat. The dome’s extensive exterior is also incredibly eco-friendly with a driveway and paths made from crumbled recycled rubber. A massive four-tier terrace garden for growing vegetables and herbs was crafted around the dome and made entirely from old tires courtesy of local auto repair shops.
To stop the wind and provide the family with fresh fruit all year round, Shea planted lemon, lime, orange, and kumquat trees along a bamboo railing. A recent addition to this fantastic green home is right on its top–a green roof shaped like a spider web planted with blooming sedum flowers and covering nearly 1,000 square feet.
See more photos of the huge Green Dome here.
Photos courtesy of Kevin Shea
