conics

[travcojim]

I came across this site and was curious if anyone has ever looked into this. 
http://fishrock.com/conics/48-51-%20A+I_Innovation.pdf

http://fishrock.com/conics/default.html

Just wanted to get some experts opions,

[ScottA]

Looks like the denver airport.

[mvk]

I saw these years ago and forgot about them. Looks pretty interesting, I always thought that we would be using some different types of engineered structures by now. I like free form ferrocement also. Tension structures like yurts are interesting too. I always thought that we would have some kind of superstrong long lasting fabrics for housing by now. They always seem to end up costing so much. Tough to beat the cost of small wood structures and furniture fits.

I think people either like those types of spaces or don't right off. I find those shapes relaxing. We have a temporary sprung structure at work it was a lab but now it's a gym. it's called the circus tent by most, it gets strong reactions mostly negative .

I would like to know more about this thanks for the post.

Mike 

[glenn kangiser]

It seems they would be like the geodesic dome in popularity.  Good for a few and interesting to look at but not for most.  It's kind of something like I might do.

[Jackson Landers]

It's neat but I'm not sure how you would insulate one without spending a fortune. I guess that for certain climates these could be fun to build.

This may be a little unfair of me, but I have become suspicious over the years of building systems that are promoted in close association with any sort of 'ism' aside from cost and practicality of construction.  Geodesic domes, zomes, yurts, modern teepees, etc. Sometimes cob and straw bale fall into this category (although they do have good applications). Once people enmesh the building system with their 'ism,' it becomes something akin to religion and so closely tied to ego that they end up overlooking or denying any drawbacks of the building system.

I'm seeing a touch of that in this website. This nonsense about the great pyramids, or presenting the fact that similar forms to these conical structures appear in mountain ranges. I mean, smoking craters appear in nature as well but that doesn't mean it's a good idea to live in one.

Certainly this building system has it's applications and it would be fun to have one on my property. But I'm a bit wary.

[MountainDon]

...similar forms to these conical structures appear in mountain ranges. I mean, smoking craters appear in nature as well ....

 

[ScottA]

Good point JL.

[CREATIVE1]

I originally was really excited about alternative building styles, like yurts and geodesic domes. But since so much can be done with a stick built structure with a little creativity, I think that secondary buildings or shelters, built after the inspectors go away, are a better place for experimentation.  Government minds that think in boxes don't "get" buildings shaped like mountains or wings.

One thing I always wanted to make is a 3-D window shaped like half a crystal, with glass pieces put together with silicon.  Saw it in one of the Whole Earth Catalogs.  Kinda kaleidoscop-y.