Steve’s Thailand Dome
Steve Areen, a world traveler who has been visiting remote locations around the world, decided to put down a few roots in northeast Thailand. These roots grew into one of the most beautiful dome homes you may ever see. This work of art (that only cost $9,000 to build) sits in the middle of a mango farm that belongs to Steve’s friend Hajjar Gibran.
Hajjar had already been building dome homes at his retreat center on the farm and taught Steve how to build this cement block and clay brick home that uses local materials and lets in light and fresh air. Hajjar’s son, Lao, helped build the home with his masonry skills and the dome was completed in just over six weeks. Steve added his own details with the handmade front door, pond, upstairs hammock platform and the stonework and landscaping. Some of the most beautiful features of this home is the shower/greenhouse from local river stones and the natural bamboo sink faucet.
The home’s large, round windows are screened against insects and act as curved seating areas, and when Steve heads off to travel again, he seals up the round windows with rat proof inserts. A handmade wooden staircase ascends to the roof where a steel rod and palm frond covered hammock platform offers fresh air and views, and screened skylights on the domes let in even more light.
Building costs in Thailand are inexpensive and if you want to learn more about how to build one of these dome homes, Hajjar Gibran’s retreat center, The Gibran Center at Miracle Springs, offers workshops on the farm. Other building projects have included a compressed earth brick press and an earth block dome. He’s also developing a system for building with cellular concrete. When Steve is away from his dome home, it’s also available as a rental for a small donation.
Photos by Steve Areen
By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]
