Colorful Binishell-Domed Homes Are A Viable Way To Provide Housing For Just $3,500

Ever since the housing market crashed within the first ten years of the new millennium, more people have been fickle when it comes to investing in homes, specifically mortgages. As a result, alternative homes saw a spike in popularity, especially with tiny homes. This includes unique space-saver versions of these homes including the Ufogel and ecocapsules. And in some places, downsizing doesn’t necessarily mean four walls with a roof such as London, England, which has seen a sudden increase in families living in canal boats.

Though all the above options are viable means to downsize, live green, live off the grid, or a combination of the three, some people simply need a place to stay based simply on price. In that case, all one needs is $3,500 if they are willing to live in a colorful Binishell domed home.

According to Inhabitat, the colorful Binishell domed homes are the brainchild of architect Nicoló Bini (thus the “Bini” in Binishell). Bini uses a technique in which he starts with a two-dimensional shape on the ground, adds wooden form around an air bladder and reinforced steel rebar, and then covers it with concrete. The air bladder is then pumped with air forming the dome and shall remain in place until it dries. Final touches are incorporated last to complete the Binishell domed home. Nicoló Bini is making homes similar to making bowls with balloons and papier-mâché.

Minds provided more details on the Binishell-domed homes, including the fact they range from a single room (as shown in the blueprint above) to being 120-feet in diameter. Not only that, they are able to survive extreme conditions such as lava, ash, and earthquakes, a claim Nicoló Bini stands by. And at the price of $3,500 needed just to build one, the Binishell-domed homes have the potential of being popular among people living on their own or couples.

Apparently, the idea started by Nicoló Bini is gaining traction, other companies are actually jumping on the domed-home bandwagon. In the following video, Monolithic shows just how easy it is to construct such a home (which they’ve named their version the “Ecoshell One”).

[Images via Inhabitat]