http://www.enirdem.org Last comments on page Cotonti Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:41:02 +0000 Flying back from a series of meetings regarding the design of a new project in upstate New York, I realized that designing concrete domes is an occupation which always places me behind the count at the start of every meeting. I had met with the client’s mechanical engineer, civil engineer, general contractor, excavation contractor and radiant floor contractor. I began each meeting with 4 strikes against me. Strike 1: What is this balloon business? Do I really expect to be taken seriously? Ninety-nine out of a hundred people have never heard of designing a balloon to inflate to the size and shape of the desired building, spraying rigid foam insulation onthe inside surface of the inflated form, pinning steel rebar like latitude and longitude lines to the foam, spraying concrete to cover the steel armature, creating openings in the shell by where you choose not to place the steel and not to spray the concrete, while doing all of this from inside of the inflated balloon. Without having heard of it or having seen it before, it sounds pretty crazy!

Strike 2: All of the consultants were concerned for the welfare of their client, who is a widow investing all of her resources into this new home. Do I really think they are going to let their client be exploited by some wild-eyed domaniac?
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