The Aircrete Workshop
In November 2022 I attended a amazing Domegaia aircrete workshop at Nahku Dome Village in Tulum, Mexico. It was a life changing experience and opened my eyes to a whole new world of home building.
Our unique group consisted of ex-military vets, artists, entrepreneurs, conventional builders, IT geeks, massage therapists, airline attendants, and architects. From day one, we worked hard, making bricks, building forms, getting covered in cement and also learning the hard way about the health and safety aspects of cement! We worked late in to the night on a mission to achieve as much as we could within the time frame of the workshop.
After three weeks, our Taj Mahal-inspired structure reached the lock-up stage. Although the project was not completed, such as stucco and internal rendering, we had built something beautiful in just three weeks.
As the project progressed, we began to appreciate the unique attributes of curved structures. in the vicinity of our dome, other structures stood within 10 to 20 meters. It became clear that curved shapes create a beautiful harmony when placed together.
How Do You Make Aircrete?
Aircrete is essentially a mixture of cement and bubbles. Imagine a cement aero bar. You add aluminum powder or foam to cement to create bubbles in the cement mixture.
Dish wash foam is mixed in to cement to create an aerated cement batter, similar to mousse. This is then poured into molds and let it set overnight. Once cured, aircrete can be cut, sculpted, or shaped. The patent for aircrete dates back to 1924.
A Wonderful Building Method
Aircrete construction is forgiving in terms of dimensional accuracy. It’s said that aircrete construction involves measurements in “ish” increments, where structures are approximately sized. For example, a structure might be around 2.5 meters-ish.
A properly constructed aircrete dome forms a strong, structurally sound building. Curved shapes like domes, vaults, and the mesh and stucco process contribute to the strength and integrity of aircrete buildings. Approximate dimensions are not an issue.
No framing, nails, insulation, roof tiles, or cladding were used. How is this possible?
An aircrete structure is enveloped in a ‘stucco mesh.’ Stucco is applied in layers over the mesh, both inside and outside. This creates a strong armor, resembling an exoskeleton. Aircrete also offers significant insulation properties.
Curves Are Awesome
Buildings are usually linear, but my first encounter with curved spaces was in New Zealand. I had a 7-meter diameter yurt, which gave me a taste of living in a non-conventional, curved space.
Consider the typical suburban building block with houses lined up in a row, their windows facing each other—reminiscent of the Truman Show. Curved structures offer considerable advantages. Doors and windows can be positioned so that each house maintains its privacy. A domed house can be oriented to ensure its windows and entrances are not directly face neighboring dwellings. There’s no “wrong” orientation. If windows need to face the same direction as a neighboring house, they can be positioned higher on the structure, preventing occupants from looking straight into their neighbors’ homes.
The organic shape of a curved structure also allows the overall design of a housing project to integrate with the existing landscape. Trees and natural features can be accommodated to create a sense of harmony, making everything feel in its rightful place—harmonious, with beautiful curves.
Consider the most beautiful things—flowers, waves, seashells, even your favorite sports car. Curves are beautiful, organic, non-linear shapes. Our earliest connection was with our mother’s face—composed of beautiful curves.
Perhaps there’s something to a name. The word ‘Domus’ is found in Greek and Latin, essentially referring to a house or dwelling place. Maybe our ancestors were trying to communicate something to us
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