Domebook 2 (1971) is an illustrated manual and storytelling compendium focused on the design, construction, and community use of geodesic domes. It blends architectural instruction with the 1970s countercultural spirit, offering detailed step-by-step building guides, geometric diagrams, material lists, and innovations for dome structures of various sizes and purposes. The book moves beyond pure technical schematics, incorporating personal accounts, experiments, and lessons learned by builders, reflecting an ethos of self-sufficiency and creative problem-solving. Richly filled with hand-drawn plans, mathematical explanations, and photographs, it serves both as a how-to resource and as a record of an architectural movement tied to alternative living.
In addition to its engineering content, Domebook 2 captures the cultural context of the geodesic dome boom, particularly within communal living projects, experimental schools, and artistic endeavors. Many sections are case studies—stories of domes built in forests, deserts, and urban fringes—offering insight into the social networks and values that sustained these projects. The tone alternates between practical (cut lists, chord factor charts, material comparisons) and visionary, imagining domes as a step toward sustainable, interconnected communities. The result is a hybrid of technical manual and cultural document, reflecting the optimism and ingenuity of its era.
In addition to its engineering content, Domebook 2 captures the cultural context of the geodesic dome boom, particularly within communal living projects, experimental schools, and artistic endeavors. Many sections are case studies—stories of domes built in forests, deserts, and urban fringes—offering insight into the social networks and values that sustained these projects. The tone alternates between practical (cut lists, chord factor charts, material comparisons) and visionary, imagining domes as a step toward sustainable, interconnected communities. The result is a hybrid of technical manual and cultural document, reflecting the optimism and ingenuity of its era.