03/15/2022
Our recent stay in Mexico provided provided a new perspective for what a dome house could achieve architecturally. The simplicity of a form that might seem closed in, or lack dynamic spaces was countered by simple yet engaging design. Conceptualized and built by owner/host Roberta 25 years ago, the structure incorporates existing stone outcrops into the design.
First, we noticed the orientation: The large front and rear doors are on an east/west axis. When open, wind and light flow throughout. The day is marked by the passage of the sun over the dome. Smaller domes are organized around the main perimeter - kitchen and bathroom directly, accessed through doors; guest room indirectly, accessed by stepping outside and across the west patio. A large shower, articulated by natural stone formations, curves outward, but is open and connected to the main space.
Most crucially, areas within the dome are defined by ramps and steps, thus the occupants’ routine is punctuated by a sense of moving upward and down through space. The entry slopes upward to the center of the dome. The primary sleeping area is three steps up on an internal platform. The outdoor hammock is situated among more natural stone formations, and is accessed by stepping down from the west patio.
