How To: Build a RanDome Geodesic Emergency Shelter

This method is easy, intuitive and requires very little math.

You will need:

• Any flat flexible sheet material (ex. paper plates for this how-to)
• Pencil or pen
• Scissors
• Stapler, tape, glue or fasteners
• Ruler or straight edge
• Protractor

Step 1 Flatten Plates

Flatten the paper plates with roller or a straight edge. Select one plate to use as a template.

Step 2 Make a Template

Determine the required angle you need by dividing 360 degrees by the number of paper plates you are using. Finish the template by cutting this angle out of the paper plate.

Step 3 Mark and Cut Angles

Lay the template evenly onto all of the other paper plates and mark the angle on all the plates, one by one. Cut along one line on each plate stopping at the center point.

Step 4 Overlap Them

Overlap one cut edge up to the second line on a paper plate. By overlapping them at the calculated angle, you have formed an obtuse cone. Fasten the edges firmly together. A cone is very simple to make demonstrating the facility with which one can create the basic building materials for this type of dome. The RanDome building method presumes circles but any shape vertex element can be used. In a disaster situation, any lightweight, flexible sheet material can be used. The appropriate stiffness and resistance necessary for building material is often acquired simply by conifying it.

Step 5 Fasten and Shape the Dome

Fasten one plate to another plate to create a dome from the top down. Start by forming bowl of plates and build outwardly. The only requirement is that the plates higher up on the dome overlap the ones beneath them to make the structure leakproof. The size of the dome depends on the number of circles one has to work with.

Warning

• Use heaters wisely and keep them away from anything that can burn or catch fire.

Tips

• The dome can be rolled up into a cigar shape for easy transport. See the video above.
• In a real life need-for-shelter situation, any combination of lightweight, flexible sheet material can be used. Please be aware of the flammability of the materials chosen. Aluminum is great because of its resistance to fire, water, UV rays, insects and deterioration. 
• A tent could be set up inside the sturdy shell of the dome for extra protection.
• To make a complete sphere instead of a half sphere described above, you would divide 720 degrees by the number of plates.
• For free consultation during your building process, you can email the creator, Dick Fischbeck, at dick.fischbeck@gmail.com.
• Click here to learn about how a RanDome saved the day at an Occupy Maine protest at Lincoln Park in October 2011.

RanDome is patented under a Creative Commons License, meaning that anyone can copy, mimic and distribute the design for non-commercial purposes.