There’s a difference. Under normal circumstances, most of us don’t spend time thinking or worrying about the strength of our houses. We basically take it for granted.

Our houses look strong, so we assume they are strong. But are they? We think about and sometimes worry about the strength of skyscrapers, bridges and tunnels. But not houses. If it’s not falling-down, dilapidated wreck, we think it’s okay—until something like a tornado hits! 

Real strength is exactly that: what the house can withstand or endure without collapsing, burning, splitting or rotting.

A home with real strength protects its occupants from injury and death. It keeps them safe.

Monolithic Domes have that kind of real strength. They can withstand the force of a tornado, hurricane or earthquake. They cannot burn, rot or be eaten by bugs. Monolithic Domes get that strength in two ways: from their shape and from the materials used in their construction. There’s nothing assumed or imaginary about the strength a dome gets from its shape.

Our Domes start out as a shell structure shaped like an egg. But don’t let that fool you. An egg may look fragile, but it’s remarkably strong. Here’s a fun experiment: Clasp your hands in front of you and interlock your fingers. Pull your palms apart so your hands form a cup. Place an egg lengthwise in this cup. Now try to break the egg by pushing your palms together. You will not be able to do it. An egg is shaped with a double curve that distributes pressure evenly throughout the shell. As your palms push against the egg, most of the pressure transfers evenly throughout the whole shell to the other side of the egg and into your other palm.