December 28, 1995
Web posted at: 8:30 p.m. EST
From Technology Correspondent Miles O'Brien
SCAER, France (CNN) -- Be it ever so simple, there's no place like dome. That could be the credo for a French designer who has built a dome-shaped house that is turning heads in a historic region of France. (153K AIFF sound or 153K WAV sound)
French inventor Patrick Marsilli calls it home, while others call it a marvel. Its name is Domespace, and Marsilli compares it to a flying saucer. It even spins. An electric motor rotates the house at adjustable speeds.
Marsilli came up with the basic idea when he was 14. He's spent most of his life shaping the dream into reality.
"Einstein once said, 'I'm convinced that an equation is right when it becomes simple.' In fact, it was the same thing," Marsilli said. "At first, it was complicated, and it was difficult to figure out the form, the construction technique, and the building materials, which are really very simple. It took years to arrive at this simple solution."
It's not only simple, it's natural. The house is made almost entirely of wood, featuring spruce on the inside and cedar on the roof. New models will feature solar panels to provide hot water and power. Marsilli says the dome's rounded edges help it withstand tornadoes and even the most powerful earthquakes. (927K QuickTime movie)
Marsilli is putting his spherical design on the global market. Domespace has sold more than 30 structures so far in several countries, including France, Taiwan and Spain. The company hopes to have models for sale in the United States within a few months.
And for those interested in commercial uses, Marsilli says the design isn't limited to housing. He predicts domed churches, schools and hotels will mushroom on the landscape.
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