Styrofoam is great for many things, including these earthquake-proof homes in Japan. Each piece is glued together to create a dome that weighs around 80kg, and the finished product can be used as permanent residences, guesthouses or even small hotels in rural areas.
A dome house can be put together in just one week by a team of three people, using modular pieces, and the price is between Y7 million and Y8 million ($68,700 and $78,500) for a house with a floor space of about 36-sqm (387-sqft) and a ceiling height of 3 meters (9.8 feet). Since Styrofoam does not rot or rust and is not at risk of termite infestation, these dome houses are considered very durable.
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The beads in conventional polystyrene are expanded about 50% to 60% the original size of the styrene monomer, causing the absorption of a large amount of oxygen. Japan Dome House has developed a method which only expands the styrene monomers about 20% and minimizes the absorption of oxygen. This makes the material much stronger than conventional foam while keeping its highly insulating qualities,” according to RealEstate.co.jp.
