Kanye West Is Trying To Build Dome Homes In LA. Here's Why That's Important.

​Whether you're a fan of his music as a hip hop artist or disagree with his outspoken attitude and political views (or both), there is no denying Kanye West’s impact on popular culture; or his willingness to break into completely new disciplines outside of music.

His newest venture is residential subdivision in Calabasas, California made of domes.

Photocredit: Backgrid

Geodesic Dome | 1600 square feet | 2br 2ba

But what's so special about a few odd shaped houses in LA?

A dome's shape and inherent structural integrity make it both stronger and more energy-efficient than a conventional family home. Domes can withstand powerful winds and strong earthquakes. Concrete domes have been known to survive flying debris as big as cars and direct hits from bombs.

Domes, in varying designs, have been used for housing in the United States for over a century.

​Mickey Lukens Sr., a geodesic dome home designer and builder with 35 years experience, in response to reading about Kanye's house project said "This could be the beginnings of a monumental shift in perception regarding dome homes in the United States."

He added "What's important about what Mr. West is doing is he is helping bring awareness to dome homes as a viable housing alternative."

In a recent profile from Forbes, West revealed that this is his attempt at creating affordable housing. “He tells me they could be used as living spaces for the homeless, perhaps sunk into the ground with light filtering in through the top,” the author wrote. However, recently it has been reported that there has been issues of the domes securing the correct building permits.

Regardless of whether or not this project will be a success, the takeaway is that dome homes are increasingly gaining public recognition. According to Google Ads, Americans are Google-searching the term "dome homes" over 7,000 times a month.

Mickey concludes "Anything that sparks interest and helps people learn more about how much better domes are for homeowners versus conventional homes, the better."

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