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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Daring domicile

Bethany Monroe Staff writer

At night, passers-by can’t help but notice the glowing dome connected to Ryan Oelrich’s Spokane home.

The two-story home appears normal, aside from a 16-feet wide canvas dome protruding from the side.

“Someone left a sticky note on my door saying ‘The dome is way cool, dude,’ ” Oelrich said.

Oelrich, a 2004 Gonzaga University graduate, decided to build a dome addition to his home after seeing an igloo demonstration last year.

“I’ve always been fascinated by architecture,” Oelrich said. “I actually wanted to build a pyramid.”

Instead, Oelrich decided to use the dome-shaped structure of igloos with the triangular shape of pyramids, creating a geodesic structure.

“It kind of, in a way, combines my two favorite forms of architecture – you have pyramids and you have domes,” he said.

His recently completed dome stands nearly 15 feet high and features a carpeted wood deck and a thick, plastic-coated canvas. The canvas should hold up for five to eight years, even in winter weather. Steel tent poles make up the structure’s skeleton.

“All the joints support each other,” Oelrich said. “My roommates and I have been climbing all over it, and it’s incredibly sturdy.”

He estimates 1,000 pounds could be hung from the center of the ceiling.

The project cost Oelrich an estimated $20,000, including materials for several failed prototypes. He built experimental structures using logs, copper and PVC pipe before deciding on the steel tent poles for their strength.

The thin walls and many windows give the dome an outdoor feel.

“It’s kind of tentlike,” he said. “I can do my work in my office and then come out at night and go camping.”

Oelrich runs his own business, Balloon Bonanza, through which he creates large balloon sculptures for public and private events.

The dome is connected directly to the house by a doorway and does not have any exterior doors. Its bay window faces a forest, offering views of wild turkeys, deer and moose.

Oelrich leads Quest Youth Group, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting gay and bisexual young men. Group members frequently stop by his home, and the dome is becoming a popular place for congregating as a group.

“It’s a great environment,” Oelrich said. “The youth group members seem to open up.”

Eventually he hopes to build a two-story dome house. His dream home would stand 50 feet high and 60 feet in diameter. It would feature all the amenities of a standard new house, but with a thin, canvas covering rather than sheetrock and shingles. He said the lower floor of the home would be wood to improve security.