Back in the 1950s, visionary Buckminster Fuller experimented with the geodesic dome as an architectural design. Imitating natural forms, Fuller used triangular shapes to create dome structures. Domes make for a strong, energy-efficient house design, though admittedly, the shape makes for quirky interiors that can be challenging to decorate.
In 1977, doctors Gail and Roger Farber built this double-dome structure, linked by bridges, in Eden Prairie, Minn., about 15 or 20 miles southwest of downtown Minneapolis. Some years later, Fuller actually visited the property. The latest owner, who purchased it in 2013, gave the house a playful makeover that highlights its unique structure and also provides a fun home for her children, including slides between the different levels, an indoor putting green, a secret room, and lofted areas in the bedrooms. Listed at $3 million by Jason Zoeller and Carrie Ledermann at Edina Realty, the house contains six bedrooms and five baths.
Set on 1.8 acres, the exterior is as entertaining as the interiors. There are multiple sitting areas, pergolas, fire pits and conversation areas, along with a covered dining area for al-fresco summertime meals. An enormous man-made pond with waterfalls is surrounded by decking, and more slides are scattered about the multiple decks.
The dome’s structure makes for some odd fenestration, with triangular and hexagonal windows and skylights. Skylights in the bedrooms certainly bring in lots of natural light but aren’t ideal for those who like to sleep late; however, an upside of the house layout is that there’s 360 degrees of natural lighting with glimpses of the surrounding treetops and sky.
One of the domes is given over to common areas, including an open-plan living room, dining room, and kitchen, with a three-sided fireplace as a focal point. Staid traditional furnishings don’t work so well in a dome house so one smart thing the current owner did was to furnish the house in more clean-lined midcentury modern style, such as the cherry-red Panton-style chairs in the kitchen.