There is currently a demand for buildings that can be formed both quickly and economically. These buildings require the addition of heat insulation to walls or roofs because the materials from which they are otherwise formed have insufficient ability to protect against the cold. This can add undesirable expense and slow down production rates. A method is disclosed of forming a building that addresses this problem. The method comprises arranging a door frame, window frame or edge support frame at a mould and spraying a first spray material onto the outside of the mould so that the spray material sets generally in the shape of the mould and substantially embeds the frame. The first material and the frame is removed from the mould and a second different spray material is sprayed onto the first spray material to provide a skin therefor.

A geodesic dome accessory having an accessory frame that utilizes a base frame and an upper frame. The base frame is attached to the frame of the geodesic dome on interior to the frame. The upper frame attaches to the base frame and secures the membrane of the geodesic dome between the upper frame and the base frame, providing a weather resistant or tight seal. The base frame forms an opening to access from the exterior of the dome to the interior. The upper frame can be in a variety of configurations, including a window, door, vent passage, or stove pipe passage. The structural framing of the dome can remain with the base frame in the shape of the opening between frame elements, such as a window, or the framing can be removed with the accessory base frame forming the structural support replacing the standard framing, such as a door.

The invention relates to a modular building structure (10) comprising: a framework (12) including a plurality of rods (14) and connectors (16) to interconnect the plurality of rods (14) together, the framework (12) comprising empty spaces bordered by corresponding rods (14) of said plurality of rods; a plurality of panels (20), wherein one panel (20) is mounted inside each empty space and connected to the framework (12) in order to create an interior (40), an air chamber layer (44) inside which air may circulate, said air chamber layer (44) forming at least a portion of an outer surface of said interior (40), at least one upper valve system (46a) mounted in the upper portion of the structure (10), and at least one lower valve system (46b) mounted in the lower portion of the structure (10). The at least one upper and lower valve systems (46a, 46b) are selectively operable to regulate the thermal conditions inside the interior (40) as a function of the meteorological conditions outside the modular building structure (10) and a desired temperature inside the interior (40). The invention also relates to a method for operating the at least one upper and lower valve systems (46a, 46b) of the modular building structure (10).

A novel workstation which incorporates an acoustical dome for increased acoustic and visual privacy for the user. The workstation further is adjustable in height such that it can accommodate a range of users from the 5.sup.th percentile seated female to the 95.sup.th percentile standing male according to the dictates of ANSI/HFES100-2007 national ergonomic standard. The workstation is further designed to be in electrical and data communication with other workstations to optimize the workstation density in an open working environment without compromising user privacy.

A safety enclosure for building structures is an apparatus that provides maintains a safe and healthy living environment and shields hazardous conditions from a surrounding environment. The apparatus includes a structure enclosure, at least one entrance, a plurality of anchoring posts, a plurality of indoor environmental systems, a plurality of indoor maintenance systems, a main controller unit, and a power supply. The structure enclosure surrounds a building and any supplemental buildings. The building may include a variety of extensions as well. The at least one entrance provides access into and out of the structure enclosure. The plurality of anchoring posts secures the structure enclosure with the ground. The plurality of indoor environmental systems ensures livable conditions within the structure enclosure. The plurality of indoor environmental systems ensures the safety within the structure enclosure. The main controller provides a user with manual operation and the power supply provides the necessary power.

An inflatable habitat using inflatable structures and necessary accessories offers secure permanent human settlement in an environment such as Mars with an air pressure below the earth's atmospheric pressure. Built upon a crater, the inflatable structure comprises various resilient multilayer roof segments integrated with segment frames to contain extreme internal inflation pressures to provide habitability, maintenance of thermal environment, and low-cost manufacturability using local resources. The roof of the inflatable structure is firmly secured along a rim and a floor of the crater through a wall anchor system and a dual internal roof anchor system to provide a durable structure against hostile weather conditions. A “smart design” using the wall anchor system allows the installation of an outer roof in parallel to the existing roof. Further, a magnetic radiation shield generated through roof power elements externally encloses the roof to facilitate optimal active protection against solar and/or cosmic radiations.

An inflatable habitat using inflatable structures and necessary accessories offers secure permanent human settlement in an environment such as Mars with an air pressure below the earth's atmospheric pressure. Built upon a crater, the inflatable structure comprises various resilient multilayer roof segments integrated with segment frames to contain extreme internal inflation pressures to provide habitability, maintenance of thermal environment, and low-cost manufacturability using local resources. The roof of the inflatable structure is firmly secured along a rim and a floor of the crater through a wall anchor system and a dual internal roof anchor system to provide a durable structure against hostile weather conditions. A “smart design” using the wall anchor system allows the installation of an outer roof in parallel to the existing roof. Further, a magnetic radiation shield generated through roof power elements externally encloses the roof to facilitate optimal active protection against solar and/or cosmic radiations.

A novel workstation which incorporates an acoustical dome for increased acoustic and visual privacy for the user. The workstation further is adjustable in height such that it can accommodate a range of users from the 5.sup.th percentile seated female to the 95.sup.th percentile standing male according to the dictates of ANSI/HFES100-2007 national ergonomic standard. The workstation is further designed to be in electrical and data communication with other workstations to optimize the workstation density in an open working environment without compromising user privacy.

A modular wall structure can include a first modular unit having a first face defined by a first perimeter and a second modular unit having a second face defined by a second perimeter. The first modular unit can be operably and selectively coupled to the second modular unit. Base units can be provided to support the first and second modular units.