Building the ‘Breakfast’ Dome of Chiang Dao Roundhouses BnB

The ‘Breakfast’ Dome went up in the same way as the other domes (see previous Blogs) except for one innovation.  We decided to put the rice husk ‘sausage’ shaped bags that line the domed roof on the outside of the frame instead of the inside.  Everything went much quicker and the dome was lined in 4 days.

Thai team and volunteers attach the ‘sausage’ shaped rice husk bags of the domed ceiling onto the outside of the frame.

Attaching the bags to the outside made the process much quicker.

Next step was to weave a covering of bamboo over the bags so that the cement cap would have something to grip on to.

Woven bamboo cap.

Cement covered the bamboo cap.  This is necessary because of the monsoon rains.  The top bit of the dome was finished before we began to build the overhanging eaves, which were woven bamboo and steel rebar, with plywood underneath to hold up a layer of cement.

Building the eaves to protect the mud plaster of the walls.

The eaves are finished and mud is on the walls.

We are now much better at applying mud to walls and so able to be a bit more imaginative.

One of the Thai team did this design.

Each of the wooden eaves is covered with mud and straw and then a unique design made on each one – done by different volunteers.

This eave looks as if it has grown into place.

The outside of the Breakfast Dome is pretty much finished and looks great in line with the two roundhouses below, with their top-knots matching the mosaic on the dome.

Three roundhouses in a row.

Meanwhile, volunteers are working at plastering the inside of one of the domes, which will be one of the bedroom domes, and it is beginning to look fabulous!

Final smooth plaster goes on inside a dome.

The rains have finally begun!

View from my porch on a stormy afternoon.

It was very hot during the last couple of weeks before the monsoon began, and we are all thankful and happy that the weather is cooler.  Practically over night plants began sprouting and new leaves are now covering the trees.  I am looking forward to learning more about gardening and am hoping for some experienced gardening volunteers to show up and teach me!

Anyone interested in volunteering any time this summer, please email me at maggimck@yahoo.com