Foam Dome Home With ‘Not a Single Straight Line’ Hits the Market in Florida for $249K: ‘A Genuine Original’

An intriguing dome home in Florida that was constructed using sprayed polyurethane foam and has not a "single straight line" within its structure has hit the market for less than $250,000—more than five decades after it was hand-built to serve as an example of what sustainable, eco-friendly living might one day look like.

Located in Gainesville, the four-bedroom, two-bathroom dwelling features a fascinating organic shape that seems to mirror the changing landscape around it.

That structure comes from the unique construction process, which was masterminded by a University of Florida landscape architecture student in 1972, when the home was built. Using a rebar frame and sprayed foam, he managed to create a sizable 1,700-square-foot structure for much less money than the average home build.

“The construction is one of one,” listing agent Jordan Fennell with Portal Realty said. “He thought it was going to be the new way of building sustainable homes."

While the technique did not ultimately catch on as a trend in the wider industry, the resulting "foam dome home" has more than proven its ability to stand the test of time, surviving multiple Florida storms without any leaks or damage.

“You walk in on a hot day and it's pretty cool in there, so it's pretty well insulated,” Fennell said with a laugh, adding that, technically, the entire home is built out of insulation materials. “It seems like it has stood the test of time. It doesn't smell like mold or anything in there, it doesn't smell musty.”

The home is made up of three interconnected domes that are accessed through curved corridors that lead from one living space to the next.

"There is no other home like this in Gainesville—and quite possibly anywhere," the listing notes. "The Foam Dome is a genuine original. Designed and hand-built in 1972 by a University of Florida landscape architecture student, this extraordinary structure was a vision of organic, energy-efficient living decades ahead of its time.

"Every curve, arch, and passageway was shaped by hand using a sprayed polyurethane foam and rebar frame—no two angles are the same, and not a single straight line exists anywhere in the building."

The property's many curves are just one of the design elements that make the foam dome home so special, Fennell said.

"I think it's kind of interesting that there's literally not a flat wall in the whole building," the listing agent explained, adding that windows create another unique effect inside the dwelling. “The light comes in, it's all glowing yellow, so that's pretty interesting.”

The property also boasts an unusual blue interior that has been the subject of many online comments, Fennell conceded.

“People are not a big fan of the paint job,” he noted. “From what I understand, it's basically like a kind of like a RV roof paint slash sealant that lets water drip off.”

When the seller bought the place, Fennell admitted that it was in pretty bad shape, having been left in a state of near-total abandonment before it was sold, during which time it was used by locals as a kind of makeshift party venue.

“There are all sorts of people in the [online] comments saying that they used to party there back in the day, so apparently it has seen some pretty wild times," he revealed.

Currently, the home is fully functioning and could be moved into as-is, however a future buyer may well want to give it a bit of TLC, particularly when it comes to cosmetic updates.

When Fennell spoke to Realtor.com®, he noted that "a lot of people" had shown interest in the property, but admitted that he wasn't sure whether at least some of those people were "just kind of wanting to go see it, just out of curiosity."

It appears that at least one of those interested parties was genuinely eager to invest in the architectural gem because the listing has since been updated to reflect that the property is "pending" sale, meaning that an offer has been accepted by the seller and the deal is in the final stages before closing.

Should the deal go through, the new owner will have plenty of opportunity to make the abode their own—with Fennell explaining that the sprawling parcel, which occupies almost an entire acre near the entrance to a subdivision, is open for future development.

“The lot could be split, or you could do an ADU,” he explained, adding there are three access points to the property.

The seller has used the place as a rental property, but Fennell said he sees its future as a short-term rental.

“It reminds me of 'Star Wars' and apparently a lot of people feel the same way because [the seller has] had people contact him that are 'Star Wars' fan who asked to go take pictures out there,” he said.

“[The perfect buyer] is either a 'Star Wars' or Fred Flintstone fan that wants to do short-term rentals. I think it would definitely check the uniqueness box and I think it could perform very well as a short-term rental.”