I plan to build a house of reinforced concrete - ZEGO system - where walls are 200mm thick concrete with 4.5cm styrofoam outside/inside, floors probably 300mm thick with steel reinforcement.
As per sketch concrete area for dome will be connected to the wall on one side-connected to the colorbond roof wooden support and access via spiral stairs.
In regards vibrations - what do you say? !!! Is it good idea ???
Cheers all, Nev
Nev, sounds like an interesting concept - to incorporate the obs into the house design. I've seen a few pics on the net of observatories integral with the house.
However, and especially if you ever will do any imaging, you would still want to mechanically isolate the pier as much as possible, although I imagine that a solid concrete construction would transmit less vibration than a timber-framed construction.
Is there any way that you could put a pier down into a separate foundation?
I've just started a similar process for my retirement home in Colorado. Heat from the roof will be the killer.
My builder has started that the home will be ICF walls with an R-50 rating and the SIP roofing will be at R-40. I plan on using this as a starting point for the heat transfer calculations.
Other things to consider is the dominant wind direction and making sure your observatory on the windward side of the house. In this way, any heat radiating from the roof will be minimized.
Last thing to consider is the roof pitch azimuth. If you can get the observatory on a south facing roof, the heat build-up should be minimized as well.
OIC!
SideBar: Zego is technically "ICF" or Insulated Concrete Forms. "SIP" = Structural Insulated Panels
It would be south side of the house (where is water view), and I think it won't be problem with heat from the roof, but when I saw vibrations in video made from 12th floor building, I think Chris you are right. Spending probably the same amount of money one can probably get a first class roll off observatory on the ground (including some excellent telescope).
That's an interesting design but I can see a whole world of trouble on the horizon. Very hard to execute, stability problems, vibrations, heat radiation, water proofing... You're better off staying on the ground. Simple is good.
You are right, stay on the ground - if I do it by myself I could afford 225mm TMB refractor :-) (maybe)
I had a look through that - Saturn was absolutely Jaw Dropping!
