Houghy, mate, don't disguise it, just plonk it dead center in the yard and insure it, if you put it in some corner of the yard you will regret it as lots of stuff accumulates behind sheds and buildings.
using the idea Chris originally posted i came up with this - do you thing i have a chance of getting it throughthe executive board?
Marcus i pinched your observatory pic for this montage
Dave,
lucky bugger, I wish you well, I bet you're excited.
Seriously though, don't panic too much about the aesthetics....If you're
worried about it attracting attention, paint it classic cream/ primrose.
It definately helps with the glare when looking out through the kitchen
window
I painted my homemade dome years ago, it blends in to the garden.
Put in a pool ! Neighbours are more interested in asking to use the
pool.....
lucky bugger, I wish you well, I bet you're excited.
Seriously though, don't panic too much about the aesthetics....If you're
worried about it attracting attention, paint it classic cream/ primrose.
It definately helps with the glare when looking out through the kitchen
window
I painted my homemade dome years ago, it blends in to the garden.
Put in a pool ! Neighbours are more interested in asking to use the
pool.....
some pics....
regards,
Steve B.
LOL looks like the pool pump house - with light buckets
Houghy , you need to apply psychology, explain to your wife why your observatory need to be glow in the dark pink, then you will be on a winner when you compromise and paint it white...
Reasons for a glow in the dark obs
1, helps me find it in the dark...
2, the phosphorescent pink keeps out stray photons.
3, No self respecting theif is going to tamper with a pink building.
4, It matches whats on the clothes line.
5, Most importantly,,"I dont like white"
Houghy , you need to apply psychology, explain to your wife why your observatory need to be glow in the dark pink, then you will be on a winner when you compromise and paint it white...
Reasons for a glow in the dark obs
1, helps me find it in the dark...
2, the phosphorescent pink keeps out stray photons.
3, No self respecting theif is going to tamper with a pink building.
4, It matches whats on the clothes line.
5, Most importantly,,"I dont like white"
Leverage is everything...
wont work with SWMBO as there is no reasoning , only get to brine my way through when she needs something I can provide for school work etc
you know this structure does not fall under any of the local gov code
That can be a double edged sword if you are dealing with the council... it depends what they are like...
Best of luck!
When I was thinking of buying the POD, I dropped into the council to see what I would have to do since their regs/codes didn't cover observatories. I gave them copies of the plans off the Skyshed POD website. They slept on it overnight and advised me the next day that it was an exempt development... I guess there was nothing in the design they felt they had the expertise to challenge to rake in an extra funds, so they gave up. If they had told me I'd need a BA and/or DA I wouldn't have a POD now!
That can be a double edged sword if you are dealing with the council... it depends what they are like...
Best of luck!
When I was thinking of buying the POD, I dropped into the council to see what I would have to do since their regs/codes didn't cover observatories. I gave them copies of the plans off the Skyshed POD website. They slept on it overnight and advised me the next day that it was an exempt development... I guess there was nothing in the design they felt they had the expertise to challenge to rake in an extra funds, so they gave up. If they had told me I'd need a BA and/or DA I wouldn't have a POD now!
Al.
Same here Al,
When I approached them to build mine , after repeating the sentence
a few times to a glazed over planner, they said the only category
my structure came close to fitting was a freestanding pergola.
I remember repeating a few times : "no I said Observatory, not
Conservatory"
And they said I didn't need approval for that if it was under 3mx3m.
They said if I ever connected power to it I had to use a qualified
electrician to do it so it complied with the standards.
I told them I was an electrical contractor, showed them my license.
No further inviolvement.
I think I was lucky though.
A few people I have spoken to with Homemade/purpose built Obs have
said councils vary in their response.
One type of encumbrance is for definately no white painted roof/ walls.
You can understand that one, as I said in an earlier post, imagine the
glare for neighbours
Also, I could understand not allowing a 6ft wall and the viewing platform
allowing you to see into the neighbours yard.
If I had built my foam dome on a wall like Bazz has (his is on his front
lawn), I'm sure neighbours would complain.
It's not like you want that sort of attention from council.
They are likely to just ban you putting it up.
Keep the pics coming Houghy, I love seeing the progress of
new domes...
I stuck mine in the back corner of the yard. Contrary to what was said before it is a great place to hide junk behind.
The only restrictions I had was it had to blend in with the surroundings and not be obvious from the road. I made it portable in any case and it can be disassembled with a screwdriver and spanners
and insure it, 
if you put it in some corner of the yard you will regret it as lots of stuff accumulates behind sheds and buildings. 
You're a funny feller, ol' humphrey........ 
, only get to brine my way through when she needs something I can provide for school work etc
