2v Dome

3v Dome

4v Dome

5v Dome

6v Dome

Most Geodesic Domes are based on the Icosahedron.

The Icosahedron is a geometric solid that has 20 sides, each made from a triangle.

1v Icosahedron Dome

When the Icosahedron has the bottom section removed and is placed on the ground, it becomes a "1v", or 1 Frequency Dome.

Note: All of the struts in a 1v Dome are the same length.

A Good Way to Use a 1v Dome

1v Icosahedron Dome Shelter

Geodesic Buildings in Malaga, Spain produces this excellent example of a 1v Geodesic Dome, based on the Icosahedron.

You can purchase this dome at this link.

The 1v Dome is made up of equilateral triangles, with all edges of every triangle being the same length.

To make a 2v Dome, each triangle in the 1v Dome is broken into 4 triangles, or "tessalated".

1v / 1 Frequency Dome
All triangles are the same.

A 1v Triangle with no Tessalation.

 

The 2v Dome is the same design as the 1v Icosahedron, but each triangle has been broken into 2x2, or 4 triangles.

Also, the triangles are folded, or "bent" to conform the triangle to the shape of a sphere.

2v / 2 Frequency Dome
Each triangle in the 1v dome has been tessalated into 2x2 or 4 triangles, and folded into a more spherical shape.

The 2v dome breaks each triangle in the Icosahedron 1v dome into 2 squared, or 4 triangles.

 

The 3v Dome has each triangle broken into 3x3, or 9 triangles.

Also, the triangles are folded, or "bent" to conform the triangle to the shape of a sphere.

3v / 3 Frequency Dome
Each triangle in the 3v is tessalated into 3x3, or 9 triangles.

The 3v dome breaks each triangle into 4 squared, or 16 triangles.

 

The 4v Dome has each triangle broken into 4x4, or 16 triangles.

Also, the triangles are much more spherical.

4v / 4 Frequency Dome
Each triangle in the 3v is tessalated into 4x4, or 16 triangles.

The 4v dome breaks each triangle into 3 squared, or 9 triangles.

 

The 5v Dome has each triangle broken into 5x5, or 25 triangles.

Also, the triangles very close to spherical.

5v / 5 Frequency Dome
Each triangle in the 5v is tessalated into 5x5, or 25 triangles.

The 5v dome breaks each triangle into 5 squared, or 25 triangles.

 

The 6v Dome has each triangle broken into 6x6, or 36 triangles.

Also, the triangles are almost spherical at this point.

6v / 6 Frequency Dome
Each triangle in the 3v is tessalated into 6x6, or 36 triangles.

The 6v dome breaks each triangle into 6 squared, or 36 triangles.