In 2009, Robert Downey Jr. and his wife Susan purchased a seven-acre piece of land in Malibu, California, for $13.4 million. In 2013, they embarked on the task of creating something different from their existing 1970s house: a concrete dome built using inflatable technology. This dome structure is called a Binishell.
The February 2024 article in The Purist featured a description of the building and systems that were put in place around the couple’s property. According to Susan, they bought the land in three adjacent plots, and did not make many renovations to the 1970s house. The new structure was supposed to be an addition, but it ended up being a very large-scale project owing to its unique design.
A dome made of air and concrete
The design was inspired by architect Nicolò Bini, who showed the couple how his father, Dante Bini, an Italian architect, had come up with the design technique in the 1960s. Bladders that can inflate are covered with concrete to form the exterior walls of the building. When the concrete becomes hard, the temporary structure is deflated, and curved walls are formed.
In its description of the Malibu house, Architectural Digest said the structure was a "6,500-square-foot concrete clubhouse." The report said that the design involves using neoprene-coated air bladders underneath the steel-reinforced concrete. According to the magazine, the structure was designed to entertain guests.
{{/usCountry}}In its description of the Malibu house, Architectural Digest said the structure was a "6,500-square-foot concrete clubhouse." The report said that the design involves using neoprene-coated air bladders underneath the steel-reinforced concrete. According to the magazine, the structure was designed to entertain guests.
{{/usCountry}}While the couple started contemplating the need for the extra structure in 2012, it took several years for the project to take shape. In his interview with The Purist, Downey said that the project took seven years. He said that the shell was inflated in 2015, but the insides were left incomplete for two years.
The rooms of the building lead off from the central hallway and feature rounded walls, windows, and skylights to provide light indoors. The owners claim that it was necessary to make practical compromises during the design process, such as using cheaper materials for special features. Thus, the entrance is adorned with a screen of special fiberglass beads instead of ceramic elements.
Unusual interiors and low-impact interior elements
The interior spaces maintain the building's spirit. The living room features a sculptural sofa with round upholstery, while other rooms incorporate curved furniture, unusual lighting fixtures, and soft colors. There is also a playroom with a woven hanging chair, which, according to Downey, was made from kooboo cane, ropes, and leather. The couple decided to build an additional screening room inside the shell, as a separate interior structure beneath the dome's roof.
A fountain outside the guest rooms features a defunct oil drum with a Mickey Mouse head wearing a gas mask. According to Downey, the sculpture is an ironic nod to Walt Disney's involvement in designing gas masks for children during World War II.
The environmental features of the property are not limited to the dome structure. The two claimed that the grounds used drought-tolerant plants to cut down on water usage. Downey also explained how the Source Hydropanels collected moisture from the air for potable water use. Vertical-axis wind turbines from a Dutch company were expected to be fitted at the time of the February 2024 interview and were intended to help offset the Binishell's reliance on grid electricity.
The couple’s concern about sustainable technology is also tied to their other activities. The two have founded the Footprint Coalition, an organization that encourages and promotes sustainable technologies.
The property is also a working, rustic retreat. As Downey remembers, the couple started buying livestock and other animals in 2010, beginning with pygmy goats and horses. Their collection later included alpacas, pigs, cows, chickens, and rabbits. Apart from the original house, guest houses, and outdoor spaces, the unorthodox dome is one of the other structures on the seven-acre, family-owned property.