# Where was this photo taken? (domed buildings) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 23, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415 "2005-11-23T14:03:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hammos1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@hammos1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammos1)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/1 "2005-11-23T14:03:21Z")
The October issue of \*Wired \*magazine has a photo on page 96 entitled _Eugene’s Neighbourhood_, which shows a group of curious, almost spherical buildings. You can see the photo [here](http://www.art-memoires.com/lmter/l3436/36iljpb111.htm)- a better version is available [here](http://www.kunstonline.info/levelone/php/persons/personpage.php?id=1140&chapter=about) (click on the ‘portfolio’ button at right of screen, and go to image no. 11). (Despite the page title of the first link, I believe the image to be a photograph- certainly the other works by the artist (Geert Goiris) appear to be photographs). Does anyone know where these buildings are, and who (if anyone) lives in them? ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/2 "2005-11-23T16:01:21Z")
WAG: These are not homes, but some sort of chemical processing or water treatment buildings. I’m curious about that UFO-looking building in another photo in the portfolio, however. ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/3 "2005-11-23T16:04:29Z")
[This link](http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.art-memoires.com/lmter/l3436/36iljpb111.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3DGeert%2BGioris%26hl%3Den%26hs%3D35G%26lr%3D%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official) implies to me that it is a very detailed painting. ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/4 "2005-11-23T16:10:23Z")
But after looking at your second link, I am at a loss. The first site links to a page that mentions a painting contest, but your other site is just photography. ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/5 "2005-11-23T16:11:59Z")
Oh bloody hell. A triple post because I am too lazy to read. The paragraph said that this year they opened the painting contest to the visual arts. In that case, I go with **awldune** ’s explanation. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/6 "2005-11-23T16:18:05Z")
I would agree that they’re probably not homes; they don’t seem to have enough windows. They do remind me of the huts from Riven. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/7 "2005-11-23T16:20:13Z")
A google search turned up [this stock video site](http://www.filmboston.com/stock/stock.asp?pagenm=circlehouse) that states they are in the Netherlands; the landscaping and foliage is consistent with this. ---
**Author:** ![hammos1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@hammos1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammos1)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/8 "2005-11-23T16:21:36Z")
> [@awldune](#): > > WAG: These are not homes, but some sort of chemical processing or water treatment buildings. I agree, they look like rather stumpy water towers- but they appear to have windows and chimneys? ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/9 "2005-11-23T16:23:12Z")
I saw similar structures in The Netherlands many years ago. I remember seeing them from the train between The Hague and Amsterdam. I asked another passenger what they were, but no one around me knew. They may not be the same ones, but definately very much like them. My trip was in 1984 or 5. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/10 "2005-11-23T16:30:52Z")
So, they’re m00se-proof homes. ---
**Author:** ![hammos1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@hammos1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammos1)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/11 "2005-11-23T16:34:18Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > A google search turned up [this stock video site](http://www.filmboston.com/stock/stock.asp?pagenm=circlehouse) that states they are in the Netherlands; the landscaping and foliage is consistent with this. Bingo. That’s exactly the same design of house. Presumably some kind of failed 70s futuristic housing experiment. Those crazy Dutch. ---
**Author:** ![hammos1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@hammos1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammos1)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/12 "2005-11-23T16:46:08Z")
A few more pictures [here](http://www.iisg.nl/volkshuisvesting/p26.html), including some interior shots. ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/13 "2005-11-23T16:51:19Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > A google search turned up [this stock video site](http://www.filmboston.com/stock/stock.asp?pagenm=circlehouse) that states they are in the Netherlands; the landscaping and foliage is consistent with this. It wouldn’t suprise me if they are in the Nethelands. Our architects go crazy every once in a while. Downtown Rotterdam has these [cubes on stilts](http://www.pbase.com/sammeke/image/15974092). Yes, these are actual houses and people live in them. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/14 "2005-11-23T17:04:27Z")
Those actually look pretty cool… if only they’d … stop … _staring at me!!!_ ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/15 "2005-11-23T17:14:04Z")
> [@Mycroft Holmes](#): > > It wouldn’t suprise me if they are in the Nethelands. Our architects go crazy every once in a while. Downtown Rotterdam has these [cubes on stilts](http://www.pbase.com/sammeke/image/15974092). Yes, these are actual houses and people live in them. Those are amazing! I _so_ totally wish I could live there. ---
**Author:** ![ImaginalDisc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a88e57/32.png) [@ImaginalDisc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ImaginalDisc)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/16 "2005-11-23T17:18:31Z")
> [@Mycroft Holmes](#): > > It wouldn’t suprise me if they are in the Nethelands. Our architects go crazy every once in a while. Downtown Rotterdam has these [cubes on stilts](http://www.pbase.com/sammeke/image/15974092). Yes, these are actual houses and people live in them. Wow, my first thought was “how the hell do they hang paintings from those walls?” ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/17 "2005-11-23T19:12:24Z")
Wow, I guess they really are homes. The least practical housing imaginable! ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/18 "2005-11-23T19:59:54Z")
> [@ImaginalDisc](#): > > Wow, my first thought was “how the hell do they hang paintings from those walls?” Or how do you keep from falling through the windows? ---
**Author:** ![Corporate\_Hippie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/65b543/32.png) [@Corporate\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corporate_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-this-photo-taken-domed-buildings/332415/19 "2005-11-23T20:38:53Z")
At least if you were a kid living in one of those, your folks could never make you go sit in a corner.