This igloo on the beach will melt…..your heart.

The unique curved structures – referred to as igloos, shells, or domes – are constructed in the most unlikely place, directly across from Trinity Beach in Australia’s tropical northeastern Queensland.

“It looks like an igloo, but we call it a dome,” said Georgia.  Georgia and her husband Adam are the owners and hosts of the unique vacation rental property, known as Beach Dome #4.

Photo by Kary Kern

They purchased the 1970’s home in July, 2016 and completely gutted it.  They replaced the old, worn carpet tiles with polished concrete floors for an updated look in the main living area, and installed designer black and white patterned tiles in the refurbished bathroom.

Photo by Kary Kern

“Georgia did the interior design work; I just did the labor, like jackhammering the tiles,” laughed Adam.  “We hired contractors to do the kitchen and bathroom, but we both did the painting and that sort of work.  It was a big job, and we had many late nights, but we got there in the end.”

Photo by Kary Kern

Indeed they did.  Georgia works from home as an interior decorator, and it shows.  The entire interior has a cheerful, relaxed, beachy feel to it, from the aqua-green color palate to the comfy furnishings and carefully selected themed accessories and artwork.

The Ultimate in Green Technology

Photo by Kary Kern

The igloos were the brainchild of Italian architect Dante Bini in 1965.  The domes are constructed by inflating a membrane which lifts steel reinforcement bars threaded through the middle and wet concrete into the desired shape by controlling the air pressure inside the membrane.  The “Binishells” may be the most eco-friendly building method ever invented because they use air to create their form.  The process is fundamentally green because of the highly efficient building casings created, which are also naturally strong and flexible. They are also affordable because they use less material and labor than traditional construction.  Read more about these Cairns rentals in Vacation Rental Travels.

Location of the igloo across from Trinity Beach.

More stories about Cairns, Australia:

• 11 Sensational Baby Boomer Activities in Cairns, Australia
• Three Ways to Experience the Great Barrier Reef
• Sea Turtle Encounter in the Great Barrier Reef
• Adventures in Queensland: 28 Pictures to Spark Your Wanderlust

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About the Author

Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning blog Luggage and Lipstick. TripAdvisor called her one of “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials.”  Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal.

Patti has traveled six continents looking for fabulous places and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer (and Gen X!) tribe. You can follow Patti on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Read more about Patti Morrow.