In 2013, Robert Downey Jr. invested USD 13.4 million to create a futuristic dome house on his 7-acre Malibu property with the help of a father-son duo | English Movie News
Robert Downey Jr., famous for ‘Iron Man,’ has built quite a big real estate portfolio over the years. From his Hollywood Hills estate to a USD 10 million windmill, he has several options. However, one of his most interesting buildings sits on his 7-acre land in Malibu. Originally, the beloved actor, who is slated to appear in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ in December this year, purchased the land in 2009 and already had a home and even his own personal farm! However, in 2013, he wanted to invest in something long-lasting, something unique, and something that not many people had. Enter the Italian architect Nicolo Bini and his father, Dante, who brought a brand-new technique to Downey’s home that took almost 9 years to build. Here’s all you need to know about the ‘Iron Man’ actor’s dome house.
In 2013, Robert Downey Jr. invested in a dome house known as the Binishell
In 2013, the ‘Dr. Dolittle’ actor wanted to expand on his beloved 7-acre land. The space where Downey and his wife, Susan, resided was their main home, along with their personal farm for rescue animals. However, the two wished for a completely separate space for entertaining purposes. While they were looking to build a separate space, they did not like anything that any of the architects presented to them. In 2021, the two even did a profile of the home with The Purist magazine to show fans a look into their unique and sustainable dome house.
Robert and Susan wanted to create a one-of-a-kind area on their 7 acre Malibu home (Instagram)
Then came the famous father-and-son duo Dante and Nicolo Bini. The celebrity couple’s first designer, Robert Clydesdale, who worked with them on their main home, introduced them to the Italian architect. His father, Dante, had already been building dome houses around the world for years. His son carried on his legacy; however, he aimed to make the homes, known as Binishells, safer and more modern.The couple had approached many architects, and Downey shared, “None of whom, obviously, proposed anything like Nic’s method. He introduced us to the technology that his father, Dante Bini, had developed in Italy in the late ’60s. The outer form is created using large inflatable bladders that are covered in concrete.” This prompted the couple to invest a total of USD 13.4 million into building their unique and creative home on their Malibu grounds.
More about the Binishell
Normally, homes consist of wooden structures, metal beams, and more for support; however, a Binishell is made with the help of a balloon covered in nylon. Liquid concrete is poured directly on the balloon structure, and while it’s still wet, the balloon is inflated to the required size. After the material dries, the structure holds its shape, and the iconic dome is ready.The actor and producer couple later approached famed designer Joe Nahem to design their home that had been built with Bini’s lead. The actor also shared that they had thought that the structure would be built within a feasible time; however, it took a lot longer than anyone expected it to. It was turning the house into a home that took the longest. During the interview, he shared, “It was a learning curve in a new arena. Like many ‘passion projects,’ it wound up being a seven-year endeavour. It was Bini’s overall vision that we backed.”
More about the interior design of Robert Downey Jr’s and Susan Downey’s dome house
The home had no proper flooring, windows, entryways, or any kind of work for a long time period before the actor and his wife could find a suitable enough designer to work on the interior. The interior includes three bedrooms, a theatre space, an indoor-outdoor living space, and a large, well-equipped kitchen. Since no space in the dome had any straight lines, all of the doorways, the windows, and all of the furniture were custom-made to fit the house’s design and according to the structure.
Robert Downey Jr’s home took around seven years to complete after he initially started the construction due to number of reasons. (Instagram)
The entryway consists of pale-blue doorways with pivoting hinges and porthole windows. The actor also shared that they wanted to be as sustainable as possible, adding, “More often than not, we did what we had to do to stay within budget. In many instances, we were forced to focus on the cheapest, greenest solution.” The couple also detailed some design aspects of the home, including an architectural bead screen right in front of the entryway, made from custom-designed fibreglass beads by an artist in Mexico.There is a Cold War gas mask-inspired fountain, which resembles a man wearing the mask and standing in an oil barrel. The entire floor is covered with wooden panels, while many of the interior spaces, including the bedrooms and living space, are covered in blush and pastel tones. The walls have built-in shelves decorated with memorabilia, flowers, frames, etc.
On the work front with Robert Downey Jr
On the work front, Downey Jr. is returning to the Marvel world with ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ which is slated to release on December 18. The actor, who earlier played Iron Man in the franchise, is returning as the main villain, Dr Victor Von Doom, in the upcoming movie.
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