A worldhouse is an artificial structure enclosing the atmosphere of an entire planet. They're designed to stop atmospheric gases from escaping into space. Atmospheric escape is only a problem for low gravity planets, such as Mars.

The worldhouse design has serious flaws:

A planetary atmosphere must be able to expand and contract vertically to distribute heat and buffer against temperature fluctuations. A worldhouse would force that expansion horizontal. Hurricane force winds will sweep the globe, twice per day at dawn and dusk.

 

A worldhouse would inhibit the dispersal of electrical charge from the planets surface to space.

 

Space dust will quickly build up on the outside, blocking sunlight from reaching the surface.

 

The structure will be exposed to intense cosmic radiation and damage from meteorite bombardment.

 

Hydrogen from radioactive decay will react with the Oxygen in the atmosphere and form water. Over time, atmospheric Oxygen will decrease and the planet will slowly flood.

A worldhouse is quite possibly the largest waste of resources and labour ever conceived.

Micheal Bastion