Introduction

Domes through History

Round structures are naturally
efficient for strength, stability, space
utilization and energy retention. They
are found throughout nature, even at
the molecular level.
Domed shelters such as yurts, huts
and igloos have C60 Molecule
(Fullerene)
been in use since
pre-historic times. The earliest
domes were small and made with
materials
from
nature,
such as mud, sticks, grass and
ice.
Through the centuries,
larger domes were built using
stronger materials. Important
examples include the Pantheon
and St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
However, there was a limit to the
area that a dome could span
before collapsing
St. Peter's Basilica (16th Century)
under its own
weight.
This problem was solved with
Buckminster Fuller’s invention of the geodesic dome,
which uses triangles to distribute the stress of the dome’s
weight evenly throughout the structure. With this
breakthrough, the potential size of domes is virtually
unlimited.
 Buckminster Fuller
Buckminster Fuller (1895-
1983) was an American architect,
engineer, author, designer,
inventor, educator and futurist.
His work focused on creating
inexpensive, energy-saving
shelters and modes of transportation, based on the idea
Buckminster Fuller
that every human on “Spaceship
Earth” could enjoy a higher
standard of living than ever achieved before, if we only
use our resources with optimum efficiency. He is most
recognized for his innovation of the Geodesic Dome.

The Invention of the Geodesic Dome

Following
experiments in the late
1940’s, Buckminster
Fuller was awarded a
patent for the geodesic
dome in 1954. The
geodesic dome
appealed to him
because of its ability to
enclose spaces with the
greatest volume for the
least surface area using
lightweight materials.
 He hoped that the geodesic dome would solve
environmental, economic and logistical problems related
to building shelters in remote
locations all over the world.
Fuller was soon successful in
selling his idea to the U.S. military
for use on bases and radar
stations.
Gradually, geodesic domes
were adopted for commercial
applications such as concert
halls, sports stadiums, botanical
gardens and homes.
So far, however, Fuller’s
dream of using geodesic domes
and other “design science” innovations to
Nagoya Multipurpose Dome (614 ft.)
dramatically raise living standards for
people all over the world has not been realized.

Fantasy Entertainment Complex, Kyosho

(710 ft.) How Geodesic
Domes Can Help Save the
Planet
Millions of people around the
world lack shelter. Geodesic
domes can help to solve this
problem, because they are cheap, easy and quick to build
from a wide variety of materials.
Geodesic domes are efficient in
their use of space and energy,
providing open spaces free of
internal structural support.
They are lightweight and can be
built by a small crew. Domes of up to
50 meters in diameter can be constructed without the
use of a crane.
Geodesic domes are stable under a wide variety of
environmental conditions, and can withstand hurricane
force winds.
Geodesic domes can potentially be made large
enough to cover entire cities, saving tremendous
amounts of energy. They can also be used as refuges for
endangered ecosystems and species.
If the external environment becomes inhospitable to
agriculture, giant geodesic domes may provide areas for
cultivating crops.