Buckminster Fuller was the original inventor of geodesic home designs. Fuller noticed the problems in standard construction projects and tried to fix them by incorporating geometric theories about triangles. Fuller’s spherical architectural designs are among the most energy-efficient in-home design. The average homeowner saves 33 percent on their energy costs. These home designs are also extremely resistant to natural disasters because of their strong triangular shape. Geodesic home designs have many options. Because of the home’s structure, you won’t have to worry about any load-bearing walls. You are free to move walls as you wish.
Walther Bauersfeld, the chief engineer of Carl Zeiss optical and the creator of the planetarium in which he kept his planetarium projector, designed the first geodesic dome. Dykerhoff and Wydmann built a small dome on the Jena, Germany Zeiss plant’s roof. In 1926, a larger dome, called The Wonder of Jena was opened to the public. Buckminster Fuller dubbed the dome The Geodesic Dome from field experiments at Black Mountain College, where he was accompanied by Kenneth Snelson 20 years later. Fuller is not considered to be the original inventor, but he was credited with the U.S. popularity of the idea. He did however receive the U.S. patent in 1954 for the design.
Fuller’s oldest dome, which is still standing, is located in Woods Hole (Massachusetts). It was built by students over three weeks in 1953. Fuller loved the geodesic dome because it was strong for its weight and the surface provided an inherently stable design. Also, a sphere has the largest volume for the smallest surface area. The geodesic dome designs have superior engineering capabilities to traditional square home designs. Geodesic domes, the strongest man-made building, get stronger with increasing size. Geodesic home designs off-grid are lighter, require less building materials, are more economical, more structurally sound, and are more cost-effective.
Fuller demonstrated the strength of the triangle and discovered that a globe made from triangles had unmatched strength. This led Fuller to the principle that you can do more with less. Fuller was the first to realize that a geodesic dome with a diameter of twice as large will produce eight times its volume and quadruple the area. The geodesic dome is the most efficient interior space, containing the largest volume with the least surface area. This saves money on building materials and costs. Because air and energy flow freely, a dome’s interior space is one of the most efficient. This allows natural heating and cooling. Dome studies comparing the same-sized traditional homes have shown a 30% energy savings. Geodesic dome shelters are the most efficient shelter for humans and have been tested in all climates.
Resource: Hyggehous
