Buckminster Fuller invented the geodesic dome. One of Fuller's lifetime quests was to build designs to do more with fewer resources, foreseeing an eventual shortage in housing for humanity's growing population. He observed problems inherent in conventional construction techniques, as opposed to the ease of construction and indigenous strength of natural structures. Interested in creating a structure analogous to nature's own designs, he started to experiment with spherical geometry in the late 1940's. He patented the geodesic dome in 1951. Today geodesic domes are recognized to be the most efficient building systems known.
Why are geodesic structures so strong?
The nature of the spherical design provides strength because the stress is shared evenly by all the points of the structure. The dome shape allows environmental stress such as movement from an earthquake or wind or stress from snow loading to be evenly distributed throughout the structure. The geometry of the triangle offers additional strength to the dome shape.
What other advantages do geodesic structures offer over conventional structures?
Interior advantages of the dome include greater freedom of floor plan design, cathedral ceilings, evenness of light, heat, and sound distribution. Domes display superior light characteristics as spherical shapes tend to amplify light while rectangular shapes tend to absorb light; in many cases it is actually brighter inside a dome without any interior lights turned on than it is outside. Acoustical advantages include more even sound distribution and approximately 30% less outside noise infiltration.
What is a riser wall? What is its function?
Dome riser walls are an architectural feature unique to domes. When used, they raise the height of the dome to achieve more usable area in the dome's loft and to increase the potential height for entryways. Riser walls generally range from 2 feet to a maximum of 8 feet high.
What is the difference between 3/8 sphere domes and 5/8 sphere domes?
These fractions refer to the sphere division of the dome. A 3/8 sphere dome is 3/8 of a full sphere of the dome's diameter and a 5/8 sphere dome uses 5/8 of a full sphere of the dome's diameter. Consequently, a 3/8 sphere dome has a lower profile than a 5/8 sphere dome of the same diameter.
Why do geodesic structures conserve energy for heating and cooling?
The answer lies in the shape of the geodesic structure. The lower the total outside surface area (walls and ceilings) the greater the efficiency in energy use for heating and cooling. A dome has approximately one-third less surface area to the outside than a box-style structure. The amount surface area exposed to the elements has a much greater impact on energy efficiency than insulation values. Additionally, heat loss from the foundation of a home is generally more dependent on perimeter length than floor area. A dome, having a smaller perimeter/square footage ratio than a box-style home, will lose less heat from the foundation.
What kinds of heating, cooling, and air ventilation systems can be used in a dome home?
Domes employ traditional heat and air conditioning, whether it be forced air, electric baseboard, or in-floor radiant heat. The plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems of a geodesic dome are no different than that of a conventional structure.