Another of Fuller’s concepts, the “Dymaxion” house, was a dome-like aluminum structure suspended from a pole in the center. It required no painting or re-roofing, and was designed to weigh (and cost) about as much as the average automobile. At the same time, its round design made it storm-resistant. It had a built-in wind turbine to generate electricity, a type of composting toilet, and a high-pressure, low-water use “fog” system for washing. It would be built in a factory, prefab-style, and could be delivered to a home site by helicopter or other means.
But despite its advantages in terms of efficiency, autonomy and transportability, it never went into widespread production, and it seems that few people would find the Dymaxion house attractive. Unless it were somehow camouflaged (perhaps with lush landscaping) or covered with earth, such a house would “stick out like a sore thumb” on most home sites.
But many of the ingenious, innovative features of this design will undoubtedly prove useful in homes of the future.
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About Me
- Tom Owens
- I'm interested in nature, technology, and the human interface between the two. I see anthropocentrism (often combined with ethnocentrism and/or excessive religious fervor) as probably the most damaging human mindset, at least environmentally-speaking. A great goal of mine is to inspire a love of nature in people. I believe we will all benefit if everyone can create a bond with other organisms and feel the connectedness of all life on our planet. We all have to realize that humans are not separate from the rest of nature.
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