Geodesic Design Theory
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Lifelong Fuller enthusiast
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Ran an org (the Root Center) with ambitions to design municipal scale adaptable dome designs
Geodesic domes have had a complex history. Reserved for either extreme environments and technical applications, or alternative housing for bold homeowners, round buildings in general have only found common application in some indigenous construction traditions.
Admired for their structural efficiency, domes are often derided for interior design difficulties associated with round walls, difficulty in detailing/execution of drainage management and fenestrations, and condensation issues.
Their greatest strength in today's building economy lies in thermodynamic efficiency. Fluids (air) take the shape of their containers, and curvilinear structures allow continuous airflow without creating stagnant corners which leak energy to the outside.
This can lead to surprising energy savings and a significant reduction in insulation needs, directly addressing global climate issues. This efficiency makes passive climate control a much simpler proposition than with typical design approaches. An often overlooked obstacle to optimizing this efficiency is the need to keep above-grade floor levels disconnected from the exterior shell in order to allow for continuous air flow.