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Geodesic structures and other products of Fuller's genius are not arbitrary "inventions." By his own declaration, they are the tangible illustration of laws fundamental to the nature of the universe. Proceeding always from universal to particular considerations, Fuller's design solutions embrace global requirements and aim to satisfy the broad range of human functions in terms of maximum performance and production. With "universe" as the take-off point for his design philosophy, Buck's working vocabulary abounds in "total" words and phrases: universe; comprehensive, whole systems: world resources; one-town-world; dynamic; maximum, etc. In the context of Fuller's work and philosophy, these jumbo worlds define colossal concepts. ^
UNIVERSE: Perceived by BF as "the aggregate of all consciously apprehended and communicated (to self or relayed to others) experience of man." ^
COMPREHENSIVE MAN: An integrator, synthesizer-one who will bring together all the manifold strands of specialized knowledge to improve the general lot of all mankind. ^
COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN: Fuller views comprehensive design as isolating from the dynamic universe of energy and experience all the local patterns that can be turned to men's advantage, in order to increase all possible advantages for all men everywhere. ^
COMPREHENSIVE DESIGNER: An emerging synthesis of artist, inventor, mechanic, objective economist and evolutionary strategist. One who would coordinate resources and technology on a world scale for the benefit of all mankind, and anticipate future needs while finding ever-better ways of providing more and more from less and less. ^
COMPREHENSIVE ANTICIPATORY DESIGN SCIENCE: Scientific application of comprehensive design thinking to prior and anticipated areas of human need-a term Fuller uses to describe his life's work. ^
> Buckminster Fuller Institute - Design Science > or click for larger image
WORLD RESOURCES INVENTORY: The 1st phase of a 10-year program* employing design initiative to produce ameliorating change. Initiated by Fuller at the 6th Congress of the UIA in 1961, the program proposes that world architectural schools incorporate in the curriculum a survey of world resources, human trends, and projected human needs. Headquarters at S.I.U. coordinates the data received from the 60 national centers and plans successive phases of the program. ^
- * World Design Science Decade 1956-75: A formal program encouraging
universities around the world to invest ten years in a continuing problem
of how to make the total world's resources, now serving only 44% of
humanity, serve 100% through competent scientific design and anticipatory
planning. Results of the program are to be reviewed every 2 years at
congress of the UIA in different host countries.
(In this context, "resources" is comprehensive not merely of materials and features, but of the sum of world resources, of capacities and potentials of the world intellect to produce beneficial change.) ^
DYMAXION (from Dynamic, Maximum, and Ion): Used by Fuller to describe whatever contributes toward the maximum mastery of the universe. All of his designs for shelter, utilities and transportation are part of his dymaxion plan for abundance. In general, anything called Dymaxion is supposed to yield the greatest efficiency possible through known technology. ^
- Dymaxion House, 1929: A circular dwelling unit suspended by cables from a
central exploiting the discovery that the tensile strength of certain
metals and alloys is far greater than the strength of the same materials
when used in compression.
- Dymaxion Automobile, 1933: A 3-wheeled car that parked by heading straight
into the curb, then tailing in sidewise. It could turn in its own length
and develop a speed of 120 mph, using a standard 90 hp Ford engine.
- Dymaxion Air-ocean World Map, 1943: Arrived at through Fuller's Energetic-
Synergetic geometry,** the dymaxion map divides the earth's surface into
20 equilateral spherical triangles radiating from the earth's center,
without breakup of land masses. Free of visible distortion, the dymaxion
projection may be viewed flat or assembled into three-dimensional form as
an icosahedron.
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** ENEGETIC-SYNERGISTIC GEOMETRY: A comprehensive mathematical scheme of
patterning basic to most of Fuller's designs. Resulting from his quest
for a simple, modellable coordinate system believed to be basic in nature,
it makes use of energy events (vector-tensor-equilibrium) and synergetic
phenomena (the behavior of whole systems, unpredicted by the individual
behavior of their parts). Most of Fuller's designs are geometric systems
utilizing these natural behavior phenomena and such fundamental "building
blocks" of physics as tetrahedrons, octahedrons and icosahedrons. ^
GEODESIC DOME: A product of Fuller's geometry of vectors, the Geodesic dome combines interlocking tetrahedrons and icosahedrons so as to balance the forces of tension and compression and thus distribute stresses evenly throughout the structure. (All the force lines of the dome lie along great circle arcs, called geodesics.) The geodesic principle enables the use of light materials, encloses a maximum amount of space with a minimum surface, and is recognized as the strongest lightest and most efficient means of enclosing space yet devised by man. Fuller domes range in size from small living units to huge exhibit housings like the U.S. Pavilion for EXPO '67.
^
TENSEGRITY (Tension-Integrity): A system in which tension and compression forces within the same structure are handled in different ways and with different materials. In a tensegrity structure, the tension members are continuously joined; the compression members are reduced to short rods or struts which are not in contact with one another but integrated with the tension members in such a way that stress exerted anywhere on the surface is immediately distributed throughout the entire structure.
^
GEODESIC TENSEGRITY: Discontinuous-compression, continuous-tension structures in which all the tension members cross one another in great-circle-chorded triangulations, providing the highest possible dimensional stability. ^
OCTET TRUSS: A structure derived from geometric configurations characteristic of those found in atomic structure. The truss, composed of tetrahedrons with octahedrons between them, disperses load pressures equally along three sets of parallel planes. Pressure applied at any one point is instantly distributed throughout the entire structure, giving the relatively delicate structure remarkable strength. The structural principle of the octet truss can be used wherever large uninterrupted roof-spans are needed. ^
GEOSCOPE: An electronic display facility which Fuller theorizes will enable man to see and comprehend dynamic world patterns far beyond his normal perceptive power. It is planned as a geodesic sphere (miniature earth) 200 feet in diameter, hung hoveringly above earth, with geographic and other data placed accurately on its surface. Wired with 10 million variable intensity light bulbs electronically controlled by computer, it would act as a giant spherical TV screen, allowing variable-speed display of complex patterns such as those of the solar system, gas molecules, weather, population changes, resource distribution and redistribution that actually took many years to occur. By bringing such comprehensive pattering within normal mental reach, the Geoscope would facilitate common consideration of world problems, forecasting and planning. ^
> Buckminster Fuller Institute's project - EARTHscope
R. Buckminster Fuller
<Thinks Out Loud>
Society of Typographic Arts
Chicago, Illinois
1965
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