The tale of Buckminster Fuller and the Geodesic Dome
Steve Berry
Issue date: 10/12/07 Section: 50th Anniversary Special Edition
The high noon sun beams into the glass dome roof of the Religious Center, creating a greenhouse effect. The light streaks into the room around opaque continents and through the transparent ocean of blue glass above. Looking up reveals an inverted map of the world.
North America is at the top of the ceiling. At the highest point, in the center of the glass dome, is where SIUE is located.
Back on earth, a small worship service is taking place in the acoustics, light and heat of Buckminster Fuller's geodesic dome, which sits like a perfectly carved gem atop the Religious Center at SIUE.
The late Buckminster Fuller designed the structure that opened in 1971.
Regarding the concept, Fuller wrote, "Our planet's continents can be seen accurately outlined against the transparent blue oceans. As if they would be seen by X-rays if one descended by elevator from Edwardsville to the center of the real Earth, always keeping Edwardsville directly overhead."
Fuller was an architect, philosopher, inventor, poet and author. He was employed by Southern Illinois University Carbondale during the 1960s.
SIUE archivist Stephen Kerber described Fuller as an "idea person, much in demand as a speaker and futurist," but noted his influence at SIUE was limited to designing the dome atop the Religious Center. Kerber said Fuller also designed a geodesic dome that SIUE's live cougar mascots lived under in the school's early days.
Geodesic domes are structures that are almost spherical. They are made with a series of struts that form the skeleton of the domes. The struts that form the geodesic dome above the religious center intersect creating a pattern of triangles. The dome appears as if hundreds of glass triangles were pieced together to form a huge glass ball held in place by the foundation of the building.
Fuller did not create the concept of "geodesic domes" but he did coin the phrase, popularize, and promote the structure.
Below Fuller's structure, worshippers from the Peace Community gathered for a casual, nondenominational Christian service on the fourth Sunday in September. Six people formed a circle under Fuller's geodesic dome. The music for the service came from a small portable CD player.
North America is at the top of the ceiling. At the highest point, in the center of the glass dome, is where SIUE is located.
Back on earth, a small worship service is taking place in the acoustics, light and heat of Buckminster Fuller's geodesic dome, which sits like a perfectly carved gem atop the Religious Center at SIUE.
The late Buckminster Fuller designed the structure that opened in 1971.
Regarding the concept, Fuller wrote, "Our planet's continents can be seen accurately outlined against the transparent blue oceans. As if they would be seen by X-rays if one descended by elevator from Edwardsville to the center of the real Earth, always keeping Edwardsville directly overhead."
Fuller was an architect, philosopher, inventor, poet and author. He was employed by Southern Illinois University Carbondale during the 1960s.
SIUE archivist Stephen Kerber described Fuller as an "idea person, much in demand as a speaker and futurist," but noted his influence at SIUE was limited to designing the dome atop the Religious Center. Kerber said Fuller also designed a geodesic dome that SIUE's live cougar mascots lived under in the school's early days.
Geodesic domes are structures that are almost spherical. They are made with a series of struts that form the skeleton of the domes. The struts that form the geodesic dome above the religious center intersect creating a pattern of triangles. The dome appears as if hundreds of glass triangles were pieced together to form a huge glass ball held in place by the foundation of the building.
Fuller did not create the concept of "geodesic domes" but he did coin the phrase, popularize, and promote the structure.
Below Fuller's structure, worshippers from the Peace Community gathered for a casual, nondenominational Christian service on the fourth Sunday in September. Six people formed a circle under Fuller's geodesic dome. The music for the service came from a small portable CD player.
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