Art Nouveau

GEODESIC DOMES - POTENT CULTURAL SYMBOL OF THE FUTURE Introduction - In the 1960s and 70s, the idea of a domed city stepped out of the science fiction spotlight and seemed like it may become a reality. One of the first real life concepts came about in 1960, when engineer Buckminster Fuller proposed a two mile “geodesic dome spanning Midtown Manhattan that would regulate weather and reduce air pollution.” Buckminster proposed this, thinking the engineering sound in principle at least, with the purpose being to control the climate inside. With global climate change there is a possibility in the future of extremely high summer and low winter temperatures; the aim of planning this giant dome was to reduce cooling costs in summer and heating costs in the winter. Buildings would not be heated and cooled separately; instead the entire dome would be kept at a moderate temperature level. Its skin would consist of wire-reinforced, one-way vision, shatterproof glass, mist-plated with aluminum to cut sun glare while admitting light. From the outside it would look like a great glittering hemispheric mirror, while from the inside its structural elements would be as invisible as the wires of a screened porch, and it would appear as a translucent film through which the sky, clouds and stars would appear. In 1960, Buckminster Fuller proposed a 2 mile diameter geodesic dome over mid-town Manhattan What is a Geodesic Dome - A geodesic dome is a spherical or hemispherical thin-shell structure (lattice-shell) based on a network of geodesics (great circles) on the surface of a sphere or a hemisphere. The geodesics intersect to form triangular elements, which have local, triangular rigidity, and so distribute the structural stress throughout the geodesic sphere. Geodesic domes are known to be the most efficient building system available - The sphere is nature’s most efficient shape, covering the most living area with the least amount of surface area.  Geodesic Domes: A Technological Innovation- The geodesic dome extremely strong for its weight, its "Omni triangulated" surface provided an inherently stable structure. When Buckminster Fuller famously seized upon the possibilities of the geodesic dome, he did more than just identify the unique structural properties of a particular geometric form. He tapped into this longstanding idea of the dome as a new and profoundly future-oriented approach to the delineation of space. While he certainly did build a number of actual geodesic buildings, his concept for a massive dome over New York was -- like many Fuller ideas -- a mixture of both a genuine proposal and an audacious symbol of heroic technological optimism. The dome cities can be made profitably and that they can provide energy efficiency and other benefits. Geodesic Domes: As a Protective Shield - Domes are depicted as a defensive screen, sheltering residents from adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, air pollution and environmental contamination. Noted environmental historian Roderick Nash suggested that perhaps the only way for people to cease injuring the planet would be to withdraw into domed or underground cities. Domed city can be made more affordable than ever and will enable a lower energy future. The goal of a domed city is to take a large urban area and cover it so that:  Domes can make buildings inside more economical by reducing the need to heat or cool them. The Dome themselves can leverage atmospheric and other effects to maintain constant internal climate and generate power. The temperature is the same year round Air and energy are allowed to circulate without obstruction The domes can use vents and can have a large chimney for airflow and even more temperature control.  The cancerous effects of the sun are eliminated during outdoor activities Buildings inside would not need to have the extra costs for climate control or to worry about any storm damage as the dome can withstand any hurricane and other weather. Design Limitations – Buckminster’s proposal was not practically feasible as the dome would be massively heavy, and large glass panels are not ideally suited to hang horizontally without cracking. Design Proposition – The new lightweight materials such as ETFE might solve the weight problem. EFTE is one hundred time lighter than Glass and can reduce costs by 4 times. It can take myriad shapes, too: Strips can be heat-welded together like fabric squares in a quilt. This "sewing" method enables ETFE to be installed in pieces much longer and wider than glass. A large glass panel might measure 10 ft. by 5 ft., whereas a strip of ETFE (Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) could be 180 feet long and 12 feet wide, with structural supports. It also scores well on the environmentally friendly front, particularly crucial given the current call for greener building practices. The film is recyclable (simply melt and reuse), and due to its light weight, doesn't require much energy to transport. Though the concept of a massive dome over a city might appear impractical today, but these giant Domes can be successfully adopted for specialized uses, such as covering our Historic buildings or precincts to guard them against climatic changes, pollution disasters so as to prolong their life and to retain their cultural significance Agricultural farms so that there's never any rain or storms to spoil the crops Urban centers or colonies as a shield against adverse weather conditions, temperature control and energy efficiency. Hence it can be concluded that geodesic domes can be designed for large spans as a protective covering against harsh climatic conditions and thereby can be adapted to improve existing cities. Vishal Sood Citations: https://bfi.org/about-fuller/big-ideas/geodesic-domes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domed_city https://books.google.co.in/books?isbn=0804752095 https://www.quora.com/Can-a-geodesic-dome-over-a-city-work-in-practicality http://longstreet.typepad.com/thesciencebookstore/2010/02/ http://nextbigfuture.com/2010/07/introducing-updated-dome-city-plans-for.html http://gothamist.com/2012/03/08/the_1960_plan_to_put_a_dome_over_mi.php https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geodesic_dome http://www.treehugger.com/urban-design/look-bucky-fullers-dome-over-new-york-city.html