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'''Richard Buckminster “Bucky''' Fuller (July 12, 1895 – July 1, 1983) was an American architect, author, designer, futurist, inventor and visionary. He was the second president of Mensa. He lends his name to a family of complex carbon structures called [[Buckminsterfullerene]] also known as, "Bucky Balls."

'''Richard Buckminster''' "Bucky" Fuller (July 12, 1895 – July 1, 1983) was an American architect, author, designer, futurist, inventor and visionary. He was the second president of Mensa. He lends his name to a family of complex carbon structures called [[Buckminsterfullerene]] also known as, "Bucky Balls."

Throughout his life, Fuller was concerned with the question "Does [[humanity]] have a chance to survive lastingly and successfully on [[planet]] [[Earth]], and if so, how?" Considering himself an average [[individual]] without special monetary means or academic degree he chose to devote his life to this question, trying to identify what he, as an individual, could do to improve [[human condition|humanity's condition]], which large organizations, governments, and private enterprises inherently could not do.

Throughout his life, Fuller was concerned with the question "Does [[humanity]] have a chance to survive lastingly and successfully on [[planet]] [[Earth]], and if so, how?" Considering himself an average [[individual]] without special monetary means or academic degree he chose to devote his life to this question, trying to identify what he, as an individual, could do to improve [[human condition|humanity's condition]], which large organizations, governments, and private enterprises inherently could not do.

Pursuing this lifelong [[experiment]], Fuller wrote more than thirty books, coining and popularizing terms such as "Spaceship Earth", ephemeralization, and [[synergetics]]. He also worked in the development of numerous inventions, chiefly in the fields of design and [[architecture]], the best known of which is the [[geodesic dome]]. Carbon molecules known as fullerenes or buckyballs were named for their resemblance to geodesic spheres.

Pursuing this lifelong [[experiment]], Fuller wrote more than thirty books, coining and popularizing terms such as "Spaceship Earth", ephemeralization, and [[synergetics]]. He also worked in the development of numerous inventions, chiefly in the fields of design and [[architecture]], the best known of which is the [[geodesic dome]]. Carbon molecules known as fullerenes or buckyballs were named for their resemblance to geodesic spheres.

Late in his life, after working on his concepts for several decades, Fuller achieved considerable public visibility. He travelled the world giving lectures, and received numerous honorary doctorates. Most of his inventions, however, never made it into production. Often dismissed as a hopeless utopian, he was strongly criticized in most fields he tried to influence, including architecture[citation needed]. His proponents, on the other hand, continue to assert that his work has not yet received the attention that it deserves.

Late in his life, after working on his concepts for several decades, Fuller achieved considerable public visibility. He travelled the world giving lectures, and received numerous honorary doctorates. Most of his inventions, however, never made it into production. Often dismissed as a hopeless utopian, he was strongly criticized in most fields he tried to influence, including architecture[citation needed]. His proponents, on the other hand, continue to assert that his work has not yet received the attention that it deserves.

==Quirks==

==Quirks==

Fuller was a frequent flier, often crossing time zones. He famously wore three watches; one for the current zone, one for the zone he had departed, and one for the zone he was going to.[22][23] Fuller also noted that a single sheet of newsprint, inserted over a shirt and under a suit jacket, provided completely effective insulation during long airflights.

Fuller was a frequent flier, often crossing time zones. He famously wore three watches; one for the current zone, one for the zone he had departed, and one for the zone he was going to. Fuller also noted that a single sheet of newsprint, inserted over a shirt and under a suit jacket, provided completely effective insulation during long airflights.

==Practical achievements==

==Practical achievements==

 

Certainly, a number of Fuller's projects did not meet success in terms of commitment from industry or acceptance by a broad public. However, many geodesic domes have been built and are in use. According to the Buckminster Fuller Institute Web site, the largest geodesic-dome structures (listed in descending order from largest diameter) are:

Certainly, a number of Fuller's projects did not meet success in terms of commitment from industry or acceptance by a broad public. However, many geodesic domes have been built and are in use. According to the Buckminster Fuller Institute Web site, the largest geodesic-dome structures (listed in descending order from largest diameter) are:

* Union Tank Car Maintenance Facility: Baton Rouge, LA USA, 117 m (384 ft), destroyed in November 2007.[27]

* Union Tank Car Maintenance Facility: Baton Rouge, LA USA, 117 m (384 ft), destroyed in November 2007.[27]

* Lehigh Portland Cement Storage Facility: Union Bridge, MD USA, 114 m (374 ft).

* Lehigh Portland Cement Storage Facility: Union Bridge, MD USA, 114 m (374 ft).

* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eden_Project The Eden Project, Cornwall, United Kingdom]

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eden_Project The Eden Project, Cornwall, United Kingdom]

Fuller's development of the dome and his roles as a philosopher and as a gadfly within the design and architectural communities left an important legacy. He introduced a number of concepts, and if every one wasn't entirely new, we can still say that he honed each one well.

Fuller's development of the dome and his roles as a philosopher and as a gadfly within the design and architectural communities left an important legacy. He introduced a number of concepts, and if every one wasn't entirely new, we can still say that he honed each one well.

==Concepts and buildings==

==Concepts and buildings==

* ''[http://bfi.org/node/75 R. Buckminster Fuller's 28 patents]''

* ''[https://bfi.org/node/75 R. Buckminster Fuller's 28 patents]''

His concepts and buildings include:

His concepts and buildings include:

==External links==

==External links==

* [http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf109n9832 Richard Buckminster Fuller Papers, ca.1920-1983](call number M1090; ca.1400 linear ft.) are housed in the [http://library.stanford.edu/depts/spc/spc.html Department of Special Collections and University Archives] at [http://library.stanford.edu/ Stanford University Libraries]

* [https://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf109n9832 Richard Buckminster Fuller Papers, ca.1920-1983](call number M1090; ca.1400 linear ft.) are housed in the [https://library.stanford.edu/depts/spc/spc.html Department of Special Collections and University Archives] at [https://library.stanford.edu/ Stanford University Libraries]

* Buckminster Fuller and interstellar communication explored: [http://www.oracleinsights.com/blog/index.php/2006/01/08/an-unlikely-oracle-r-buckminster-fuller/ 'An Unlikely Oracle: R. Buckminster Fuller']

* Buckminster Fuller and interstellar communication explored: [https://www.oracleinsights.com/blog/index.php/2006/01/08/an-unlikely-oracle-r-buckminster-fuller/ 'An Unlikely Oracle: R. Buckminster Fuller']

* Buckminster Fuller discussed on [http://www.ibiblio.org/wunc_archives/sot/index.php?p=390 The State of Things]

* Buckminster Fuller discussed on [https://www.ibiblio.org/wunc_archives/sot/index.php?p=390 The State of Things]

* [http://207.99.102.199/node/109 Transcript of "Everything I Know"] -([http://web.archive.org/web/20061127205442sh_re_/http://207.99.102.199/node/109 Archived copy] at the [[Internet Archive]])

* [https://207.99.102.199/node/109 Transcript of "Everything I Know"] -([https://web.archive.org/web/20061127205442sh_re_/https://207.99.102.199/node/109 Archived copy] at the [[Internet Archive]])

* [http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-69-100-532/life_society/expo_67/clip7 CBC Archives - clip about United States Pavilion at Expo 67]

* [https://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-69-100-532/life_society/expo_67/clip7 CBC Archives - clip about United States Pavilion at Expo 67]

* [http://biographylist.com/buckminster-fuller/biography Buckminster Fuller Biography]

* [https://biographylist.com/buckminster-fuller/biography Buckminster Fuller Biography]

* [http://collections.stanford.edu/bucky/ Buckminster Fuller Digital Collection at Stanford] includes 380 hrs. of streamed audio-visual material from Fuller's personal archive

* [https://collections.stanford.edu/bucky/ Buckminster Fuller Digital Collection at Stanford] includes 380 hrs. of streamed audio-visual material from Fuller's personal archive

* [http://creativity.com/various/bucky.html Buckminster Fuller: Grandfather Of The Future]

* [https://creativity.com/various/bucky.html Buckminster Fuller: Grandfather Of The Future]

* [http://fuller.nullinator.net/stories/141 A Fuller Explanation Introduction into the Design Revolution]

* [https://fuller.nullinator.net/stories/141 A Fuller Explanation Introduction into the Design Revolution]

* [http://memeticdrift.net/bucky/index.html The "Everything I Know" 42-hour lecture session] — video, audio, and full transcripts.

* [https://memeticdrift.net/bucky/index.html The "Everything I Know" 42-hour lecture session] — video, audio, and full transcripts.

* [http://shop.usps.com/cgi-bin/vsbv/postal_store_non_ssl/display_products/productDetail.jsp?OID=4849106 Information about Fuller's commemorative postage stamp]

* [https://shop.usps.com/cgi-bin/vsbv/postal_store_non_ssl/display_products/productDetail.jsp?OID=4849106 Information about Fuller's commemorative postage stamp]

* [http://www.bfi.org/ The Buckminster Fuller Institute]

* [https://www.bfi.org/ The Buckminster Fuller Institute]

** [http://www.bfi.org/audio/ Directory of Audio and Video real streams from the Buckminster Fuller Institute]

** [https://www.bfi.org/audio/ Directory of Audio and Video real streams from the Buckminster Fuller Institute]

* [http://www.buckminster.info/ Buckminster Fuller Virtual Institute]

* [https://www.buckminster.info/ Buckminster Fuller Virtual Institute]

* [http://www.cjfearnley.com/buckyrefs.html Chris Fearnley's List of Buckminster Fuller Resources on the Internet]

* [https://www.cjfearnley.com/buckyrefs.html Chris Fearnley's List of Buckminster Fuller Resources on the Internet]

* [http://www.cjfearnley.com/fuller-faq.html FAQ — R. Buckminster Fuller]

* [https://www.cjfearnley.com/fuller-faq.html FAQ — R. Buckminster Fuller]

* [http://www.futurehi.net/docs/OperatingManual.html Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth]

* [https://www.futurehi.net/docs/OperatingManual.html Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth]

* [http://www.grunch.net/synergetics/ Synergetics on the Web]

* [https://www.grunch.net/synergetics/ Synergetics on the Web]

* [http://www.hfmgv.org/dymaxion/ The Dymaxion house at the Henry Ford museum]

* [https://www.hfmgv.org/dymaxion/ The Dymaxion house at the Henry Ford museum]

* [http://www.lazyreader.com/blog/index.php/archives/169 The Buckminster Alternative] Fuller's life as a lesson in living

* [https://www.lazyreader.com/blog/index.php/archives/169 The Buckminster Alternative] Fuller's life as a lesson in living

* [http://www.newciv.org/worldtrans/whole/bucky.html Fuller, R. Buckminster] — includes list of books written by and about Fuller

* [https://www.newciv.org/worldtrans/whole/bucky.html Fuller, R. Buckminster] — includes list of books written by and about Fuller

* [http://www.olats.org/pionniers/pp/buckminster/buckminster.php Buckminster Fuller at Pionniers & Précurseurs. Containing a good bibliography]

* [https://www.olats.org/pionniers/pp/buckminster/buckminster.php Buckminster Fuller at Pionniers & Précurseurs. Containing a good bibliography]

* [http://www.roger.kisd.de/197.0.html?&L=1 Excellent Portrait of RBF in the design magazine ROGER]

* [https://www.roger.kisd.de/197.0.html?&L=1 Excellent Portrait of RBF in the design magazine ROGER]

* [http://www.rwgrayprojects.com/rbfnotes/toc.html Notes to R. Buckminster Fuller's Work]

* [https://www.rwgrayprojects.com/rbfnotes/toc.html Notes to R. Buckminster Fuller's Work]

** [http://www.rwgrayprojects.com/synergetics/toc/toc.html Buckminster Fuller's SYNERGETICS]

** [https://www.rwgrayprojects.com/synergetics/toc/toc.html Buckminster Fuller's SYNERGETICS]

* [http://www.thirteen.org/bucky R. Buckminster Fuller on PBS]

* [https://www.thirteen.org/bucky R. Buckminster Fuller on PBS]

** [http://www.thirteen.org/cgi-bin/bucky-bin/bucky.cgi Thinking Out Loud, a PBS TV program about Buckminster Fuller]

** [https://www.thirteen.org/cgi-bin/bucky-bin/bucky.cgi Thinking Out Loud, a PBS TV program about Buckminster Fuller]

* [http://www.tomdevine.net/bucky.html Bucky Revisited] - Reflections on Buckminster Fuller

* [https://www.tomdevine.net/bucky.html Bucky Revisited] - Reflections on Buckminster Fuller

* [http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2004/07/64155 WIRED article about Buckminster Fuller]

* [https://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2004/07/64155 WIRED article about Buckminster Fuller]

* [http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,64155,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_5 Wired News Article on the Buckminster stamp]

* [https://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,64155,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_5 Wired News Article on the Buckminster stamp]

* [http://www.zometool.com/ Build Genius: Zome System]

* [https://www.zometool.com/ Build Genius: Zome System]

* [http://www.weareallastronauts.com/ We are all astronauts. a random design project] A website about Buckminster Fullers theories - made by the multimedia studio ''urbn; interaction''.

* [https://www.weareallastronauts.com/ We are all astronauts. a random design project] A website about Buckminster Fullers theories - made by the multimedia studio ''urbn; interaction''.

* [http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/06/09/080609fa_fact_kolbert Dymaxion Man: The Visions of Buckminster Fuller] By Elizabeth Kolbert, ''[[The New Yorker]]'' (June 9, 2008)

* [https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/06/09/080609fa_fact_kolbert Dymaxion Man: The Visions of Buckminster Fuller] By Elizabeth Kolbert, ''[[The New Yorker]]'' (June 9, 2008)

*[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/arts/music/15ster.html?_r=3&oref=slogin%20%3Chttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/arts/music/15ster.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin The Love Song of R. Buckminster Fuller] New York Times article questioning Fuller's supposed consideration of suicide, (June 15, 2008)

*[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/arts/music/15ster.html?_r=3&oref=slogin%20%3Chttps://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/arts/music/15ster.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin The Love Song of R. Buckminster Fuller] New York Times article questioning Fuller's supposed consideration of suicide, (June 15, 2008)

* [http://www.whitney.org/www/buckminster_fuller/about.jsp Buckminster Fuller: Starting with the Universe], a retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art, June 26-Sept 21, 2008

* [https://www.whitney.org/www/buckminster_fuller/about.jsp Buckminster Fuller: Starting with the Universe], a retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art, June 26-Sept 21, 2008

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: Biography]]

[[Category: Biography]]