History of Pacific Domes

“Necessity is the Mother of invention”

R. Buckminster Fuller: In the 1940’s, inventor, architect, engineer, mathematician and cosmologist, R. Buckminster Fuller set his intention to solve mankind’s housing problem. Through replicating “nature’s own co-ordinate system” found in all spheres from planets to molecules, and through the understanding that gravitational forces are spherical (not linear), the geodesic dome was born. His designs superseded the structural integrity of any architectural structure yet made. In 1970, the American Institute of Architects awarded “Bucky” a gold metal, acclaiming the geodesic dome as “the strongest, lightest and most efficient means of enclosing space known to man”.

Pacific High school: In 1969 a dome building project began to house 60 students and teachers at an “alternative” high school in the California hills. Utilizing Bucky’s designs, 17 domes were made, experimenting with as many materials as possible; plywood, aluminum, sheet metal, fiberglass, Ferro-cement, cedar shingles, asphalt shingles, and even nitrogen-inflated vinyl pillows. This project became a focus for the counterculture’s dome building movement of the late ’60s/’70s.

The Domebooks: By 1970 it was obvious that there was enough interest and information to compose a publication about dome building. The Whole Earth Catalog’s production facility was utilized to create Domebook One and later, in 1971, Domebook 2. These books birthed a global movement utilizing Bucky’s dome technology. In 1973, Shelter was compiled. It is a “how to book” on hand built housing, with a chapter called Domebook 3. Some of the people from Pacific High school were also involved in the manifestation of the Domebooks.

Pacific Domes: In 1979, Madre Grande Monastery in Southern California had a shelter need for its members. A dozen domes were made, using steel tubing and sail cloth covers. As the beautiful setting was in the high mountains, windows for view and woodstove outlets were designed into the covers creating an ideal shelter system. A year later many of us moved to Southern Oregon. As the domes were successful and the back to land movement still strong, in 1980 a business was born! Over the past years, the need for larger and larger domes has maintained a constant growth. The larger domes have opened up the uses to include both shelters and Event structures. Due to the extreme portability, Pacific Domes are the strongest portable structure known to man. Thanks to the internet, this technology is spreading around the globe.