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Engineering

Constructing the Tessellated Geodesic Dome and Its Structural Efficiency

Quick fact

The geodesic dome, popularized by Buckminster Fuller, encloses more volume per unit surface area than any other shape, and its triangulated lattice distributes stress so evenly that it can be built from lightweight struts that are a fraction of the weight of a traditional building's frame.

Why this is interesting

Imagine a building that looks like a giant ball of interlocking triangles, able to span enormous distances without any interior pillars. How can such a shape be so efficient?