GOING DOME
T
here are many types of greenhouses
to choose from, but geodesic domeshaped structures offer many benefits
over other styles. Geodesic domes
are created by connecting triangles
together in a dome shape, using precise
angles and measurements.
Geodesic domes earned their spot
in the limelight back in the 1940s and
50s when Buckminster Fuller first
started playing with them. Fuller was
a mathematician, engineer, philosopher, historian, and poet. He saw the
value in geodesic domes and envisioned a future where people lived in
domes rather than rectangular homes.
Although Fuller’s vision hasn’t come
to fruition, we can take his knowledge and use it in our gardens as the
same benefits he saw for housing also
apply to greenhouses.
Strength of Triangles
The No.1 benefit of the geodesic dome
structure is the strength of the dome.
They are much stronger than rectangular buildings and have been known
to survive hurricanes, tornadoes, and
earthquakes. No internal supports are
needed because the triangles distribute
weight evenly throughout the structure.
Triangles are the strongest shape there
is. This can be seen by nailing four
boards together to form a rec