
1895-1983
Inventive architect and visionary designer
Published: September 16, 2025
He was born in Milton, Massachusetts, in 1895.
He attended Harvard University but was expelled twice. Much of his expertise came from experimentation, self-study, and hands-on design.
Fuller coined 'Dymaxion' as a brand name for his projects to suggest dynamic maximum efficiency—a blend evoking energy, scale, and structural tension.
'Spaceship Earth' was Fuller’s idea that Earth is a shared vessel with limited resources; it became a key phrase in his calls for global design and stewardship.
Notable places include the Montreal Biosphère (the U.S. pavilion at Expo 67) and exhibits or archives held by design museums and the Buckminster Fuller Institute.
Yes. Fuller obtained patents for several of his designs, including aspects of his domes and Dymaxion projects.
Yes. His thinking shaped environmental design, systems thinking, and sustainable technology—impacting planners, designers, and environmental movements.
Read his book 'Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth' or visit the Buckminster Fuller Institute online for summaries and projects.
A well-known quote: 'You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model.' It captures his emphasis on creative solutions.