R. Buckminster Fuller and Anne Hewlett Dome Home

The Carbondale geodesic dome that was Fuller's only owned home.

The R. Buckminster Fuller and Anne Hewlett Dome Home, at 407 S. Forest Ave. in Carbondale, Illinois, is a geodesic dome house that served as Buckminster Fuller's residence from 1960 to 1971 while he taught at Southern Illinois University. It holds a singular place in his life: it was the only geodesic dome Fuller ever lived in, and the only property he ever owned. Designed and built by Al Miller of the Pease Woodworking Company, it was among the first geodesic dome residences ever constructed, making the house a domestic proof of the building form Fuller had spent his career popularizing.

The Carbondale years were among Fuller's most productive. While living in the dome, he was awarded nine patents, published eleven books, and designed the Montreal Biosphère — the United States Pavilion for Expo 67 and one of his most celebrated works.

The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 9, 2006. It is now stewarded by RBF Dome NFP, a non-profit dedicated to honoring Fuller's legacy, preserving his artifacts, and providing programming in the spirit of his hope for "omni-successful education and sustenance for all of humanity." An exterior preservation of the deteriorating structure was completed in late 2014.

See Also

• R. Buckminster Fuller (R. Buckminster Fuller) — the central figure
• Anne Hewlett Fuller (Anne Hewlett Fuller) — Fuller's wife, for whom the home is co-named
• Southern Illinois University (Southern Illinois University) — where Fuller taught during the Carbondale years
• Montreal Biosphere (Montreal Biosphere) — designed while he lived in the dome

Sources

• R. Buckminster Fuller and Anne Hewlett Dome Home