How to Design a Geodesic Dome

Geodesic domes can be as big or small as you like.

Buckminster Fuller was the first to coin the term geodesic dome in the mid 20th century. The domes are made up of a series of triangles, in a lattice of interlocking icosahedrons, with each section's weight being born on the structure as a whole, producing a very stable dome. The framework consists of only three different lengths of struts. Varying these lengths, can increase or decrease the overall size of the dome. The Epcot Center is an example of a geodesic dome.

Things You'll Need

• 90 plastic straws 7¾ inches long
• 85 plastic straws 7½ inches long
• 80 plastic straws 6½ inches long
• 76 small brad fasteners

Instructions

1. Punch a small hole at either end of all the straws to allow for the fasteners to be connected easily.

2. Create six pentagons by connecting the ends of five of the shortest straws together, and fasten using a brad fastener at the center of the pentagon. This will look like a star, with the fastener in the middle and five straws radiating outward to form the pentagon figure. Make six of these and set aside.

3. Make fifteen hexagons by connecting the ends of the longest straws together, and fasten using a brad fastener at the center of the hexagon. These will also look like a star, with the fastener in the middle and six straws radiating outward to form the hexagon figure. Make fifteen of these and set aside.

4. Connect five hexagons to each side of one pentagon using one medium sized straw to join the sides together. Use brad fasteners for this.

5. Connect the other five remaining pentagons using medium length straws to the outside edges of your now partial dome.

6. Connect the remaining ten hexagons to the outside of this structure using the medium length straws.

Tips & Warnings

• Change the lengths by equal factors (multiply or divide all lengths evenly) to change the size of the dome.

References

• Sci-toys: A Geodesic Dome
• By Example: Geodesic Dome Calculator