The Fuller Dome Preservation Project
The Fuller Dome is the original geodesic dome home or R. Buckminster Fuller. It is the only geodesic dome he ever called home. He assembled the dome home in Carbondale, IL in 1960 and lived there with his wife Anne for over a decade. Bucky has some very good years in Carbondale, with many of his most significant achievements happening during that time. His most enduring legacy is of course the geodesic dome which today is still considered one of the strongest and most efficient structures known to man. There is a new appreciation of Buckminster Fuller, and for good reason. Many of his ideas and beliefs were not fully appreciated during his lifetime and that is often the case with those that truly "re-think" the world around them. Bucky led the way in "re-thinking" design in our world, to benefit all of humanity. His approach begins with the universe! He gave us "spaceship earth" and "synergy." This is the home of a man that the world still has much to learn from and we can't afford to lose it! The is the artifact of a "re-thinker" who presented artifacts as solutions and we need all the inspiration possible to create more solutions today. This is quite possibly the most important Buckminster Fuller artifact in the world! Please help us save it. We received a matching grant from the Save America's Treasures program in 2011. We must raise $50,000 by the end of April to proceed with the project as planned. The restoration architect, Thad Heckman has completed a masterful plan that is being approved by the National Park Service. A representation of our plan was recently awarded the Holland Prize, a national honor that recognizes the best single-sheet drawing of a restoration/preservation plan in the United States and preserves it in the Library of Congress. All that we are lacking to complete our project is the cash to make it happen. The $10,000 and ensuing exposure could be our "trim-tab" (to use a Bucky term), it could mean everything, the very difference between success or failure! Equally as important is the very idea of "re-thinking" preservation. The dome home of Buckminster Fuller is probably unlike any historical preservation project, because we don't generally associate what was "the modern" with the historical. But guess what, we're here! The dome was added to the National Register of historic places and was named one of Illinois most endangered historic landmarks. We believe that once the dome is restored it will easily qualify for national landmark status. Another reason to choose the Fuller dome for the ideal "re-thinking" preservation project is for what it means to our region and city. Our goal is to prove that preservation is sustainable development. Carbondale has one of the lowest median incomes in the United States. Our economic engine is the university and with the faltering state system doling out budget cuts, we've really felt it in the "heartland." One of the biggest growing economies surrounding us comes from tourism generated by the national forest and the wine industry. Southern Illinois is home to an every expanding number of wineries that draw thousands every year. We have every reason to believe that our dome can be a successful home museum attracting many to see it. We have a five year plan that adds a welcoming and interpretive center. This has the potential to have a major economic impact, not to mention the wealth of inspiration and information that comes from learning about Buckminster Fuller. If Buckminster Fuller's geodesic dome home doesn't epitomize the "re-thinking" of preservation, then I don't know what does! The timing is so important as winning this would ensure that we can begin on time and not run the risk of losing our matching grant. We must finish the restoration by the end of 2012 and if we begin in May we can finish the first and biggest phase within two months. A very generous time estimate of the entire restoration is 6 months. Please help us reach or financial goal so we can confidently begin the most important work. The house is located at 407 South Forest Ave. in Carbondale, IL We receive mail at: The Fuller Dome Home / P.O. Box 1261 / Carbondale, IL 62903 Below I shared my personal address for the sake of registration. Thank you.
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