Dymaxion house

The Dymaxion house was developed by inventor and architect Buckminster Fuller to address several perceived shortcomings with existing homebuilding techniques.

During World War II, the U.S. Army commissioned Fuller to send these housing units to the Persian Gulf.

In most modern houses, laundry, showers and commodes are the major water uses, with drinking, cooking and dish-washing consuming less than 20 liters per day.

The Dymaxion house was intended to reduce water use by a greywater system, a packaging commode, and a "fogger" to replace showers.

Other features worked as advertised, notably the heating, and the passive air conditioning system, based on the "dome effect".

One bubble contained a step-up ergonomic bathtub and shower, high enough to wash children without stooping, but just two steps (16 inches / 40 cm) up.

[5] The large wrap-around windows and lightweight structures were popular with the children, who crawled on the windowsill, and twanged the bicycle-wheel-style main struts.

Fuller chose aluminium for its light weight, great strength, and long-term durability, arguably factors that compensate for the initial production cost.

Aluminum was also a logical choice if the homes were to be built in aircraft factories, which, since World War II had ended, had substantial excess capacity.

The Wichita House was a project Fuller accepted during World War II as an attempt to produce cost-effective dwellings for everyone.

The project continued to develop the technological concept of the Dymaxion house, now incorporating a round floor plan instead of a hexagonal one.