This Fatal Flaw Led to the Decline in the Popularity of Dome Homes

Dome homes were all the rage in the 1970s because they laughed in the face of traditional home design in a time when defiance was considered cool. They were also cost effective and looked futuristic, too.

But the shape of these dome homes had a fatal flaw that ultimately led to their decline in popularity across America.

Some Dome Home Remnants Have Survived

There are a couple of dome homes still present in Trinidad, Colorado, that serve as a reminder of a time when these geodesic shaped dwellings were popular. But their exteriors fell into a a state of disarray. And most people would think twice before calling these shelters home.

But that wasn’t always the case.

Everyone Wanted to Embrace Traditional Living

Back in the 1970s, people in their 20s and 30s were craving traditional living, which led many to migrate from the city to a remote countryside with practically no belongings. They were known as Droppers, and their goal was to live a simpler life.

They Wanted a Structure That Reflected Who They Were

Planting and growing food was an easy alternative to conventional supermarkets. But these bold pioneers still needed shelters. And yet, they wanted something that looked nothing like the homes they grew up in.

“We wanted to create a structure that didn’t remind us of anything — a new kind of space in which to create new selves,” said one person.

They Built Basic Shelters

Many of these people had no idea how to build a home from scratch, so a lot of the early structures were similar to yurts. However, the Droppers felt that there was room for improvement. Fortunately, one visionary named Buckminster Fuller, came up with a plan a few decades earlier.