OVERCUP BLOG — buckminster fuller

Though Buckminster Fuller is well known for his accomplishments in architecture and design, he explored quite a few inventions that never made waves… pun intended. This January 30th marks the anniversary of Bucky Fuller’s patent for the floating breakwater, a device that improved on a traditional design and offered a more efficient and environment-friendly option. Bucky’s patent may have never “splashed,” but that doesn’t mean we can’t admire its unique design. Those long, rocky belts that stretch across large bodies of water — that always get in the way of a good scenic photo — are called breakwaters. They’re built...

Father’s Day wasn’t declared an official nationwide holiday until 1972, which is 58 years after Mother’s Day found a spot on our calendars. So, unless you’ve been stalling for fifty-some-odd years, there’s no need to feel guilty if Dad’s present is a tad delayed. This year, you’d like to send a little something with that greeting card, but he’s already got a “World’s Greatest Dad” mug and a closet full of ties. Dads can be especially tricky to shop for. But don’t worry just yet! Check out some of our titles to see if one of these books will float Dad’s...

You may have thought today was an ordinary day. Little did you know, something extraordinary happened 57 years ago: a man with a dream took steps to make that dream a reality. The man? Buckminster Fuller. That dream? To make an underwater island. That’s right—on June 8, 1959, Buckminster Fuller filed his patent for his “Submarisle,” or “underwater island.” While this idea might seem outlandish, Fuller actually developed the idea for purely practical reasons: he wanted to develop a less expensive way to conduct offshore drilling. This “island” would be floating and fully submersible, attached to a fixed rig dug into...

On June 5th we’ll be celebrating World Environment Day. It’s the United Nations most important day to encourage worldwide awareness of environmental protection. It’s only fitting, then, that we take a look at some of the greatest--if underutilized--energy-saving ideas created by Buckminster Fuller. Geodesic Domes   When you think of Bucky Fuller, you think of the dome. What really appealed to Bucky was the fact that a geodesic dome’s interlocking triangular beams were far stronger than their rectangular counterparts. When you apply pressure to one side of a rectangle it buckles under the weight and folds in on itself. A...