The two articles on Fuller, 'Fuller's House' and 'Where is Prefabrication', a solution for lower income housing through mass produced prefabricated houses is the main theme.
In 'Prefabrication' an overview of companies in the industry is detailed, and problems existing within the many tiered system from design, sales, to production are discussed. The question of new materials (steel, cement, different metals) and whether or not it would be plausible or beneficial to anyone considering their high costs have a place in the prefabricated house industry is present.
In 'Fuller's house' we read a convincing article on 'Bucky's' Dymaxion house which explains it's imagined socially beneficial possibilities. This article tells of the 'genius' triumphs and trials and the imagineering of Buckminster Fuller. 'Where is Prefabrication' focuses on the point of the salesman and the businessman selling a good home and image to every 'joe and minnie'. The article details struggles between Gunnison and architects and the company and a labour union.
I presonally really admire Fuller's tensegrity theory and the way he uses not form but structure and material as primary inspiration. Although his house has a very modernized perhaps modernistic aesthetic and function it still abides by the single home family urban design plan. 'Prefabrication' discusses the lack of popularity among ultra modern home designs IN SALES in part because of mortgage brokers unwilling to lend money to homes potentially unsellable in the future.
I see the desire in Fuller to create something accessible to anyone (location permitted) and theoretical integrity but it misses the mark.
Was resistance from the manufacturers and mortgage brokers the creator of ultimate failure? Could it have been a success through manipulation and corporate branding and funding?
How can we classify Fuller's house? As Modernist? Modernistic?
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