The skin is gone, the frame remains

 The Montreal Biosphere, designed by Buckminster Fuller for Expo 67, faced a dramatic transformation in 1976 when a fire consumed its acrylic skin. This image captures the sphere engulfed in flames, with the steel geodesic framework enduring the intense blaze—a testament to Fuller’s structurally efficient design. Though the fire marked the end of the dome’s original state, its exposed framework took on a new visual identity, emphasizing transparency and geometric precision. Today, the Biosphere stands as an environmental museum, symbolizing resilience and Fuller’s enduring vision of sustainable design.