MATH 7210 : Foundations of Geometry II

University of Georgia, Spring 2001

Dr. McCrory, Instructor


Spherical Symmetry


Examples of spherical symmetry in architecture are rare because humans must walk on horizontal planes. Most architecture that exhibits spherical symmetry does not utilize a whole sphere but is built to appear spherical by using other shapes.

Resource: Williams, Kim (1998). Symmetry in Architecture. (http://turing.mi.ssau.ac.yu/vismath/kim/)


Example 1: US Pavilion at Expo '67

Location: Montreal, Canada

Architects: Buckminster Fuller and Shoji Sadao

Building Type: Exhibition hall

Symmetry: The exhibition hall was built to resemble a sphere by using interlocking triangles.

Resource: GreatBuildings.com (http://www.GreatBuildings.com/buildings/US_Pavilion_at_Expo_67.html)


Example 2: Newton's Cenotaph

Location: Never built

Designer: E.L. Boulee

Building Type: Monument

Symmetry: This monument could never be built because it contains a perfect sphere!

Resource: ArtServe at Australian National University (http://panoptic2.anu.edu.au/search/cache.cgi?collection=anu-crawled-external&doc=http://rubens.anu.edu.au/htdocs/surveys/modarch/byarch/display00055.html)


Example 3: Spaceship Earth at Epcot Center

Location: Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Architect: ???

Building Type: Exhibition and ride

Symmetry: The outer shell of the ride was built using triangles.

Resource: Disneytyme.com (http://disneytyme.com/Epcot.html)


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