Biosphère 3D model
A free, print-ready model of the Biosphère in Montreal, Canada. Download it on its own with a name plate, or print it standing on the real terrain around it.
- Location
- Montreal, Canada
- Height
- 62 m
- Completed
- 1967
- Designed by
- R. Buckminster Fuller
- Also known as
- Biosphère, Montreal Biosphere
- Print size
- 147 × 147 × 120 mm at the default height
- Supports
- None needed
About the Biosphère
Buckminster Fuller designed this geodesic sphere as the United States pavilion for Expo 67. It is 76 m across and 62 m tall, and today it houses an environment museum.
What the model includes
The faceted sphere, which reads as Fuller's geodesic lattice, on its base.
It is built from simple closed solids, so it slices cleanly and stands flat. In the download window you can set the height from 30 to 250 mm and add a base plate with the name in raised letters. The mesh has about 370 triangles, small enough to open in any slicer.
Print the Biosphère on its real terrain
Map data stores most buildings as a flat outline with a height, so the Biosphère would normally print as a plain block. In TerraPrinter, this model takes its place automatically. It is turned to match the outline in the map data and stands on the real elevation, with the streets, water and buildings around it.
More 3D landmarks
Questions
Is the Biosphère 3D model free?
Yes. You can download the Biosphère as an STL or 3MF for free, without an account, and print it as many times as you like.
What size should I print the Biosphère?
At the default height of 120 mm it measures 147 × 147 × 120 mm. Pick any height from 30 to 250 mm before downloading. Thin parts like spires and antennas print better at 100 mm and up on a 0.4 mm nozzle.
Do I need supports?
No. The model stands flat on its base and prints upright without supports.
Can I print the Biosphère with the city around it?
Yes. "Print on its terrain" opens TerraPrinter with the area around the Biosphère selected. When you generate the model, this landmark replaces the plain block from the map data and stands on the real terrain with the surrounding streets and buildings.