Bed Quote by R. Buckminster Fuller
“Our beds are empty two-thirds of the time. Our living rooms are empty seven-eighths of the time. Our office buildings are empty one-half of the time. It's time we gave this some thought.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The World of Tomorrow, 1969
Many spaces remain unused for most of the day, indicating inefficiency in how we design and schedule environments.
In simple terms: Buildings are often empty for long periods.
Key Takeaway
Consider redesigning spaces for flexible use.
Themes
efficiency
urban planning
resource use
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
observational
strategic
When to use this quote
- office scheduling
- co‑working spaces
- urban policy
- real‑estate investment
- public transport planning
Key Concepts
spatial economics
occupancy patterns
Questions to Reflect On
- How could we redesign spaces to serve multiple purposes?
- What incentives could encourage shared use of underused areas?
A Different Perspective
Empty periods may be unavoidable due to personal schedules and demand variability.
![“Leave a cavity behind the [wall] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick or lava in courses, and then bind them to the fronts by means of iron clamps and lead. The beds and builds, all settling equally and bonded at the joints, will not let…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d76/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_bed_leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-a_5922.jpg)
