http://www.hfmgv.org/dymaxion/Henry Ford Museum Buckminster Fuller Dymaxion House Exhibit
FAQ:
Why is the Dymaxion House made of aluminum?
This was the newest of the alloys at the time and was strong and light enough to be easily disassembled and moved. Bucky wanted his houses to be mass-produced, easily shipped, hygienic, and able to stand up to a Kansas tornado. Aluminum provided for all of these criteria and was already used on the aircraft assembly lines, allowing for easy transition after the war from airplane production to Dymaxion House production.