DARMSTADT, Germany — R. Buckminster Fuller, the American architect who designed the domes that shelter Distant Early Warning (DEW) radar enclosures, talked to more than 500 architects, engineers and students at the Technische Hochschule (University) here.

Fuller, a research professor at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, is touring Germany, lecturing on his concept of design.

The Russian Trade Fair at Moscow used Fuller's dome design for housing the International exhibits, and Saarbruecken, Germany, staged a flower show under a Fuller dome last year and attracted 1.5 million visitors.

Among the geodesic domes developed by Fuller is a light, hemispheric shelter of triangular units, metal framed and plastic covered. Houses or other areas for human use can be arranged beneath it with complete freedom. Other domes are made of steel and concrete.

In his Darmstadt talk Fuller noted a need for individual responsibility in world affairs.

"I feel the world is now making a great mistake in expecting its political leades to get it out of trouble," he said.

"Leaders are chosen for relatively short periods and can work out problems for only short periods. We must not expect it of them nor condemn them for failure in this respect."

Fuller's lecture itinerary includes Dortmund, Kassel, Saarbruecken, Berlin, Essen, Munich, Nuernberg, and Hamburg. Helmut Borcherdt of Munich travels with Fuller as interpreter.

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