o my prophetic soul
I'm generally not in the business of repeating myself, but this seems an appropriate point to do so.
The world needs earthquake-resistant, hurricane-resistant and flood-resistant housing more than ever.
The basic construction technique involves filling sandbags with earth and laying them in circular courses that are corbelled near the top to form a dome. Barbed wire laid between courses prevents the sandbags from shifting and provides earthquake resistance. Ironically, it is the materials of war - sandbags and barbed wire - that bind together traditional earth architecture with contemporary safety requirements.
The system uses the timeless forms of arches, domes, and vaults to create single and double-curvature shell structures that are both strong and beautiful. In addition to providing earthquake resistance, the aerodynamic form resists hurricanes. The use of sandbags aids flood resistance, and the earth itself provides insulation and fireproofing.
From http://www.architectureweek.com/2004/1201/news_1-3.html
Original post is here: http://www.livejournal.com/users/rekraft/89366.html
The world needs earthquake-resistant, hurricane-resistant and flood-resistant housing more than ever.
The basic construction technique involves filling sandbags with earth and laying them in circular courses that are corbelled near the top to form a dome. Barbed wire laid between courses prevents the sandbags from shifting and provides earthquake resistance. Ironically, it is the materials of war - sandbags and barbed wire - that bind together traditional earth architecture with contemporary safety requirements.
The system uses the timeless forms of arches, domes, and vaults to create single and double-curvature shell structures that are both strong and beautiful. In addition to providing earthquake resistance, the aerodynamic form resists hurricanes. The use of sandbags aids flood resistance, and the earth itself provides insulation and fireproofing.
From http://www.architectureweek.com/2004/1201/news_1-3.html
Original post is here: http://www.livejournal.com/users/rekraft/89366.html