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Shelters
The greatest costs of rebuilding after the disasters goes to the infrastructure and human shelter.The need is ever
more urgent to build self-help, emergency shelters which can become sustainable, permanent structures and are
more resistant to more disasters.
Eco-Shell
An EcoShell is a concrete, thin-shell dome whose construction process includes a relatively new technique
called Airforming.This technique uses an Airform that is made of a high-strength, high-tech fabric.
Eco-Shell
When inflated, the Airform, looking like a semi-rigid balloon, creates the EcoShell’s dome shape.In
industrialized nations, particularly those with temperate or cold climates, such as the United States, Canada
and Great Britain, the uninsulated EcoShell makes an ideal garage, small warehouse, grain storage, shed or
workshop.But in the developing world, most of which has a tropical or equatorial climate, the EcoShell can
provide permanent, secure, easily maintained and — most importantly — affordable housing.
Uses of Eco-Shells
The typical mud hut offers very little protection or stability in that type of climate.
Also, the excessive moisture in the huts causes an increased supply of bugs, snakes, disease
and sickness.
A Monolithic EcoShell, however, offers hurricane protection and keeps residents dry during
the wet seasons.
Monolithic domes can withstand earthquakes and winds of up to 300kmh.
The Eco-Shell provides protection from hurricanes and infestation.
A standard mud hut measures 160 sft.
With an EcoShell, the concrete is applied to the exterior of an inflated airform.
The airform is removed after the concrete has set.
The Airform has been removed from the interior and workers get ready to apply another
layer of concrete on the inside.