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ASAKUSA CAPSULE HOTEL I guess these sleeping units would be OK for very short over-night stays, but bad for long run living. But anyway, here is one of the latest ideas for a "irregular shelter". This concept reminds me of a honey comb in a bee hive.

“It’s possible to travel on a shoe-string in Japan because you can save heaps by staying in those "capsule hotels" – where there won't be any room service but self-capsule service. The capsule, neat & clean, usually in dimension of 3x3x6ft is all that is needed for you staying overnight in the middle of Tokyo.

Apart from the air-ticket fare, the bulk of the travelling expenses goes towards accommodation. Such accommodation is modestly clean & safe. For 3200 Yen (about $30) you get a bed in a capsule cell, a capsule box incorporating TV/Radio & controls for volume, light switches. The facilities as provided by the hotel include inexpensive restaurant, massage rooms & baths. Washing/bathing & toiletries being all external & separate may be somewhat inconvenient. At the entrance, you will told that you are expected to stay in until check-out time. They give you a suit of inner wear & a locker key. Most of these hotels accommodate male only, with the exception of some which have women-only floor. $29 is so cheap compared to what is usually charged $120 – $200 for a 3-star hotel in Japan. Asakusa Capsule Hotel in Tokyo charges $30 for a capsule with a small TV incorporated with the alarm clock, Radio in a capsule box. In Beijing, China the idea of the capsule-type of accommodation, known appropriately as "Capsule Apartments" has been introduced at the 2010 Spring Real Estate Fair recently. The new living spaces have attracted many people's attention. Some say that they meet the demands of graduates who are not rich enough to rent a bigger suite. Hopefully, they would alleviate the problem of accommodating those millions of migrant workers who can ill-afford more expensive housing. Each unit is less than 2 square meters and can only fit a single bed.”
Japanese Site
CAPSULE HOTEL Oh, i think these are really converted "Oil Rig Escape Pods" being used for housing. Their proper name is: "Brucker Survival Capsules". Pretty cool idea, huh? Click on the picture at the right to view the best images of these pods.

“Capsule hotel project is the result from the research based on the recycle and reuse of waste materials. The architect’s plan was to travel over Europe by boat in search of local wastes that can be turned into re-usable objects. An enclosed boat is used as a base of this project. The designer from REFUNC was fascinated with the "real" industrial stuff and chose the survival (pods) capsules which were affordable. These capsules were the main theme idea of the project. This gives the visitors a clear idea of the director’s vision. This capsule is now reused as a hotel and serves as a base station in creating the floating communities using neglected materials. Capsule Hotel serves as a solution for the water, waste as well as a floating island from the neglected things. This is now a valuable commodity in the Netherlands. The architect is now working on four capsules and a huge reception pod that will be functioning as a refunc-unit in the future, we're excited to see capsule hotel near our place.”
Contact Form • Facebook Page • Dutch Site
THE THIRTEEN DOLLAR HOUSE This is probably the lowest cost to build home i have ever seen. It is located near a small town called Jefferson, Colorado in Park County, Colorado. This listing is from "Amanda Kovattana" her blog. To view this special item, scroll down the page on her blog to about 3/4 approximately. Click on the picture at the right to see a much larger view of this little cabin.

“His own house on this homestead defied all kinds of rules. It didn't even have a door. To get in, you climbed into one of the windows and down a little ladder to the below ground cement floor. Not recommended for monsoon countries, like Thailand, Peggy cautioned. They called their house "The Thirteen Dollar House" because that's all it cost to build. One side of it was bermed with earth. The roof was plywood scraps covered with plastic, then cob. On our last day we would paint it with a beeswax and linseed oil mixture for further waterproofing. The remaining sides were faced with salvaged windows. There was a sleeping loft. Tomato plants were growing in the window. Several trays of sunflower seeds sprouted on the desk. It was a green house for sleeping in. Luckily, it was too small to be the concern of building inspectors.”
akovattana@yahoo.com • Profile Page
THE CLOSED LOOP HOME Heidi Allen is a woman with many artistic and industrial interests and this listing here is one of them. She told me this is a project that she works on several times a year or i probably should say she updates, modifies, adds to this page several times a year.

So it is an ongoing, not complete project that has enough good information to make it acceptable for this website.

“This page is an outline of my ideas for a nearly disaster-proof, completely self-sustaining (closed loop) residence. Also included are my thoughts on the power and water systems, and other components, like heating, cooling, refrigeration and even appropriate furniture. This is rough draft, just to get it online. Several of the goals listed below relate to my desire to be able to build a home with very minimal impact on the rest of the property's environment. For example, if large vehicles were needed to move the pre-assembled components, trees would have to be cut, which is particularly undesirable in the marginal environments where this home would do the most good. The last goal relates to the effects of architecture, lighting, air quality and other factors on the subconscious of the residents. I want the indoor atmosphere to simultaneously relax and invigorate the mind and body . . .”

My goals are a residence:
- That is an inexpensive kit home
- That can be built easily and quickly
- Whose components fit in a pickup truck (multiple trips)
- Whose pre-assembly components are lightweight
- Most of which can be assembled without bulky machinery
- That can be finished out with local & green materials
- That is essentially disaster proof
- That generates its own power, water & food
- That recycles or otherwise handles its own waste
- That efficiently uses space
- That's handicapped accessible; IE, is a lifetime home
- That has a positive effect on the human psyche
Heidi Allen • heidi@heidiallen.com
SLEEPBOX Here's a great idea long over due. These are truly 'Irregular Shelters'. These sleep boxes seem like a good idea, but keeping them sanitary might be a problem. If people will use the public toilets close by i am sure these could be nice. Interesting idea, but they will have to have some kind of janitorial / sanitation service to check each unit as it is vacated for the next occupant.

“Imagine the situation that you are in the modern metropolis, where you are not a local resident, and you have not booked a hotel. It is not comfortable situation, because in the modern, aggressive cities there are no opportunity to rest and relax. If you want to sleep, while waiting your plane or train, it may cause many security and hygiene problems.

We believe that urban infrastructure should be more comfortable for people. For this purpose we have developed a device SLEEPBOX. It provides moments of quiet sleep and rest from the city without wasting time searching for a hotel. Here are the possible locations for SLEEPBOX: Railroad stations, Airports, Expocentres, Public and shopping centers, Accommodation facilities. In countries with warm climate SLEEPBOX can be used on the streets. Thanks to SLEEPBOX any person has an opportunity to spend the night safely and cheaply in case of emergency, or when you have to spend few hours with your baggage. SLEEPBOX is a small mobile space (box) 2mx1.4mx2.3m (h). The main functional element in it is a bed 2x0.6 m., which is equipped with automatic system of change of bed linen. Bed is soft, flexible strip of foamed polymer with the surface of the pulp tissue. Tape is rewound from one shaft to another, changing the bed. If a client wants to sleep in maximum comfort, he can take the normal set of bed linen for an extra fee. SLEEPBOX is equipped with a ventilation system, sound alerts, built-in LCD TV, WiFi, sockets for a laptop, charging phones. Also under the lounges is a place for luggage. After the clients exit, automatic change of bed linen starts and quartz lamps turns on. Payment can be made on a shared terminal, which provides the client with an electronic key. It is possible to buy from 15 minutes to several hours. SLEEPBOX is intended primarily to perform one main function - to enable a person to sleep peacefully. But it can also be equipped with various additional functions, depending on the situation. Application of the device can be very broad, not only in the form of paid public service, but also for internal purposes of organizations and companies.”
Contact Form • Sleepbox Big Pic • Arch Group • info@sleepbox.com
TINY HOUSE BLOG This blog is about "Living Simply in Small Places". It is a very popular blog and has many followers. You will not be disappointed visiting this blog. Lots of great material for your perusal. Picture at the right is of an actual listing on the blog about a guy who made a home for himself on a lake with a homemade raft and tipi set-up. I have thought about doing something similar myself, but have not had the opportunity to implement my idea.

“My name is Kent Griswold and I have developed this blog because of my love of small spaces. I have always dreamed of having a cabin and have done research over the years. Tiny houses have also become an interest to me in the last few years and I have combined my interest in both of these to publish this blog.

The Tiny House Blog was established in May of 2007. The goal of the tiny house blog is to discover the different options available for a person looking to down size into a tiny house or cabin. I will be looking at different type of construction, from logs, to yurts to modern and the unusual. I will also do book reviews, look at alternate energy for heat and electricity. I also want to hear your story so please contact me with your pictures and your own experiences in living simply and small. I want to encourage feedback and ideas to make this an informative blog. Stories of people who are living this dream. Pictures of tiny houses and cabins, etc. My goal is to publish daily if possible. I've heard a lot of good things about living healthier in the new, downsized arrangement and less worries even with basic family health plans depending which state. Thank you for sharing in this experience with me. If you'd like to share your tiny house project on Tiny House Blog please send an email with your photos and a short write up.”
Contact Kent Griswold at: tinyhouseblog@gmail.com
THUNDERHOUSE Here's a really nice listing sent to me by the generosity of Mike Bynum of Sarasota County, FL. Thanks Mike. Here's a nice one for you. This little jewel of a cabin is from an article in the Mother Earth News August/September 2000 By Pete and Arlene Charest. It is extremely unique, i think because it was designed for a special purpose or conditions. Be sure to click on the link named "Image Gallery" for some detailed information about the specs of this cabin.

“Want to build your dream house for only $2,000? Pete and Arlene Charest's low-impact hideaway cabin provides the answer with their diamond shaped house. We'd had some experience toying with home design, as our livelihood came from selling customized barn and shed plans (a business that was to quickly boom for both of us). Eventually we became so busy that we needed a hideaway cabin to which we could flee during the cold winter months. Buying a secluded piece of Florida property and designing a functional, unique camp building to live in while planning a low-impact house became our focus. Pete built a scale model of a box tipped over on its edge, with one point up, one point down and poles supporting the other two. Everyone laughed when they saw the model sitting on our kitchen counter that fall (there were frequent comparisons to birdhouses), but their doubts disappeared as soon as they saw photos of the little camp we called "The Thunderhouse" that was taking form in the Florida woods . . .”
Winchester Center, CT • Phone: (203) 534-8771 • info@thunderhomes.com
LIVE IN A GREENHOUSE In my opinion, in many circumstances it is very good to set-up a tent in a larger shelter such as under a tarp or inside some other shelter. This idea presented here utilizes this principle of 'Double Housing' for extra protection from the changing weather conditions.

“Need a temporary, affordable, all-season, and comfortable dwelling? Try building a greenhouse with a tent inside. The idea stemmed from my love of modern backpacking tents. They use a 'floor-to-ceiling' rainfly that covers the tent.

The tents themselves are made primarily of screen to keep insects out and stay well ventilated. My rainflys are a greenhouse cover in the winter season, and an opaque, heavy-duty tarp (used billboard) in the summer months. Like most inventions, this was born out of necessity. I needed a dwelling that was temporary, but solid enough to withstand the harsh climate of northern Minnesota. I was saving to purchase my own piece of land, so the idea was to build something that could be disassembled and moved easily (being that I was squatting on family property). The project started as a canvas tent on a wooden platform, but quickly transformed into something completely unforeseen. I took inspiration from seeing hoop houses used as storage sheds, and the availability of a used billboard supplier in Minneapolis (Cedar Ave & E. 28th ST), not to mention the crazy, backwoods ideas of some good friends.”
Instructables.Com
WINKELMAN ARCHITECTURE Picture on the right is of one of their projects from their portfolio called: 'Short Bus Retro'. A comprehensive restoration of a 1959 Chevrolet Viking short bus. Designed to safely travel 12 passengers and driver on the road, it converts to guest quarters for two as two single beds or joined in the center as a queen. Complete with plumbing (toilet and sink) and power (120v and 12v).

“We are Maine based architects specializing exclusively in residential design. Our practice covers much of New England from the coast of Maine and it's islands to inland lakes and mountains, cities and towns, as well as Canada. Many clients are long-distance and project sites remote, requiring a versatile skill set and an appetite for challenges. The office is small to ensure a high degree of personal service. Our work is distinguished by a highly collaborative, craft driven and open-minded approach. Our personal attributes of patience, respect, attentiveness and care make us well suited for the unique demands of residential work. We find great joy in creating unique places for living, working and playing - as well as crafting many of the 'things' that make those places special. The body of our work speaks for itself: Please visit our updated portfolio page to explore.”
Winkelman Architecture • 41 Union Wharf Suite 4 • Portland, ME 04101 • Phone: (207) 699-2998 • Contact Form
CONIC SHELTER Even though most of the shapes displayed on this website are pictures of structures not habitable, actually a person can make many different low cost homes using this system. Picture on the right is of a Conic 500 SF small house. "As Built. This 500 SF residence is built with no rafters or stud walls. The curve shape of the Conic provides all the structure.

This Conic is built on grade with a surrounding french drain system. There is no step up or down to enter the structure - a great feature for older folks!"

“Welcome to Conic Shelters. Conic Shelters (called "Conics" for short) are a thin-shell architectural form built from square plywood components. Conics are cost effective and highly versatile shelter (no rafters, fast assembly) that can be used for open-air shelter or closed-in residential, shop, or office construction. Multiple insulation options are available. Conic exteriors are typically covered with weather-tight Ames Research elastomeric coatings, Conic Shelters can last up to ten years and then require a single additional layer of elastomeric for another 10 years of service. Available in any color, environmentally friendly, applied by brush or airless spray-on, these coatings are tough and beautiful. Conic Shelters can be constructed in thousands of configurations. Computer models can display a very low-profile configuration made entirely of 3/4" plywood with no rafters or other internal supports. Doors and windows can be added in almost any location without sacrificing structural integrity.”

Conics are the lowest cost permanent shelter:
- Conics are a continuously curved shell made entirely of 1/2" plywood covered with acrylic elastomeric roofing (a water-borne non-toxic paint-on finish).
- By flexing plywood into this unusual curved geometric shape the conic shell acts as sheathing, structure and roofing. No rafters or costly additional roofing are required.
- Conics can last for decades with only minimal upkeep. You can build small (500 SF) or very large conic floor plans.
- There is very little wasted materials because conics are built entirely of 4'x4' plywood panels. Conics utilize a unique geometry that provides strength through flexibility.
- Conics are a true shell-type structure. They have withstood hurricane force winds and will bend to absorb the stresses of the most violent of earthquakes.
- Coupled with energy and material saving designs, Conics are a habitat that can be built within the carrying capacity of our small planet because they are extremely miserly with building materials.
Chuck Henderson Inventor - Conic Shelter • Phone: (707) 884-1769 • info@conicshelter.com
THIS IS BLACK ROCK CITY All i can say is: Wow! Please have a look at this incredible blog which simply is a series of beautiful pictures taken of many different structures set-up at the Nevada Burning Man festival. Billed as: 'The Ephemeral Architecture of Burning Man'. No nudity here, just great pictures of structures, some which i am sure can be lived in full time if so desired. Looking for simple structure ideas? This is the place to visit (the blog) for many examples of low cost housing, many whimsical, but many also very practical housing.

Also, the blog author has recently finished putting his book together and you can purchase it by clicking here. Picture on the right is of the cover of his book.

“For the weeklong Burning Man festival, a temporary city is built in the Black Rock Desert Northwest of Nevada where every year more than 50 000 participants endure extremely harsh living conditions to create an artistic community unique in the world. They settle on a clearly defined layout organically improved over two decades of adaptation to the growth of its population and ever increasing regulations that govern a private event held on public land. The Leave No Trace, Self-Reliance and Decommodification principles condition the nature of its habitat and demand a new approach in urban planning and temporary dwellings viability. To survive in style (or not) a scorching sun, destructive gusts of wind and the omnipresent dust, the Burners, forward-looking citizens, come up with solo and communal camps, fruition of year-long preparation or sheer improvisation, an ephemeral architecture that will vanish leaving deep memories and no trace. I recorded these images after countless hours bicycling the Playa to keep some traces of this urban experiment. These image (too much/too few) are the gift I received from this thriving community. Enjoy, seat back and welcome home again! This blog is a Giganormous labor of love that I want to keep commercial-free adhering to the Decommodification principle. If you share the same view and still read real paper books, you can support my baby (made in true Self-Reliance) illustrating hundreds of solutions built during 15 years in the desert from 1996 to 2010.”
Philippe Glade • burn@philippeglade.com
EMERGENCY HOMELESS SHELTER I like to feature Paul Welkins creations here on this website because they are all quality items and he is probably one of the very few persons in the world who invents these great very unique small shelter systems. Everything he designs is affordable to build by most people.

“Not long ago I ordered two books from Amazon.com. 'Zero Yen Houses' by Kyohei Sakaguchi and 'Fragile Dwelling' by Margaret Morton. Kyohei's pictorial book shows a striking view of the many homeless older single men living in the cities of Japan, while Margaret spent 10 years documenting and capturing on black and white film telling images of several dozen homeless people in New York City. These books were very moving. After reading them, I couldn't help but to re-visit the bicycle camper and homeless shelter lay-out to see if I could come up with a more practical and useful structure that might be used by a single homeless person or as an emergency shelter, where one or a couple could gain some privacy and sleep. The thousands crowded on the super dome floor during Hurricane Katrina is a good example. After bowing an 8' flexible strip of wood I settled on a mini Quonset hut design. I liked the potential for inside space and it would be very wind resistant. So with a budget of $100 for materials I went shopping. I bought 4 sheets of 4mm Coroplast from Laird Plastics in Seattle. I chose Coroplast for its unique qualities of flexibility, versatility, water resistance, strength, light weight and insulating properties, plus Coroplast is cheap. I used 8" plastic zip ties for assembly and 2"wide colored duct tape to seal out any moisture. I used Lexan plastic for the door window and installed 6 grommeted holes in the floor for spiking the structure to the ground. Except for the hardware, once the shelter is no longer needed it can be recycled . . .”
Contact • paulwelkins@yahoo.com
HIGH MILEAGE TRIKES & MORE This man here is very creative to say the least. He has designed and built a rolling tiny cabin suitable for one person to live in. Be sure to check out his other very interesting projects/creations.

“My name is Paul Elkins. I live in Stanwood Washington USA with my lovely wife Mary and our two dogs. In my spare time I play in my shop creating a host of toys and things that roll, mostly. My original intent with this project was to design and construct a simple, light weight, insulated box on wheels geared for the northwest climate that an urban street person could reside in (with all the comforts of home of course) and have an area to display and sell handmade wares. I've seen the homeless make wire sculptures, wood carvings etc. One could also make alcohol stoves from aluminum recycled cans and peddle them as emergency stoves.
Click Above
Many homeless people are actually more creative than you might think, and not all want to beg or go rummage around in trash cans all day for a living. Homeless people have pride too! Also, this I think would make a better connection with the public. So, what started as something that was suppose to be simple and cheap, well, let's say I got a bit carried away. I was having too much fun with my newly acquired table saw and brad gun, and I knew this creation was going to be around awhile so I made it nice. What we have here is the Cadillac of homeless shelters! I wanted something that looked good and was built durable. A manufactured unit similar to this lay-out could be made of sprayed fiberglass, poly roto mold or from Coroplastic sheeting. The latter can be made in a variety of thicknesses, color, (even camouflage laminate), with UV protection and fire retardant additives too. Using fluted Coroplastic I can see these panels machine routered, creased, folded and hot welded to the desired shape. The storage compartments and counter could be of the same material or use sprayed fiberglass for durability. This being just a conceptual prototype, and one that I'm pretty happy with, anyone with a little imagination can see the many possibilities. If you have any further questions my E-mail address is below, or if you'd just like to leave a comment, please do so . . . I'd love to hear from you. Thanks again for visiting my site and enjoy!”
Paul Elkins • Stanwood Washington USA • paulwelkins@yahoo.com
REFRIGERATOR IGLOO I used to collect old defective refrigerators and now i see this nice little home made from 322 of them. I missed my calling.

“Berlin-based artist Ralf Schmerberg has constructed a gigantic igloo made entirely of old refrigerators in the center of Hamburg, Germany. The 11 meter-wide igloo is made from 322 old refrigerators attached to a metal frame. Inside is an extraordinary collection of gadgets including fans, toys, toasters, a TV set and an inflatable mushroom cloud. While I'm sure Ralf had fun building this absurd piece, the actual reason of the project is to raise awareness to the amount of energy people are wasting nowadays. At the outside a huge electricity meter showed how much energy would be consumed by all those fridges. In the last picture you can see a list of all the materials they needed and some important facts about it. Some points translate as follows: 15.684 Vector Lines, 13 bars of concept chocolate, 10.5 tons of weight, 322 Refrigerators, 30.780 watts of energy, 1.718 meters of wire, 35 pairs of gloves, 487 sandwiches by mommy, 49.000 calories, 120 leisure-time beers. It is 5.6 meters high on the outside, 4.82 meters on the inside, has an outer diameter of 11 meters and an inner diameter of 9.8 meters.”
Contact Form
CARDBORIGAMI Foldable, portable shelter for those of you who like highly mobile type living.

“Cardborigami is an immediate disaster relief shelter that can be distributed through various philanthropic, governmental and religious organizations to the urban homeless population as well as to disaster relief victims in need of immediate, temporary housing. A typical Cardborigami shelter is made of standard corrugated cardboard that has been treated to make it both water-proof as well as fire-proof. Following treatment, each cardboard sheet is mechanically scored to ensure uniform construction that will aid in the process of its deployment. As the name suggests, each cardboard unit can be unfolded to provide a sizable space for temporary shelter. When not in use or when being transported, each unit can be folded into a size that is easily carried by a single person.”
Cardborigami • Contact Form
TERRA-DOME It would seem to me that a true earth covered house would require a very strong framework to make safe living conditions - the system promoted here appears to fulfill that requirement.

“The Possibilities of the Terra-Dome building system are endless. The Terra-Dome building system is a forming system that helps create a concrete steel reinforced structure in modular form of 24' x 24' or 28' x 28' (inside measurement). These modules are poured on location and can be arranged in a multitude of configurations. The Terra-Dome module is used for earth-sheltered structures in most cases. The benefit Terra-Dome has over all its competitors is that its modular forming system has conventional vertical walls with a dome ceiling. This configuration creates many advantages including: Freedom of design (no support walls or posts within module), Strength factor (20 times stronger than a flat roof), Open airy feeling (vaulted ceiling at no additional costs), Expeditious (1 module may be poured every 2-3 days). Terra-Dome Corporation offers a structure that is superior to the conventional construction techniques at the same cost and in some cases at lower initial costs. The Terra-Dome structure continues its savings year after year and for generations to come due to the durable materials used in its construction and in utilizing the benefits of the earth. Design and construction services are available through Terra-Dome to create and build any design imaginable (contemporary, traditional, Spanish, country, etc.). Let Terra-Dome make your dreams become reality.”
Terra-Dome Corporation • 8908 S Shrout Road • Grain Valley MO 64029 • Phone: (816) 229-6000
Toll Free: (800) 481-3663 • info@terra-dome.com
COMPACT POLYHEDRON HOUSE This is a very beautiful example of what can be accomplished using a non-traditional geometric design. A lot of planning and ingenuity had to go into this project. As the title says: "It's Modern, Quaint, & Eco-Friendly".

“Designed by Manuel Villa, this eco-friendly, stand-alone, and unconventional polyhedron shape home is located in Bogota, Columbia. It has one large window at the front which consumes an entire side of the house, and as well opens out to a deck and garden. The most innovative design of the home is the use of the interior which makes very efficient use of space.”
ATICA proyectos • Arguitecto MANUAL VILLA LARGACHA • manualvillalar@yahoo.com
IcoPod This campground business was willing to test drive some new design type structures called "icoPods". Some very good information located here for those of you interested in this type of structure.

“In 1959 R. B. Fuller was granted a patent for a "paperboard dome". The Pod™, based on a patent-pending design, is inventor and Icosa Village founder Sanford Ponder's improvement to Mr. Fuller's original paperboard dome concept. It replaces Fuller's single-walled folded dome with a much more rigid double-walled structure. The Pod™ is constructed by folding many identical sheets of precision die-cut material together to form an icosahedron-shaped structure. By using a simple icosahedron (a shape being comprised of all equilateral triangles) as the basic structural shape, the Icosa Village Pod™ is much simpler to produce and assemble than a traditional rounded dome shelters. In 2001, while viewing a program about the homeless living in cardboard boxes, Sanford Ponder had an epiphany. In what he called "a moment of indignation" he reflected, "If we must live in a world in which people are forced to live in cardboard boxes, then someone should at least invent a better box." Sanford set out to do just that. Inspired by the pioneering work of R. Buckminster Fuller, Sanford developed the basic and completely unique design for the Pod shelters whose first model is shown here. He spent the next two years perfecting the design for practical use.”
Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping • 9730 US Hwy 23 • Mackinaw City MI 49701 USA • Phone: (231) 436-5584
THE OCTAGON Made of heavy-duty cardboard this emergency cabin has been around for quite awhile. Made and sold in Japan which experiences many earthquakes and has a need for alternative housing . . .

“This camp, "Octagon" isalso available by using a full outdoor special processing cardboard, and a variety of applications are expected during the disaster. The population of the evacuation in the gym and sometimes blood clots that can lead to death in one position too long. "Economy class syndrome" triggers. Do not enter into private hands evacuation Octagon! State of post-disaster shelter is what like? Life is not kept until now, you often have to endure. Immediately after the disaster evacuees extreme stress all rushed to shelter refugees in become unstable even better ill healthy adults. During the earthquake many people sleeping in cars,economy class syndromewas. Experts are at least three days per train and are dangerous. Shelters will be provided absolutely uniform. I can not help it. Therefore, it is difficult to shelter sensitive response to the current situation, I thought you can not secure their private lives.Is ready to ensure their privacy. That cardboard tent that can be used indoors and outdoors, Octagon is. Six months or more durable for outdoor usethat Octagon, the assembly is easy. And a touch like that Ikimasen Kyanputento, number four in the assembly, assembly time is 2 hours. Su Anything special tools are needed technologies. Assembly procedure is easy! Corrugated paper, fold, according, only Haruna tapeit. Can be constructed from so more than primary school. Assembly 2 hours! I know, how difficult. That looks terrible. I think some people feel. However, space is ready in two hours six months of durability, I can say is worth considering in the assembly of subsequent long-term shelter. The fine people without worrying about missing assembly! Assembly personnel will gather in encouraging mutual support during disasters. Please try your request to the headquarters staff was set up disaster volunteer. Please try to lend a hand views from the links or local assembly. Are united because everyone is suffering. And then help you, please consider that you can reverse. If in order to ensure privacy, is easy to assembly!”
The Wood Head Company • Minokamo City • Gifu Prefecture • 505-0034 450-1 Japan • Phone: 0574-26-3111
SEVERE WEATHER PODS I personally like the idea of living underground not for the supposed security that it offers, but just for the peace and quiet you might expect - i mean if you were living alone by yourself. This company linked here has some great stuff if you are interested in developing an underground living system. Maybe they have an underground cabin model or can design one for you. They do offer an underground "condo" so i know they can make an underground cabin.

“We cover the entire USA. There are four national partner distributors covering the entire USA which are located in Michigan, Virginia, Texas and Iowa. Fill out the quote request form and we will send it to the closest Distributor Partner to your area. Severe Weather Pods manufactures and sells fiberglass underground storm shelters from a 4-100 person capacity as well as an entire line of steel underground and above ground units, including above ground tornado buildings with a maximum capacity of 100 people. All shelters are made in the USA and come with a warranty. We are the only Storm Shelter company with a vast variety of shelter sizes from 4 man to 100! If anything or everything goes wrong - weather, sun, chaos, you would want to be in one of our products, don't settle for 2nd best!”
Severe Weather Pods • Toll Free: (800) 955-6273 / (888) 718-0305 • Phone: (972) 968-8878/546-7620 • 24 hours a day
ALLWALL SYSTEMS The chart on the right shows how the AllWALL SYSTEM out-performs the ICF building system.

"We provide the concrete walls for the most energy efficient homes that can be built. We are better than ICF (Insulating Concrete Form) construction, framed construction and SIP construction methods in that we offer more total benefits that they can't offer such as: Mold resistance, noncombustible, nonflammable, hurricane and tornado resistance, and the most energy savings of any other method of construction."
AllWall Systems • Davie, Florida 33314 • Phone: (954) 325-7578 • Contact Form
RENEE PECK He talks about the "AllWall System" a system which integrates concrete, light-gauge steel and insulated foam into a patented panel system. It forms very strong building panels.

"The system, invented by Florida engineer John Griffin, joins facing panels of fiber cement board with light gauge-steel C-braces; between the boards is a core of foam board. The panels can be built on or off site. Once in place, they are threaded horizontally with lengths of steel rebar, then filled with wet concrete poured from the top. It's a system anyone can manufacture or install, Griffin said.

The components — concrete board, steel studs, foamboard — are universally available. There's no special-mix concrete, no thinking. It's basically a stay-in-place concrete form with insulation. He devised the system, he says, after years of working in steel and concrete construction along the Florida coast, where we never knew that 88 percent of homes in the rest of the world are wood. I'm from the concrete world. And I woke up at 2 AM one morning, and saw the whole thing in my head — the C studs faced together, how to fill it with concrete, place the rebar, Griffin said. I wrote down what I felt I could give to the world. I can train you to make the panels in less than two hours, though I'll tell you four hours so we can shoot the breeze for a while. And I can teach you to install the panels in less than an hour. His AllWall training and licensing course runs $2,000. He has licensed installers in Florida, New Mexico, Alabama and Kentucky. The cost of professional installation runs about $10.50 a square foot, while do-it-yourselfers can build and install the panels at a materials-only cost of about $7.75 per square foot."
Renee Peck • Blog
N55 This outfit is the same group that created the "Walking House". This creation pictured on the right is a little more practical in my opinion. Update: These people are always doing things and it is worth your time and effort to browse their website to check on their new projects they are working on. They have some cool new stuff - click on their "news" and "manuals" link.

“MICRO DWELLINGS is a system for making low cost dwellings of variable sizes for any number of persons. It consists of movable housing modules that can form different configurations on land, on water and under water. The system allows for a diversity of materials as well as changes and adaptations. The MICRO DWELLINGS are modular, can be scaled up and down, and expand and grow together with other systems into small communities. The MICRO DWELLINGS can be built onto rooftops of existing buildings or be suspended from a bridge or a wall. The modules can be mounted on wheels to become mobile or be connected to form floating constructions. As is the case with the version shown in this manual, they can also be made as watertight, amphibian houses that can be completely submerged or partly elevated to the water surface. Most functions will be built into walls, and furniture, household equipment etc. will be provided by movable elements that change functions during the day. Supply modules can be mounted on the outside of the main modules. The MICRO DWELLINGS are able to reflect changes in life, e.g. people moving in and out, the arrival of children, etc, as it is easy to add to the construction in stages. If people want to live together they can simply let their dwellings grow together, likewise, it is easy to separate modules and move them if desirable. The MICRO DWELLINGS in themselves do not define a social constellation, but only provide the basic equipment so that persons can configure their own social setting. The present version of the system is made of cheap steel plates and can be constructed by anybody who knows how to weld.”
N55 • Copenhagen Denmark • n55@n55.dk
SAMI HUT This is another cool project from instructables.com. This man did a great job of explaining how to build this neat little hut out of used lumber.

“This is a description with pics of how i built my Sami Hut (Eskimo Hut) in wood. As i made it from reprocessed wood from torn down houses and other buildings this is a totally green project. Tools/materials you need are: A hammer, saw, drill, spirit level, nails, tar paper, wood and a lot of patience! What this hut has as a raw model is the hut that our Swedish indigenous people called Sami, have built and used for many centuries. This type of building is/was also (to some degree) used by the Inuit, Aleut and Yupik peoples. As a non-American/English speaker, i use the metric system, so i had to use an online converter to be able to present the measurements in inches.”
instructables.com
THE INSTITUTE FOR PLANETARY RENEWAL This site whether or not you agree with the owners premise, has a good system for building housing using their low cost techniques. Very interesting site. I did find one date: Last update: 9/26/96. But still a lot of good information.

"If we are to create a Paradise on Earth we will have to change the way we live with ourselves. In developed countries, the high cost of living requires that we earn lots of money. If we work hard and earn a lot, then something must be produced with that effort.If goods are produced, they must be consumed or else we will have no work. If they are consumed, natural resources must be used.If natural resources are used excessively and not recycled, as they presently are, then the earth is wasted. Therefore a high standard of living, based upon mass consumption and minimal recycling (our present design) inevitably leads to the destruction of the ecosystems that we rely upon for our survival. If undeveloped countries follow our path, the destruction of the ecosystems we depend upon is assured. If we can eliminate the high cost of living, then we can live more sensibly on the Earth. In the past, a simpler lifestyle meant a low quality of life, but does it really have to be? We believe not. We believe that it is possible to substantially INCREASE our quality of life and our material comforts by applying better design principles to solve the needs of housing, energy, food, and other necessities and comforts. We do not have to suffer. In fact, we are suffering now much more than we need to because of the poor designs of our civilization."
Institute for Planetary Renewal • 4647 Long Valley Rd • Greensboro NC 27410 • (336) 644-1111 • Please e-mail Richard Austin, IPR Director: RAustin@PlanetaryRenewal.org
ORANGE-PEEL HOUSE This is an idea. Someone out there could remanufacture these units, get them back on the market, not using my money.

“Developed in Germany, a portable shelter for camping or trailer travel looks like a gigantic orange — and peels apart almost like one. The parts of the shelter are shaped like the segments of an orange. One person can fasten the segments together in 15 minutes. The parts of the shelter including the floor are made of plywood. The parts can be disassembled and placed into a small trailer for relocation to another camp spot.”
Maybe For Sale on eBay
THE LOGAN ROUND HOUSE Located in the state of Ohio this is an example of what you can do with concrete in the form of a round house. Those of you interested in building a round house out of concrete will appreciate this website to give you some ideas for completing your project.

"I had heard rumors of a building in Logan shaped like a giant golf ball, but I wasn't sure if it qualified as "forgotten" in any way or not, or if it was perhaps part of a miniature golf place or something like that. Then one day I stumbled upon it while trying to find a canoe rental place after a night in a Hocking Hills cabin. As you can see, it's a bizarre building. It's also completely abandoned. The thing is about two stories tall, made entirely of poured concrete, and completely spherical above a rectangular foundation. I had no idea at all what it was once used for. My best guess would have had to be some kind of sports-related thing, maybe a golf supply place. But my guess was way off, as I found out much later. My information came to me indirectly from the son of the guy who built the round house—a guy named Stewart. Locals referred to the house as "Stewart's Folly" because it took so much effort to build, and was apparently so uselessly bizarre. But Mr. Stewart had a use in mind when he designed the place. The round house was intended as the prototype for a new, highly durable type of housing which would in theory be sold along hurricane-prone coasts and through Tornado Alley. Because of its lack of corners or flat exterior surfaces, the wind resistance on the building is almost nil, making it ideal for parts of the country where high winds cause problems for homeowners. The basic shell is also fireproof, as were the original Lexan windows, though the interior could burn. And it came with special fire escape plans that involved sliding through escape hatches and windows onto a rear scaffolding.The house was begun in 1971 and finally completed in 1973. The shell was poured using a special homemade elevator system which involved the axle and wheel from a car. Two wooden shells were built—inside and out—and the concrete was poured in from the top. It hardened, the molds were removed, and the main part of the structure was done, with walls five inches thick on the sphere and eight inches thick at the base. From there they built the interior: two floors on top, complete with a porch, and a basement with a built-in garage."
The Logan Round House • Logan Ohio • forgottenohio@yahoo.com
BARIER HOUSE This building design called by it's developer "Soccer Ball shaped Houses". Another view of the house being constructed click here.

Actually, this very practical house is made in Japan and can be delivered to it's home site by helicopter or by more conventional means. I do believe a Japanese company actually sells these in Japan. A dodecahedron shape has 12 faces (sides), 30 edges, & 20 vertices's. The website is in the Japanese language, even if you do not understand the Japanese language click around the Japanese language site and you can see the different projects this skillful man has developed. Visit here » Japanese Language or English Language.

“Is your present house OK? Is it strong enough to endure a great earthquake or flood to be caused by global warming? Barier offers a safe, living space, a multi-functional, elegant and playful space, emphasizing each individual personality. Barier is a soccer ball-shaped house developed by us (international patent pending). A soccer ball with which you played in your childhood gets bigger like a dream ball and appears as a place to live in. It floats on the sea and can be a rescue ship. We believe it will be a gift to those who never give up a dream.”
Barier House • 226-5 Tominaga • Yamagata City • Gifu Prefecture 501-2257 Japan • Phone: +81-581-52-3885 • Fax: +81-581-52-3886 • info@g-wood.jp
FIBERGLASS IGLOOS This site is actually called "Mr. Igloo" home of the fiberglass igloo, a very cool idea. They refer to themselves as the "THE MASTER OF MODULAR IGLOO CONSTRUCTION".

“Igloos constructed out of snow, have been used for centuries. The word "Igloo" simply means house or snow house. The igloo shelter is structurally strong and self supporting. For this reason you do not need support poles inside your shelter. This makes for more usable area for sleeping and storage. But unlike "snow" igloos, you can use your fiberglass igloo just about anywhere. Have you ever seen an igloo on a sandy beach? Well, now you could. Your igloo could be set up and used anywhere. It can even be buried to create an emergency underground tornado shelter. Fiberglass igloo shelters are self supporting, which means that there are no poles, or columns in the center. They are easy to heat in the winter, and the white color helps reflect heat in the summer. They are "Modular in Construction" which makes it possible to ship and transport. They could also be made "Air Tight" for use as a chemical bunker. The rugged Fiberglass Igloo will provide you with years of trouble free, reliable comfort.”

Mr Igloo • 7041 East State Road 46 • Batesville IN 47006 • Toll Free: (866) 933-0071 • Phone: (812) 933-0071 • Fax: (812) 933-5411 • mrigloo@fiberglassigloos.com
FREE SPIRIT SPHERES It is a type of tree house i suppose from British Columbia Canada. Nice website, good pictures.

“Welcome to the world of Free Spirit Spheres, set among the tall trees of the west coast rainforest of Vancouver Island, Canada. We invite you to experience a tree house for adults. . . 16 years and over. (liability considerations). Built on vision and engineering these handcrafted spheres are suspended like pendants from a web of rope. They occupy a truly unique place in the world while providing a habitat for the un-tamed spirit that exists in us all. If it suits your un-tamed spirit you may wish to purchase a sphere or components to build your own. Uses for these spheres are limited only by ones imagination: Healing, meditation, photography, canopy research, leisure and game watching are just some of the things you can do. Spheres, Eve, Eryn and Melody, are available for overnight rental. We are approximately 30km north of Parksville on Vancouver Island along the Inland Island Hwy (#19), near Qualicum Bay. The acreage is on private property close to Horne Lake Caves, Georgia Strait and Mount Washington. Come experience an enchanted coastal rain forest. . . your comfortable, gently swaying, restful sphere awaits. Uses for these durable Spheres are limited only by ones imagination. Healing, meditation, photography, canopy research, bedroom, leisure and game watching are just some of the things you could do. Spheres can be hung from the trees as shown or from any other solid objects like buildings or rock faces. A web of rope is connected to any strong points available. This replaces the foundation of a conventional building. A suspended tree house uses the forest for its foundation. Each sphere has four attachments on top and another four anchor points on the bottom. Each attachment is strong enough to carry the entire sphere and contents.”

Free Spirit Spheres • Qualicum Beach • BC Canada • Phone: (250) 757-9445 • Cell: (250) 951-9420
tom@freespiritspheres.com
RELAX SHACKS Even though this man (Derek Diedricksen) has been building small huts for quite awhile it seems, he has just recently started promoting his creations. He specializes in very small personal huts suitable for one to three people at the most in sleeping areas, but the units he builds look to me to be able to accommodate one person actually living in the hut.

He has a lot of good ideas to check out. Diedricksen also hosts the show "Tiny Yellow House"- a web TV program on micro-architecture. He has mentioned that his little huts would be good to use as a shelter for a homeless person or someone about to become homeless. I think he said he has spent about $200 on each hut to bring them to completion - he salvages most of the building material.

“In this follow-up episode, Host Derek "Deek" Diedricksen gives a tour of his mini-cabin/house built out of recycled junk (from dumpster diving/repurposing) and curbside materials . . . with a guitar tease/appearance from Age Against The Machine/Anklelock/Any Given Enemy guitarist Bill Bracken Jr. who appears in the subsequent Tiny Rehearsal Space Episode (#3 with doumbek and cajon solos, van halen, nirvana, journey, and rage tunes galore- acoustically!- coming REAL soon . . .). Filmed by Steven Sherrick of Obscure Knowledge Productions.”
Relax Shacks YouTube Channel
SUBURBAN TIPI Check out this very neat modern tipi concept developed by John Paananen using modern high tech materials. The idea: "take the fused nomadic home designs of the yurt, tipi, and igloo and slip the straitjacket of suburban values, materials, and methods of construction over them". Very interesting result. I placed this item here on this page because it is not really an Indian tipi. Just looks similar in design.

"Exterior material List: PVC siding, polypropylene fluted sheeting, engineered timber, polycarbonate structured sheeting, foil-foam-foil insulation, plywood, polyethylene sheeting, a whole lot of screws. Interior materials: plastic laminate flooring, concrete fire pit, carpet tiles, hardboard panels, polypropylene fluted sheeting. Dimensions: 18' diameter x 16' tall. The idea: take the fused nomadic home designs of the yurt, tipi, and igloo and slip the straitjacket of suburban values, materials, and methods of construction over them. Want a suburban tipi or something like it? Drop me a line at john [at] johnnyp.org"

john@johnnyp.org

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