Low cost water tank (1500 litres – 23,000 litres) made of bamboo and plastic film Appropriate Rural Technology Institute (ARTI), Pune, India The low-cost water tank is made of bamboo and plastic film. Villagers in India use a large bamboo basket shaped like a silo, for storing grain. If this silo id internally lined with a food grade polythene film, it can be used as a water tank. The bamboo is made non-biodegradable by soaking it in a solution containing 450g of sodium dichromate, 300g of copper sulphate and 150g of boric acid dissolved in 10litres of water. Such treated bamboo has an outside life of between 10 and 20 years. The cost of a tank having a capacity of 1500 litres is Rs.1000 (US$1 = Rs.43). Ifa larger tank is required, one makes a plinth of cement and stones having the desired diameter, and by using chemically treated bamboo poles, a palisade of bamboo is erected along the periphery of the plinth, like a fencing. The distance between adjacent bamboo poles is about 50 – 60 cm. The plinth can have a diameter of up to 5 or 6m, but the height of the bamboo palisade should not exceed 120cm because the pressure exerted by the water column on the side walls is determined by the column height. Using the bamboo poles as a skeleton, the entire structure is woven like a wickerwork, using chemically treated bamboo strips. From a distance the structure looks like a giant basket (see Figures 1 and 2). When the structure is internally lined with a food grade polythene film, it can be used a s a water storage tank. One can use it tot collect run-off water from the roof, or one can even allow the rain to fall directly into the tank. Once the tank is full it’s top is covered by another film of plastic, which keeps the water cleam and prevents evaporation.   Click here for: Figure 1 - a 1500 litre plastic lined bamboo tank A tank having a diameter and a height of 1.2m can store 23,000 litres of water, which ensures a daily supply of 60 – 80 litres of clean drinking water throughout the year. The cost of such a tank comes to about Rs.10,000 (US$233).   Click here for: Figure 2 - tank showing cover in place People often ask if a similar system could be used for lining a pit dug into the soil. We have found at ARTI that the film in such a tank is often punctured by rodents, crabs, insects and even roots of surrounding trees because the bottom of the tank is not surrounded by a rodent or root proof barrier. Because such a tank is below ground level, a leak in the plastic lining is only noticed after the loss of a considerable quantity of water. And even after detection it cannot be repaired. The above ground tank is not only protected from burrowing animals and from tree roots, but because the tank is above ground level, drawing water from it by means of a siphon is also quite easy.   Many thanks to Dr A. D. Karve (karve@wmi.co.in) of ARTI for all the detail for this Case Study. The project was financially supported by the Science and Society Division, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Inida, New Delhi.

			Indian water tank

			Inspired especially by the work of Simon Velez, this is something we built in February of 2004 in a workshop at Rancho Mastatal in Costa Rica.  Just over 1000 square feet, it took 4 days to get the structure you see and several more days to fill all the joints with mortar.  A metal roof will be attached over the top still, but we did it without even a single trip to the hardware store. (which was lucky because it was several hours away)

			Cement filled joints make bolting bamboo frames and trusses feasible. no need for labor intensive lashing.

			Just built by Jo Scheer from Ashland, Oregon.  It's his design for a relatively simple structure that meets the building code's "less than 120 square feet without a building permit" requirement.  It has no foundation, no concrete, but guy wires instead hold it in place.  I think of it as a treehouse without the tree.  Check out Jo's website: treehouse where you can arrange to stay in the one he built in Puerto Rico.  But, since they're so affordable, you should just hire Jo to build you one.  You'll enjoy every minute.

			The Hooch "Out of the box, and above it all" "World's Greatest Treehouse"- Travel Channel The hooch is an evolutionary, revolutionary building system that turns archtectural conventions on its head. It stands on a single point, and maintains its balance by a web of cables to the surrounding trees. The foundation is minimal. In fact, the hooch holds the record for the smallest foundation of any land based building. The advantage? Minimal disruption of the site, and environment; quick and economical construction (no foundation); and easy dismantling, in the event that the hooch is moved. The hooch is an ideal structure for a place of respite in an environmentally sensitive area. I built a 10' by 10' version for a friend along a riverbank. The site did not lose one fern, a species abundant in the understory of the forest. The treehouse requires no special engineering, or architectural design to fit in a particular tree. It stands among the trees, and relies on them for support. It is intimately entwined with the trees, and yet does no damage or requires any alteration of the site. The design has been worked out for quick and accurate pre-fabrication of the components- away from the site. Quickly assembled and situated at the site, the hooch is raised up by a pulley system and secured -perfectly level. An architectural gem, the triangular shape maintains rigidity, yet is free to move about its foundation , flexing as a unit. The redundant cable system is self correcting- any stress or distortion is quickly relieved back to the original position. As a place of respite, the hooch served its purpose well- whether in the backyard, or along a mountain stream. It is safe, secure, and above it all. After a warm reception of every hooch I've built, I now offer plans, kits, and complete construction services for everyone. I have plans and specs for a 6' by 6 , 8' by 8', and 10' by 10' version (floor area). Our 6' by 6' backyard hooch served well in our backyard of a rental house. Last year, we moved to our new mortgaged house. The hooch proved itself as a ephemeral architectural gem. It was dismantled, and moved in a few days. It now has its place among a grove of douglas fir trees, with a killer view of Mt. Ashland. Check out these other sites for even more perspective on the hooch. A Path to Ecotectural Awareness- the Hooch Sleeping Amongst Bamboos (El Nueva Dia article) Life in the Sustainable Treetops - Metropolis magazine Hooch News: A new hooch was erected in Sonoma, near Geyserville, this summer. Overlooking a pond amidst a grove of douglas fir and oak, the hooch fit very snugly. The new owners, George and Yvonne, love it, and they said so, for the DIY network that documented the very exciting installation process. The hooch will compliment a new custom built, environmentally sensitive house designed by Darrel Deboer. Check out this link: Deboer architects Fall, 2005 - The hooch will be featured this fall on the DIY network. The program features pre-fabricated buildings, and the hooch as a pre-fabricated treehouse. The new Sonoma hooch, the Eugene hooch, and our backyard hooch factory all were included in the video sessions. Fall, 2005 - The hooch will also be featured on a program devoted to treehouses of the H&G network, also this fall. Airing dates for both shows will be posted when available. September, 2005 - A new timber-frame hooch design is introduced. The complete hooch is built using dimensional lumber only. No poles needed! And, the ultimate hooch, a 12' by 12', is also available, either as a pole design or timber framed. See "Details and Specs" below. October, 2005 - The hooch "lite" version of the bamboo hooch was erected at Mercer Arboretum this fall for the American Bamboo Society annual meeting, October 20-22, 2005. (See the pic)Meanwhile, a full size, 8' by 8' hooch was erected on the banks of the Little River for Kinder Chambers - president of the Texas Bamboo Society. With help from Kinder, Pete Fust (blackrangelodge.com), and Mary Len, the hooch was completed on schedule, October 28, 2005. See the pic I'd be happy to answer any and all inquiries. E-mail me at: bamboo@tropical-treehouse.com More Hooch Pics The hooch manual Details and Specs Pricing and Ordering back to main page

			EMERGENCY SHELTER A spin off from Khalili's Lunar/Mars habitat designs Cal-Earth Institute is happy to humbly dedicate the following two pages to the overwhelming requests related to the latest series of disasters in the world. It is meant as a start to providing guidance for human shelter. Click here for the 2-page "Emergency Sandbag Shelter" pdf file. Cal-Earth Emergency Shelter Village Images      water in the boat is the death of the boat water under the boat and the boat's afloat - Rumi Natural disasters are human created disasters blamed on nature. After a fire, hurricane, flood, or earthquake we immediately declare that this was a natural disaster, an act of God. Then we ask if we have insurance, or how soon will the goverment or U.N. come to help? And these are repeated and echoed in the media around the globe over and over again. But these are not the right questions. The right question is why did our house burn, fall apart, or get swept away? And when we have the chance to re-build it, why should we build it the same way and in the same place? Ultimately "natural disasters" are human created disasters blamed on nature.       The human impact in nature and its effects: pollution, deforestation, land mismanagement, the green house effect, and more, will undoubtedly accelerate the rate of disasters in the future. Added to that are the man-made disasters: millions of displaced humans, wars and human aggression and act of terrorism with its incalculable damage to human life and property. There is a sense of urgency to educate ourselves and our children to act more in harmony with nature, rather than insisting on dominating and interrupting the environmental process. As well as urgency to awaken to a new set of questions where we, and not nature or God, are to be blamed.       We must also prepare ourselves for the inevitable disasters. One of the best ways to shield against fire, flood, and storm may as well be with earth, water, air and fire. Nature does that itself. The equilibrium of the natural elements are the natural balancing acts among these universal elements.       To build simple emergency and safe structures in our backyards, to give us maximum safety with minimum environmental impact, we must choose natural materials and, like nature itself, build with minimum materials to create maximum space, like a beehive or a sea shell. The strongest structures in nature which work in tune with gravity, friction, minimum exposure and maximum compression, are arches, domes and vault forms. And they can be easily learned and utilize the most available material on earth: Earth. Here, using a simple sandbag-and-barbed-wire technology, named Superadobe, designed by architect Nader Khalili, and developed by his associates and apprentices this documentary video shows how to: Use the materials of war (sandbags and barbed wire) to create a safe shelter in most regions of the globe as well as in your backyard. Utilize minimum amounts of purchased product and maximum amounts of the free earth under your feet. Participate in a family or community activity by building a shelter, or a sustainable community. Create a shelter with maximum protection against natural and man-made disasters. United Nations Visit In July of 2001 a visit from the United Nations headed by the Director of UNDP Emergency Response Division with his team from New York, participated in a Cal-Earth workshop for these Emergency Shelters; they slept in one to experience their quality. Their very positive response was recorded in the Reuters World News Agency article. Cal-Earth Emergency Shelter Village Images      Superadobe Technology is designed by Nader Khalili, engineering by P. .J. Vittore, models of which have been constructed and tested for the City of Hesperia, California, Building and Safety Department, in consultation with I.C.B.O. (International Conference of Building Officials), in the forms of arches, vaults, and domes between 1993 and 1996. These successfully passed the California required codes for the models.       Superadobe is a patented system at the service of humanity. It is offered free to the owner builder. Licensing is required for commercial use.       The video "Emergency Shelter", a documentary, is produced to be used as part of a set of learning tools developed and used during the apprenticeship training program at Cal-Earth Institute (such as the compass for the dome's curvature, hands-on techniques, and so on). These can teach you, step by step, how to build. To learn how to build your emergency structure, you must begin with a small practice dome, a storage shed in your backyard for example, to understand hands-on all practical aspects of the tools and materials, after which you may have the skills to increase the size of your shelter.       By practicing to build the eight foot interior diameter dome we hope that you will learn how to shelter yourself in an emergency situation with some basic materials that can be stored in your closet or carried in your car trunk.       The students shown building in this video had never worked with earth before, but they built their 8 ft. diameter dome in a total of ten hours. They were participants of Cal-Earth's apprentice course and were taught by a teacher. The students added niches, storage, plastering, and doors in the following days.       And in the following months Khalili, his associates and apprentices built many variations of small shelters each 120 sq. ft. or less in floor area which you can visit at Cal-Earth Institute. Cal-Earth Emergency Shelter Village Images        HOME | Cal-Earth | In the News | Photogallery | Emergency Shelter | Eco-Dome | Vaulted House | Nader Khalili | Projects | Apprenticeship Courses | Planetary Architecture Products |  Children | Visiting | Khalili's Message |  Contact Us