Life Cube - a blow-up survival shelter

Carol · 01-04-2009, 04:47 PM

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2...able-hous.html

SAN FRANCISCO — In tough circumstances, sometimes all you need is hope, but other times you need a blow-up survival shelter featuring a bed, a couch, freeze-dried food, a 50-gallon water bladder, a first-aid kit, a radio and a cookstove.

And the latter is exactly what the "Life Cube" from startup Inflatable World is designed to provide. Packaged into a four-foot-tall cube, it inflates into a 12-foot-tall structure built from the same thick plastic as a bouncy house.

Designed to provide shelter and basic amenities for people in the days and weeks after a disaster, the instant housing will come with a $3,900 price tag, so the company's first market could be wealthy survivalists.

"We need a versatile design that is completely self-contained that gives you instant survival," said Nick Pedersen, business development head of the fledgling startup, based in Santa Barbara, California. "We'll get you through the critical first 72 hours and beyond."

Inflatable World isn't the first company to focus on short-term housing for disaster-struck areas. In fact, a wide variety of architects and builders, notably TED-grantee Cameron Sinclair and Architecture for Humanity, have designed structures to keep people alive in the aftermath of calamity. But Inflatable World sees a market between the long-term FEMA trailers and the tents used in the immediate recovery efforts.

In FEMA's 2008 Disaster Housing Plan, officials identified the period after the initial disaster but before homes can be rebuilt as a major priority.

"Finding and providing the actual structures to house displaced disaster victims during this interim housing period is the most tangible challenge that emergency management officials, at all levels of government, face," they wrote (.pdf).

In developing countries, providing basic shelter after disasters is even more difficult. When a major quake struck Pakistan in October 2005, 74,000 people died, most of them from exposure to the elements in the weeks after the initial disaster. Just last week, another major earthquake struck Pakistan, prompting Red Cross officials to note the "urgent need for shelter and blankets."

Right now, Pedersen said that Inflatable World was trying to raise one million dollars in capital to begin production of the Life Cubes. They'll be targeting first-responder agencies like the Red Cross as well as consumers in disaster-prone areas in the southeastern United States.

Though the Life Cube is the company's flagship product, and what made them a finalist at yesterday's Department of Energy-sponsored California Clean Tech Open, Inflatable World is also looking to sell other blow-up structures, including a next-gen slip and slide, because even the post-apocalypse should be fun.

http://www.theinflatableworld.com/

Antonia · 01-04-2009, 05:05 PM

Carol.... you are such a sweet and lovely energy frequency on this web site..
Always so much well thought out practicle advise , spirituality and wisdom.... Thank you Antonia

Carol · 01-04-2009, 05:11 PM

Mahalo nui loa Antonia.

This is pretty amazing. The shelter is made from tough vinyl. Inside the self-contained cube is enough food and water to support 6 people for at least a week, a class 4 first aid kit, a heating and cooking stove, four inflatable beds with sleeping bags, an ice box, a 12V cordless tool kit, interior lighting and CB/AM/FM radio. The electrical devices are powered off a 12V battery charged by the included solar panel. All for $3,900. Hmm, I wonder what shipping is and if they sell to the General Public.

Carol · 01-04-2009, 05:27 PM

This shelter is amazing as well.

Building in a Bag — Just Add Water

Disaster-relief policies often require building structures with short lifespans to avoid permanent migration, even though crises can often take several years or decades to resolve. As a result, temporary settlements are often left standing long after the initial response period, resulting in inadequate long-term housing and substandard living conditions.

The award-winning Concrete Canvas Shelter requires no training to assemble and just water to inflate.

Setup is a snap -- just fill the sack of cement-impregnated fabric with water and unfold it. The structure is then inflated with a chemical pack containing a measured amount of gas. In less than a day, the structure has expanded, hardened and is ready for use -- just cut doors and spaces for ventilation from the newly formed concrete "cloth." Additionally, the shelter can be delivered sterile for emergency medical use.

The building-in-a-bag is designed to provide shelter, as well as infrastructure like buildings for headquarters, relief-worker housing and supply storage.

The durable structure has a low overall mass for good earthquake performance, and the shell's thermal properties can be enhanced by covering it with earth or snow. The British engineers behind the project, Peter Brewin and William Crawford, are field-testing prototypes of the design.

http://www.concretecanvas.co.uk/
http://www.concretecanvas.co.uk/28CCSVideo.html

If you would like to purchase any of our Concrete Canvas Shelter units, please contact Concrete Canvas Ltd. directly, specifying how many units and of which variant you require, at sales@concretecanvas.co.uk or telephone +44 (0)845 6801908.

Here is a different shelter video on setting it up.
http://www.gvshelters.com/20m_assembly.htm

Carol · 01-04-2009, 06:02 PM

And now for the U-Domes and Q-Shelters.

http://worldshelters.org/buy-a-dome

They are made with materials that resist rot and mildew, patterns that can easily incorporate local materials, and they are re-usable.

U-Dome Design Features:

* Simple Assembly
* 200 sq. ft. x 12 ft. tall
* Flame retardant, UV-resistant
* Withstand high winds, heavy rain
* All tools and fasteners included
* Plans for joist floor
* Weatherproof corrugated polypropylene
* Precision die-cut sheets
* External flaps shingle all seams

Carol · 01-04-2009, 06:09 PM

This is also cool. I particularly like the artistic flair on the enternal structure.

SAFE DOMES Hurricane Tornado Disaster Shelters

http://www.hurricanesurvival.net/

Safe Domes are 8 ton transportable concrete and steel domes capable of withstanding 200 mph winds or more. Several Safe Domes withstood the 130 mph winds of Wilma in West Palm Beach, Florida with absolutely no damage. Mrs. Burton said that if it wasn't for the sound of flying metal she wouldn't have known there was a hurricane outside.

Swanny · 01-04-2009, 07:21 PM

They all look great

solitaryman · 01-06-2009, 03:29 AM

Carol ,I admire your practicality.thank you for your efforts

Humble Janitor · 01-06-2009, 05:43 AM

They look great but unfortunately, they are out of reach for people with limited incomes.

I guess only the wealthy ones can afford to be survivalists. *groan*

Carol · 01-08-2009, 04:20 AM

Dear Humble Janitor,

We have had thoughts about cost as well and came up with this idea. Find a tent you like. I like the double dome with connecting tunnel. Cover the parts to be covered in in cement in plastic (actually cover the whole sturcture and cut holes for the openings later. Then covered it in chicken wire and some rebar to help support the external structure to withstand the weight of cement. Get some burlap bags and cement. Soak the bags in the cement and begin layering over the tent. One can take a few days to build up a nice externally hard surface. This structure can also be bermed to help keep cool or warm. Front of structure should face winter sun.

So one can have a hobbit house cheaply if they are willing to be creative and do a bit of work.

Sometimes in adversity is when we are our most creative.

henners · 01-08-2009, 05:46 AM

Hello all, hi Carol, great post. I have also found this one. Its like an igloo. Its seem inexpensive and easy to assemble.

And you can link them and create several rooms.

There are also variations like this one which you can build underground and back fill.

I will add lots more in the library. I have found lots of emergency shelters and underground accomodation.

Henry

Peter · 01-08-2009, 08:58 AM

Wonderful thread Carol, heres a picture of where we live its a yurt
/Users/rosie/Pictures/iPhoto Library/2008/03/05/IMG_2020.JPG
/Users/rosie/Pictures/iPhoto Library/2008/05/12/IMG_2431.JPG
its our temporary home (for at least another 2 years) while we build an Earthbag home as shown on the link below. Its the cheapest way of building anywhere on this planet or even any other, planet that is, Thankx all. I hope it all comes through, sorry I'm new yo downloading etc, Bye.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNqLp...eature=related

Hi Peter,
The front end of the url is missing and I can't fix this as I'm not sure what is missing on your photo link.

Peter · 01-08-2009, 09:03 AM

Ah well it didn't work, I attached 2 photo's to the manage attachments and just incase i dragged over the same photos from our files and they didn't get to you, sorry I need help ???

henners · 01-08-2009, 11:09 AM

Great post Peter. I look forward to seeing your pics, I sent you a pm how to post the pic. Saw the youtube clip. Wonderful. I think we will be adopting this form of architecture in the near future,.
Henry

henners · 01-08-2009, 11:34 AM

Having seen the info that Carol posted. I found this great site and video to watch. This is the way to build cheap homes with do it your self gear and products.

http://www.makepapercrete.com/

This really should be in the Joomla Library. I will post a copy in the researchers section.

This is the link for the video on you tube. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JoLBeV6tzJ4

Hope this will continue Carols great thread and encourage more ideas.

Swanny · 01-08-2009, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter

Ah well it didn't work, I attached 2 photo's to the manage attachments and just incase i dragged over the same photos from our files and they didn't get to you, sorry I need help ???

Hi m8 you need to load the photos on to a web hosting site like www.photobucket.com then you can link to them.

Carol · 01-08-2009, 05:24 PM

This is a hoot. Strange houses of the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh4t9cQYnfk&NR=1

Houses Unusual and Strangely Weird! AMAZING
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erPLr16Zzjc&NR=1

01-04-2009, 04:47 PM	#1
Carol Project Avalon Hero Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Big Island, Hawaii Posts: 2,008	Life Cube - a blow-up survival shelter http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2...able-hous.html SAN FRANCISCO — In tough circumstances, sometimes all you need is hope, but other times you need a blow-up survival shelter featuring a bed, a couch, freeze-dried food, a 50-gallon water bladder, a first-aid kit, a radio and a cookstove. And the latter is exactly what the "Life Cube" from startup Inflatable World is designed to provide. Packaged into a four-foot-tall cube, it inflates into a 12-foot-tall structure built from the same thick plastic as a bouncy house. Designed to provide shelter and basic amenities for people in the days and weeks after a disaster, the instant housing will come with a $3,900 price tag, so the company's first market could be wealthy survivalists. "We need a versatile design that is completely self-contained that gives you instant survival," said Nick Pedersen, business development head of the fledgling startup, based in Santa Barbara, California. "We'll get you through the critical first 72 hours and beyond." Inflatable World isn't the first company to focus on short-term housing for disaster-struck areas. In fact, a wide variety of architects and builders, notably TED-grantee Cameron Sinclair and Architecture for Humanity, have designed structures to keep people alive in the aftermath of calamity. But Inflatable World sees a market between the long-term FEMA trailers and the tents used in the immediate recovery efforts. In FEMA's 2008 Disaster Housing Plan, officials identified the period after the initial disaster but before homes can be rebuilt as a major priority. "Finding and providing the actual structures to house displaced disaster victims during this interim housing period is the most tangible challenge that emergency management officials, at all levels of government, face," they wrote (.pdf). In developing countries, providing basic shelter after disasters is even more difficult. When a major quake struck Pakistan in October 2005, 74,000 people died, most of them from exposure to the elements in the weeks after the initial disaster. Just last week, another major earthquake struck Pakistan, prompting Red Cross officials to note the "urgent need for shelter and blankets." Right now, Pedersen said that Inflatable World was trying to raise one million dollars in capital to begin production of the Life Cubes. They'll be targeting first-responder agencies like the Red Cross as well as consumers in disaster-prone areas in the southeastern United States. Though the Life Cube is the company's flagship product, and what made them a finalist at yesterday's Department of Energy-sponsored California Clean Tech Open, Inflatable World is also looking to sell other blow-up structures, including a next-gen slip and slide, because even the post-apocalypse should be fun. http://www.theinflatableworld.com/ __________________ Aloha, thank you, do jeh, toda, arigato, merci, grazie, salamat po, gracias, tack, sukria, danke schoen, kiitos, dank u, mahalo nui loa Images to nourish the spirit: http://mistsofavalon.invisionplus.ne...&showtopic=198 Last edited by Carol; 01-04-2009 at 05:07 PM.

01-04-2009, 05:05 PM	#2
Antonia Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Dublin , Ireland Posts: 341	Re: Life Cube - a blow-up survival shelter Carol.... you are such a sweet and lovely energy frequency on this web site.. Always so much well thought out practicle advise , spirituality and wisdom.... Thank you Antonia

01-04-2009, 05:11 PM	#3
Carol Project Avalon Hero Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Big Island, Hawaii Posts: 2,008	Re: Life Cube - a blow-up survival shelter Mahalo nui loa Antonia. This is pretty amazing. The shelter is made from tough vinyl. Inside the self-contained cube is enough food and water to support 6 people for at least a week, a class 4 first aid kit, a heating and cooking stove, four inflatable beds with sleeping bags, an ice box, a 12V cordless tool kit, interior lighting and CB/AM/FM radio. The electrical devices are powered off a 12V battery charged by the included solar panel. All for $3,900. Hmm, I wonder what shipping is and if they sell to the General Public. __________________ Aloha, thank you, do jeh, toda, arigato, merci, grazie, salamat po, gracias, tack, sukria, danke schoen, kiitos, dank u, mahalo nui loa Images to nourish the spirit: http://mistsofavalon.invisionplus.ne...&showtopic=198 Last edited by Carol; 01-04-2009 at 05:14 PM.

01-04-2009, 05:27 PM	#4
Carol Project Avalon Hero Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Big Island, Hawaii Posts: 2,008	Re: Life Cube - a blow-up survival shelter This shelter is amazing as well. Building in a Bag — Just Add Water Disaster-relief policies often require building structures with short lifespans to avoid permanent migration, even though crises can often take several years or decades to resolve. As a result, temporary settlements are often left standing long after the initial response period, resulting in inadequate long-term housing and substandard living conditions. The award-winning Concrete Canvas Shelter requires no training to assemble and just water to inflate. Setup is a snap -- just fill the sack of cement-impregnated fabric with water and unfold it. The structure is then inflated with a chemical pack containing a measured amount of gas. In less than a day, the structure has expanded, hardened and is ready for use -- just cut doors and spaces for ventilation from the newly formed concrete "cloth." Additionally, the shelter can be delivered sterile for emergency medical use. The building-in-a-bag is designed to provide shelter, as well as infrastructure like buildings for headquarters, relief-worker housing and supply storage. The durable structure has a low overall mass for good earthquake performance, and the shell's thermal properties can be enhanced by covering it with earth or snow. The British engineers behind the project, Peter Brewin and William Crawford, are field-testing prototypes of the design. http://www.concretecanvas.co.uk/ http://www.concretecanvas.co.uk/28CCSVideo.html If you would like to purchase any of our Concrete Canvas Shelter units, please contact Concrete Canvas Ltd. directly, specifying how many units and of which variant you require, at sales@concretecanvas.co.uk or telephone +44 (0)845 6801908. Here is a different shelter video on setting it up. http://www.gvshelters.com/20m_assembly.htm __________________ Aloha, thank you, do jeh, toda, arigato, merci, grazie, salamat po, gracias, tack, sukria, danke schoen, kiitos, dank u, mahalo nui loa Images to nourish the spirit: http://mistsofavalon.invisionplus.ne...&showtopic=198 Last edited by Carol; 01-04-2009 at 05:48 PM.

01-04-2009, 06:02 PM	#5
Carol Project Avalon Hero Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Big Island, Hawaii Posts: 2,008	Re: Life Cube - a blow-up survival shelter And now for the U-Domes and Q-Shelters. http://worldshelters.org/buy-a-dome They are made with materials that resist rot and mildew, patterns that can easily incorporate local materials, and they are re-usable. U-Dome Design Features: * Simple Assembly * 200 sq. ft. x 12 ft. tall * Flame retardant, UV-resistant * Withstand high winds, heavy rain * All tools and fasteners included * Plans for joist floor * Weatherproof corrugated polypropylene * Precision die-cut sheets * External flaps shingle all seams __________________ Aloha, thank you, do jeh, toda, arigato, merci, grazie, salamat po, gracias, tack, sukria, danke schoen, kiitos, dank u, mahalo nui loa Images to nourish the spirit: http://mistsofavalon.invisionplus.ne...&showtopic=198

01-04-2009, 06:09 PM	#6
Carol Project Avalon Hero Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Big Island, Hawaii Posts: 2,008	Re: Life Cube - a blow-up survival shelter This is also cool. I particularly like the artistic flair on the enternal structure. SAFE DOMES Hurricane Tornado Disaster Shelters http://www.hurricanesurvival.net/ Safe Domes are 8 ton transportable concrete and steel domes capable of withstanding 200 mph winds or more. Several Safe Domes withstood the 130 mph winds of Wilma in West Palm Beach, Florida with absolutely no damage. Mrs. Burton said that if it wasn't for the sound of flying metal she wouldn't have known there was a hurricane outside. __________________ Aloha, thank you, do jeh, toda, arigato, merci, grazie, salamat po, gracias, tack, sukria, danke schoen, kiitos, dank u, mahalo nui loa Images to nourish the spirit: http://mistsofavalon.invisionplus.ne...&showtopic=198

01-04-2009, 07:21 PM	#7
Swanny I dont need a label ! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Shire of Wilt Posts: 2,889	Re: Life Cube - a blow-up survival shelter They all look great

01-06-2009, 03:29 AM	#8
solitaryman Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 58	Re: Life Cube - a blow-up survival shelter Carol ,I admire your practicality.thank you for your efforts

01-06-2009, 05:43 AM	#9
Humble Janitor Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3,201	Re: Life Cube - a blow-up survival shelter They look great but unfortunately, they are out of reach for people with limited incomes. I guess only the wealthy ones can afford to be survivalists. groan

01-08-2009, 04:20 AM	#10
Carol Project Avalon Hero Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Big Island, Hawaii Posts: 2,008	Re: Life Cube - a blow-up survival shelter Dear Humble Janitor, We have had thoughts about cost as well and came up with this idea. Find a tent you like. I like the double dome with connecting tunnel. Cover the parts to be covered in in cement in plastic (actually cover the whole sturcture and cut holes for the openings later. Then covered it in chicken wire and some rebar to help support the external structure to withstand the weight of cement. Get some burlap bags and cement. Soak the bags in the cement and begin layering over the tent. One can take a few days to build up a nice externally hard surface. This structure can also be bermed to help keep cool or warm. Front of structure should face winter sun. So one can have a hobbit house cheaply if they are willing to be creative and do a bit of work. Sometimes in adversity is when we are our most creative. __________________ Aloha, thank you, do jeh, toda, arigato, merci, grazie, salamat po, gracias, tack, sukria, danke schoen, kiitos, dank u, mahalo nui loa Images to nourish the spirit: http://mistsofavalon.invisionplus.ne...&showtopic=198

01-08-2009, 05:46 AM	#11
henners Project Avalon Researcher Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 432	Re: Life Cube - a blow-up survival shelter Hello all, hi Carol, great post. I have also found this one. Its like an igloo. Its seem inexpensive and easy to assemble. And you can link them and create several rooms. There are also variations like this one which you can build underground and back fill. I will add lots more in the library. I have found lots of emergency shelters and underground accomodation. Henry __________________ Henners Thoughts are boomerangs, returning with precision to their source. Choose wisely which ones you throw.

01-08-2009, 08:58 AM	#12
Peter Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 41	Re: Life Cube - a blow-up survival shelter Wonderful thread Carol, heres a picture of where we live its a yurt /Users/rosie/Pictures/iPhoto Library/2008/03/05/IMG_2020.JPG /Users/rosie/Pictures/iPhoto Library/2008/05/12/IMG_2431.JPG its our temporary home (for at least another 2 years) while we build an Earthbag home as shown on the link below. Its the cheapest way of building anywhere on this planet or even any other, planet that is, Thankx all. I hope it all comes through, sorry I'm new yo downloading etc, Bye. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNqLp...eature=related Hi Peter, The front end of the url is missing and I can't fix this as I'm not sure what is missing on your photo link. Last edited by Carol; 01-08-2009 at 05:18 PM.

01-08-2009, 09:03 AM	#13
Peter Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 41	Re: Life Cube - a blow-up survival shelter Ah well it didn't work, I attached 2 photo's to the manage attachments and just incase i dragged over the same photos from our files and they didn't get to you, sorry I need help ???

01-08-2009, 11:09 AM	#14
henners Project Avalon Researcher Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 432	Re: Life Cube - a blow-up survival shelter Great post Peter. I look forward to seeing your pics, I sent you a pm how to post the pic. Saw the youtube clip. Wonderful. I think we will be adopting this form of architecture in the near future,. Henry __________________ Henners Thoughts are boomerangs, returning with precision to their source. Choose wisely which ones you throw.

01-08-2009, 11:34 AM	#15
henners Project Avalon Researcher Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 432	Re: Life Cube - a blow-up survival shelter Having seen the info that Carol posted. I found this great site and video to watch. This is the way to build cheap homes with do it your self gear and products. http://www.makepapercrete.com/ This really should be in the Joomla Library. I will post a copy in the researchers section. This is the link for the video on you tube. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JoLBeV6tzJ4 Hope this will continue Carols great thread and encourage more ideas. __________________ Henners Thoughts are boomerangs, returning with precision to their source. Choose wisely which ones you throw.

01-08-2009, 05:24 PM	#17
Carol Project Avalon Hero Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Big Island, Hawaii Posts: 2,008	Re: Life Cube - a blow-up survival shelter This is a hoot. Strange houses of the world. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh4t9cQYnfk&NR=1 Houses Unusual and Strangely Weird! AMAZING http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erPLr16Zzjc&NR=1 __________________ Aloha, thank you, do jeh, toda, arigato, merci, grazie, salamat po, gracias, tack, sukria, danke schoen, kiitos, dank u, mahalo nui loa Images to nourish the spirit: http://mistsofavalon.invisionplus.ne...&showtopic=198 Last edited by Carol; 01-08-2009 at 05:27 PM.