Binishell modular shelters can be configured for different needs

Anupam JollyDec 10 2010

Eco Factor: Sustainable green-roofed shelters can reduce construction waste.

Conceived by renowned architect Dante Bini in the 1960s, Binishells have recently been imagined with a modern twist by Bini's son Nicoló. The sustainable multipurpose shelters use low air pressure to lift and shape a collection of thin reinforced concrete structures, which can then be connected to different structures to build everything from schools, to offices and emergency shelters.

binishells 1

binishells 2

These environmentally friendly structures use 80 percent less materials and have 95 percent of the embodied CO2. Moreover, the carbon footprint of the structures is 80 percent smaller than traditional constructions. The lightweight structures might sound fragile, but the designers conclude that such structures will be able to resist hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes and even fires. The shells can also be painted or covered in grass to suit different requirements.