Location: Philipines

Year: 2019

Area: 40-80m²

Type: Resilient housing

Natural disasters are on the rise. Tropical storms with wind speeds in excess of 250 km/hr (cyclones/hurricanes/ typhoons) result in localized flooding in low-lying coastal areas. Often the poorest people of the Philippines with its hot summers and heavy rainfall have suffered due to housing not being able to weather the storms and flooding.  What they needed was a new resilient hero.

Just like a turtle retracts into its safe shell at the sight of danger, this house contracts to half its size (40m2) into a super resilient shape when challenged by storms and expands to double its size (80m2) in times of no immediate threat. Foldable ‘bamboo tents’ can be expanded or folder back onto the main structure. The triangular windows and ‘wings’ can be used as shade, drying racks, market stalls, and can connect to create covered community courtyards. In addition, the pyramidal shape enhances earthquake resilience and the base is floatable for flood resilience. The natural feel of traditional Filipino Bahay-kubo houses is recreated through the use of bamboo material; the primary structure is composed of bamboo poles (12cm diameter) with trusses in between for extra stability. The bamboo is treated with a boron solution, a naturally occurring salt solution that renders the bamboo indigestible to insects. The design can be constructed within 28 days with the owner driving the construction with cost of $8,500.