The B home An alternative alternative
pete abrams
conscious,modular shelter system.One that tries to take into account
the needs of it's inhabitants and the planet.A space to occupy
oneself, to close a door to the outside world and rest,free from fear,
yet warm,dry and comfortable.
Why the "B home"?
Plan b- not exactly what one had in mind,an alternative to the harsh
reality of not having plan A
A place to be- to lay ones head ,eyes closed breathe ,perchance to
dream.
Bee home- an architecture based on millions of years of evolutionary
design,reminiscent of a highly evolved socially dynamic species.
As much as i hate the self-aggrandizing that seems to appear on
blogs ,if it ain't out there, it ain't out there.
The B Home is a modular shelter system featuring hexagonal
stacked cells. This is a shift away from the “inside the box”
thinking toward a new approach to providing adequate shelter on a
smaller footprint, while enabling a sense of community through
architecture. The underlying structure is comprised of tubular
members and connectors that interlock to create triangular trusses on
all sides of each cell.
As an example of biomimicry, the B Home derives inspiration from the
honeycomb and wasps nest, both of which enclose space using the least
amount of materials and energy. The efficiency and simplicity of the
hexagon design means more units can fit in smaller area.
Providing a safe place for people to store modest belongings,
space that doesn’t require an excessive amount of energy and materials
to construct or maintain. The B Home instills community through the
communal nature of the living spaces, while still providing safe
private sleeping quarters for individuals. Unlike many other
solutions to relief housing, the B Home offers a more permanent and
stable system.
Water and energy capture systems are incorporated into the
design,as well as a humanure and other waste treatment
facilities.Communal kitchens and shared bathrooms provide these
amenities at a fraction of the cost of individual units,while
providing a sense of unity.
We have teamed up with the engineering department of a local
university to help us implement this concept,and are very much looking
forward to the "challenge" that has been provided.
Together,through competitive collaboration we can design and build
decent , sustainable and just structures for people to live.
http://thebhome.wikispaces.com/B+Home+Welcome+Page
Christian
pete abrams
and of course i love the shape
Where we differ in design is the B home is more space intensive.
In some arrangements up to 75 people will be housed on a footprint of
less then 200 square meters.
With a solid foundation and walls ready to withstand
aftershocks ,heavy winds and rain ,people are provided with a safe dry
secure place to lay their heads and a few belongings.
There is also an inherent social interaction component that we feel is
integral to the design.
> have u guys seen Vinay Gupta's Hexayurt -http://www.hexayurt.com
pete abrams
if u will please excuse the self-promotion
http://commons.princeton.edu/kellercenter/courses/epics.html
Sustainable Buildings Team, Prof. Wole Soboyejo
a better edited treatise on the project
but still basically shelter,
one cannot underestimate the value of a secure space to rest
until one is without.
and there are so many
Of course Japan and Haiti and on and
there will never be a shortage of headline catching tragedies
creating homeless.
but the greatest number go under reported as they just blend under the
rug.
No acute travesty to focus our attention,nor are they facebook
friends,
there is no need to sweep them under the rug
as long as the carpet stays where it is
we can live our lives unencumbered...
pete abrams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToKM3sYeKoQ
(a bit stiff,we need to loosen up)
sorry for all the self serving vink
but my marketing team is from Trenton...
Christian
"customers" - people who might live in these homes?
That's something we heard very clearly from Paul Polak (everyone
should read his book "Out of Poverty") about speaking to at least a
100 potential customers before building a product.
Another point Paul made on the phone was that the most important thing
is the business model - how will poor people pay for this?
cheers, C
Arturs
Your reply to Pete inspired me to write this.
I am am following tightly your blog with excitement and I see there is
an eventual chance to become a part of a team / teamwork to get $300
House a reality. Or, at least, to find somebody to join forces
together. Nobody alone can create the design, technology of a new
innovative product, talking to 100 potential customers and working out
a financing model for that. A good idea is needed how to facilitate
creating a team or teams, able to cover all the necessary fields (R&D,
manufacturing, marketing, finance...)! Who can do what? I am afraid
nobody will use the blog to reveal a completed business plan. Can the
blog work as a meetingpoint for somebody who has a design idea,
somebody who knows 100 customers, somebody who knows how the finace
should work, marketing, etc...
Kind regards
Arturs
Ian Fraser
I like to pick-up on your comment to Pete -- "the most important thing is
the business model - how will poor people pay for this?" -- The answer is
most likely, they won't, unless somebody donates the money, or they have a
job. More power to designing the $300 house but maybe somebody needs to run
simultaneously several supportive projects similar to the "$300 house"!
One might be the "$300 (notional)-Job" project (i.e. what jobs can be
created in a certain sized community for an investment of $300) and maybe
another is the "$300(notional)-Life" project (i.e. what "life" can be
created for an investment of $300 e.g. sporting teams, community activities,
community communication facilities, security, community administration etc
etc) -- one leading to how the person is going to pay for the $300 house and
the other is all the non-work, non-shelter issues we call "life" that need
to be addressed once you have a family with a roof and a job.
The "honeycomb" house is interesting -- the "end-plates", or front and back
walls, of the house are classic Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome elements,
which will make a house, or an auditorium, on any scale you like. In both
cases the factory mass-produce-able "elements" might make it very cost
efficient. But, unless the design could be made using other materials
(cheaper than AL tube) I fear the cost per "home" could be quite high.
Somewhere I learned a rule of thumb that as you went above a single-level,
on-the-ground structure, the cost per unit area doubles or more-so. Think
about the increasingly sophisticated foundations needed: the vertical
shoring (and sideways shoring) and the increase in dimensions of the
"elements" to ensure load-bearing/competence as you go-up. Child-friendly
issues also.
The $300 house might be achieved by using a constantly improving design
incorporating low cost readily available materials, or using more costly
materials in increasing volumes which eventually allow mass production
efficiencies and economies of scale to bring the house cost towards the
desired $300.
I know from manufacturing that as soon as we had a design stably into
production we set the design team the task to start again and halve the
manufacture cost without disadvantaging performance or marketing. We did
this quite a few times (while holding the selling price). R&D is worth the
price.
Also, I wonder if the footprint of the $300 house is as critical as think.
Keep on keeping on !!!!
Ian Fraser
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Pete Abrams
definitely things to ponder
As far as someone unwilling to expose his ideas on this website for fear of being ripped off,
I feel that as much as My idea is Brilliant (if i may humbly say so,)
It isn't going anywhere fast enough.
We NEED to harness the strengths of the internets
put out bold ideas,get feedback,even at risks.
My concept is to build it
pure and simple
then build it again and again
I am presently on my third iteration
more to go
And as i drill the wrong size hole in the wrong material at the wrong place,at the wrong angle
after i've welded the wrong connector components using the wrong wall thickness......
well u get the point
but eventually
eventually we start shaking out the design.
Can i ask 100 people their opinions on how it should be designed?
sure
will i get 100 different opinions?
sure
Not to underestimate the knowledge and expertise of clients
but i would prefer to have something for them to step into,sit on,sleep in before i asked them anything.
So i am concentrating on building
less on talking
will post some pics of progress
and to be somewhat erudite in the proceedings
Thanks for also being part of this process.
Pete
ps yes the design is important,as well as a business plan ,marketing etc,
but what i am doing is building a shelter for whomever, that doesn't want to spend the bulk of their day and resources on be able to go to sleep.
a simple shelter,using strength of community as foundation.
To see what is possible.
Pete Abrams
Trenton Atelier
Modern Metal Works
220 Allen Street
Trenton NJ
(609) 396-9936
Anil Gupte.Net
started, for various reasons, but primarily because I wanted to hear all you
experts. :-) To be honest I have not followed all the conversations, but I
have read many of your comments. I think you are on the right track and
have the right ideas. Once piece of the puzzle has been missing and it has
just surface now.
It is a critical piece of the puzzle though. I propose that we don't think
of the $300 house as a product, but as a process. Then it could start as a
$30 house, grow to a $300 house and later become a $3,000 or even a $30,000
house. The latter is what the world's poor aspire to. And why not? I have
observed this in a lot of slums - people first put up a tin roof, later,
they may make a wall or two and so on. Suddenly one-day it is two story
structure with windows and paint! It is quite thrilling actually! :-)
This works well for them because they can save up $20 every month and add to
their house incrementally. It's a more practical option than loans (none of
them qualify) or charity (there just isn't enough). Also, I know this may
not be a popular direction, but we have to think multi-story buildings -
land is too expensive for the urban poor not to do that. Even in rural
areas, it would inappropriate and even counter productive to turn
agricultural land into sprawling "housing".
So, I have been doodling a system that works "just like real life". But
collectively, I think we could do a much better job (I believe none of us
are as smart as all of us). I suggest we start thinking along those lines.
Thanx & Regards,
Anil Gupte
Christian,
Ian Fraser
> > > > > > stacked cells. This is a shift away from the �inside the box�
> > > > > > thinking toward a new approach to providing adequate shelter on
a
> > > > > > smaller footprint, while enabling a sense of community through
> > > > > > architecture. The underlying structure is comprised of tubular
> > > > > > members and connectors that interlock to create triangular
trusses on
> > > > > > all sides of each cell.
> > > > > > As an example of biomimicry, the B Home derives inspiration from
the
> > > > > > honeycomb and wasps nest, both of which enclose space using the
least
> > > > > > amount of materials and energy. The efficiency and simplicity
of the
> > > > > > hexagon design means more units can fit in smaller area.
> > > > > > Providing a safe place for people to store modest
belongings,
> > > > > > space that doesn�t require an excessive amount of energy and
Pete Abrams
and yes upward mobility is a great motivator
but my focus is on shelter
a space to sleep ,safe warm dry
get out and start the day refreshed and confident.
but also doing so in a manner that treads lightly on this planet,one that doesn't require absurd,unsustainable resources.
there are plenty of $30,000 homes out there,
i will focus on the $300
thanks
> > > > > stacked cells. This is a shift away from the “inside the box”
> > > > > thinking toward a new approach to providing adequate shelter on
a
> > > > > smaller footprint, while enabling a sense of community throughtrusses on
> > > > > architecture. The underlying structure is comprised of tubular
> > > > > members and connectors that interlock to create triangular
> > > > > all sides of each cell.the
> > > > > As an example of biomimicry, the B Home derives inspiration from
> > > > > honeycomb and wasps nest, both of which enclose space using theleast
> > > > > amount of materials and energy. The efficiency and simplicityof the
> > > > > hexagon design means more units can fit in smaller area.belongings,
> > > > > Providing a safe place for people to store modest
> > > > > space that doesn’t require an excessive amount of energy and
Sam
However, I strongly agree with Anil, there is significant value in
thinking about this as a process. It is too simplistic to think that
there will be a market for a once-off $300. Family units come in all
shapes and sizes and evolve over time, wherever you are.
If we are successful in building the 'ecosystem' around this (refer
other posts re the $300 job / the $300 life) then there will be both
the need and the capability to go beyond the initial basic shelter
(and no matter how clever our design ideas, to be sustainable the
solution must go beyond technical to deal with the broader 'ecosystem'
of social, financial, legal etc).
So, please keep focussing on the $300. However, whilst not a primary
design outcome, any consideration to the expandability or re-
useability of components in larger designs will be very useful - and
may be a step toward the system solution required for sustainable
success.
>
> read more »- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
pete abrams
Corporations for Responsibility
No interest like Self interest
Have the cells underwritten by relevant industries
exposure
Lets challenge the industries to fit out a Cell
A standard size template to showcase your work.
Lets make this the most expensive $300 home ever!!
get Agape to donate and install their Spoon Bathtub
http://agapedesign.it/prod_cat.cfm?id=20&pid=68&pname=Spoon%20-%20VAS901&lang=eng
the amount of recognition and karma points(if properly applied) a
company would recoup would more then offset the loss of inventory and
capitol.
now to focus
now to focus
300bhome
>
> read more »
pete abrams
Anyhoo if anyone is in the neighborhood
There is a presentation on the B home in Princeton NJ
25th April 2011 noon
Friend Center
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=164580356933879#!/event.php?eid=164580356933879
On Mar 28, 11:40 pm, pete abrams <pete...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Sponsored by:
> Corporations for Responsibility
>
> No interest like Self interest
>
> Have the cells underwritten by relevant industries
> exposure
>
> Lets challenge the industries to fit out a Cell
> A standard size template to showcase your work.
>
> Lets make this the most expensive $300 home ever!!
>
> read more »
Pete Abrams
but here is some fresh ink..
http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2012/11/13/31807/
not to get all Ivy rivalry on u ....
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Pete Abrams
helloooo....
if anyone is in the area
The Princeton Environmental film festival is this week and next
http://www.princetonlibrary.org/events/2013/01/peff-presentation-b-home-beehive-shaped-disaster-relief-shelter
January 31
4:00 pm
and i will be presenting on the B home
just puttin it out there
> > > > > stacked cells. This is a shift away from the “inside the box”
> > > > > thinking toward a new approach to providing adequate shelter on
a
> > > > > smaller footprint, while enabling a sense of community throughtrusses on
> > > > > architecture. The underlying structure is comprised of tubular
> > > > > members and connectors that interlock to create triangular
> > > > > all sides of each cell.the
> > > > > As an example of biomimicry, the B Home derives inspiration from
> > > > > honeycomb and wasps nest, both of which enclose space using theleast
> > > > > amount of materials and energy. The efficiency and simplicityof the
> > > > > hexagon design means more units can fit in smaller area.belongings,
> > > > > Providing a safe place for people to store modest
> > > > > space that doesn’t require an excessive amount of energy and
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Arturs
Many promising design-ideas were created and presented through this great initiative proving that there is no deficit of innovativeness. Unfortunately no success-story about any winning-design development in 300$ House site, yet. Has any Jovoto $300 House contestant moved ahead successfully (besides to the 3 winning designs chosen for prototyping)? Has anybody tried to promote his/her design to potentially interested organizations?
Ashoka is on 300$ House site, which is promising. They have made a great report - E-book “The Big Idea”, I find it inspiring and suggest for reading to those who expected his/her design to live after the contest. Ruban Selvanayagam in his comments to this report says: “The prominent barrier that confronts the BoP housing sector’s commercial growth is the lack of solutions that can be applied at a sufficient scale.” May be time for another contest?
I am wondering is there a dialogue between Habitat’s center for Innovation in Shelter and Finance and $300 House initiative? UN Habitat’s Slum Upgrading Facility/Pilot Programme reports spending a budget of 18,75 million USD to improve 340-350 households. May be any design from Jovoto/300$ House initiative could have helped to improve lives of more households for less money?
What’s next?
Cheers
Arturs
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Toby Cumberbatch
Hi, Pete, and all who still follow this blog.seems not many are left here...Anyhow, your "helloooo...." somehow pushed me to say something.First, I really like your idea of B-Home. We have to move "out of the box", may be we can get people to prefer hexagon in future?I have stopped my design development and went to school, instead, to lear more about business :-). Hope that will help me to reach my goals. I am trying to follow what happens in the field and therefore very interested to know what actually happens with all the interesting Jovoto $300 House contest designs?Many promising design-ideas were created and presented through this great initiative proving that there is no deficit of innovativeness. Unfortunately no success-story about any winning-design development in 300$ House site, yet. Has any Jovoto $300 House contestant moved ahead successfully (besides to the 3 winning designs chosen for prototyping)? Has anybody tried to promote his/her design to potentially interested organizations?
Ashoka is on 300$ House site, which is promising. They have made a great report - E-book “The Big Idea”, I find it inspiring and suggest for reading to those who expected his/her design to live after the contest. Ruban Selvanayagam in his comments to this report says: “The prominent barrier that confronts the BoP housing sector’s commercial growth is the lack of solutions that can be applied at a sufficient scale.” May be time for another contest?
I am wondering is there a dialogue between Habitat’s center for Innovation in Shelter and Finance and $300 House initiative? UN Habitat’s Slum Upgrading Facility/Pilot Programme reports spending a budget of 18,75 million USD to improve 340-350 households. May be any design from Jovoto/300$ House initiative could have helped to improve lives of more households for less money?
What’s next?
Cheers
Arturs
Pete Abrams
Peace
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![Gonzalez Cabrera, Hector [LTM-RISK]'s profile photo](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a-/ALV-UjWYPDY5T_LDXBuHS9R3Py959pgxFmPNvQlQE_gx_YPeKJX6mmm8=s40-c)
Gonzalez Cabrera, Hector [LTM-RISK]
Hi everyone!
Did someone present this project to Un techo para mi pais?
Techo is a nonprofit organization from LATAM (http://www.techo.org/). I think they will be interested in working in someone’s project.
I was working as volunteer in Paraguay.
If there is someone still trying to implement this project, Paraguay could be a great place. A lot of young people/ professionals could work in implementing this project.
Best
Héctor