I just wanted to update you as to what is going on with our Shelter 2.0 project. We are working towards a goal of sending ten (a twenty foot container full) of our new version of the shelters to Haiti and have a mission group that is willing to ship them for us for only a thousand dollars as well as make sure they get through customs using their in country agents and get them where we would like them to go with their trucks once they get to Haiti.
The new version has metal on it and is we think more fitting to the needs of helping those who need shelter. After being in Haiti this summer it seemed like a crime to give families living under tarps if they were lucky a shelter that relied on the lifespan of another tarp so we designed it to have corrugated metal go around it. The corrugations are cut in the framing so that the metal goes on very easily.
This link will send you to our new website with pictures from our recent fundraiser. We also were in Atlanta recently setting up one of our shelters for a homeless shelter group called the Mad Housers.
Happy Holidays Robert Bridges
If you are interested in purchasing one for yourself please email Robert at info@shelter20.com.
I don’t mean to be a Debbie Downer but there are people right here in the states that could use these houses. Any sort of giving is admirable, and I applaud you for your efforts, but you might look closer to home and you’ll find the need all around you. These people don’t usually make the headlines, because it’s not politically correct to admit that AMERICANS need help, but sometimes they do:
http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/the-new-american-dream-sprawling-tent-cities-filled-with-tents-made-in-china
I am one of the co-founders of Shelter 2.0 and I wanted to take a minute to address your statement about work needing to be done here at home in the United States. First I would like to say that I agree with you that their is much work to be done here and that the many tent cities popping up was our initial motivation, our second motivator being the earthquake in L’Aquila Italy two winters ago. In the write up above it says that we were recently in Atlanta Georgia working with a group helping the homeless in that city called the Mad Housers. We were able to donate a shelter to them and help them with passing out stoves for the winter in one of their homeless camps. Also it is our goal to wipe out homelessness worldwide as it says on our web site “Our goal is to shelter the 100 million homeless people in the world while creating educational and economic opportunities. Also part of the proceeds of the fundraiser is going towards buying a CNC machine for our local high school so that that they can participate in making shelters as well as other projects that they can then sell or raffle to raise money for their building trades program which gets only $400 a year for materials. We are located in one of the poorest counties in Virginia and know poverty all too well.
Best Regards
Robert Bridges
“We are located in one of the poorest counties in Virginia and know poverty all too well. ”
Then, Sir, that would be a good place to start. I realize it’s not as glamorous as getting articles written about making shelter for Haiti, and it won’t bring you international KUDOS, but it will certainly help those in your own back yard.
Dear Nan,
He just explained to you what he was doing in his own community to make a positive difference: helping the vocational programs in the local high school, not only by offering them building experience, but an opportunity to earn money for their program (something for those students to take pride in).
I also happen to know that this is not the only way that this gentleman acts in his community. I applaud his global approach and suggest we all look for ways to help the world.
That being said, I think it ridiculous to temper a comment with sarcasm and bitterness, to assume that the givee is seeking glamour. How about a kudos to someone who is willing to give of his time and his resources and who has looked for no praise at all. This person certainly does not deserve to be censored.
Nobody is “censoring” anybody. Perhaps you meant “censured”? In any case, my comments stand.
I would agree that anyone that is doing something about this subject and is trying to gain exposure for it ( and this group has certainly put a lot of effort into this design) should be supported not criticized for there efforts.If you have a concern locally maybe you could go out the door and start being apart of the solution.Do some fund raising and ask these people to send some shelters to the area your concerned about. 🙂
Good work and good cause, I am an organic farmer that boult my own shack on farm for less than 3G and in less than 80hrs by myself. I did this all with a mix of recycled and home cheapo materials; Cordless tools and a chainsaw only as no power. I mention all this as my minor criticizm is that your hooked on tech and power to create your OSB unit.I less cuts and found materials means speed and alternatives to me. I do shacks out of whatever?
This looks like a well-built, efficient shelter. The roof framing looks like it could withstand most any natural force. I especially like the reindeer! Whimsy should never be overlooked for its contribution to a project.
kudos to you guys keep up the good work and mad housers for their ongoing efforts. I also have a proto type easy up knock down shelter that could be used for homeless any where U.S. or abroad.This is good work and needs all the support it can get . 😉
Will the metal skin cause the shelter to be unbearably hot?
Potentially it could get hot but we have made the shelter so there is a door and windows at both ends to allow for air flow. Also in the pictures above the inside walls only go part of the way up the wall, but can continue all the way around and allow for insulation in the walls. We left the ceiling panels off so that people could see how it goes together. There is also the possibility of coating the metal in either white metal or you can paint the galvanized white or whatever color you would want.
I wonder about OSB exposed to the elements. I have not had good luck with these materials in hash weather.
Nice design and good project. However, I agree with Nan about working at home. I applaud your efforts for things already accomplished in the U.S. but I believe that more can be done. Nice job and good effort to spread your help far and wide.
Opps, that should read “harsh weather.” Sorry.
Without drainage on the top of the curve of the roof water would accumulate in the grooves of the corrugations and just sit there. Seems like this is increasing the possibility of leakage.
Like Nan, I don’t mean to dampen your spirits, but two weeks ago the CBC did a story on the state of humanitarian aid in Haiti. Unfortunately there are serious problems in getting it through — even a year later. You will be especially interested in shipments of temporary shelters (like yours) that are languishing in storage containers, gathering outrageous storage fees. I was reminded of this when I read about the group that is promising to deliver your shelters “for only a thousand dollars.” This article is worth reading before you proceed:
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/11/26/haiti-donations-money-canada-aid-reconstruction.html
I’m applauding this teams efforts, despite the challenges, to help his fellow man.Here, There, Despite the politics, the naysayers, and that ilk, if we all gave up when armchair quarterbacks told us “its never gonna work” We would never achieve anything.p.s. if you have NO roof, a “hot” house can be a wonderful thing, there’s always a workaround if you just try.
Having spent some time in tiny trailers in hot weather I know one very important thing about this shelter would be to site it where the breezes can flow straight through when door and window are open. Also helps to set up a shade tarp over top with an air space between it and the shelter. If you can manage to set them up so there is air flow underneath it helps too. Seems like Haiti would be a good place for solar power too, especially some kind of simple cooling fan. Might be a good business for somebody to set up there, help make money for locals and develop useful technology they can export. The culture of disaster relief seems to further victimize the recipients sometimes, rather than make them full partners in the recovery.
Do you think that having windows that are higher in one end and low at the other would improve air flow. Being in Haiti this summer trying to get our first round of shelters up was a learning experience for us for sure, not just from the site of extreme poverty but also from the standpoint of making connections with people on the ground to be able to get things done. As far as a business for someone that is the idea. We would get the equipment and the know how in a place like Haiti and once they have finished sheltering themselves they can begin focusing on creating other things that they could sell other than just shelters such as furniture. One of our other goals would be to try and get the equipment in an orphanage we are working with in Haiti so that they could use these shelters as a way to
get the children involved in hands on learning and create some job skills for them.
Thanks for your ideas
Robert Bridges
Co-Founder Shelter 2.0
Our trailer had windows and doors pretty much the same height but it makes sense that the hot air exit end would probably be better off higher up as long as it had a good volume of air flow. I bet there would be lots of good info from the Burning Man people, they do a lot of hot weather shelter, might be worth finding somebody there to bounce ideas with. A shade tarp can also extend to make a shaded outdoor cooking and socializing area, much nicer to cook outside in hot weather. Best of luck with your endeavours – charity may BEGIN at home, but it doesn’t stop there.
I find the design visually interesting, but I worry that the curved roof framing cut in those curves is prone to be wasteful of sheet wood. I suppose a number of them can be carefully fit together onto a sheet, but a rounded shape does not efficiently use a rectangular resource.
Also, the chemicals used in the creation of engineered wood are toxic and usually derived from petroleum. Wouldn’t it be better to just stick-build from natural lumber?
Besides the points brought up about working on local needs, the shipping issue that was touched on is a huge problem with disaster relief shelters produced somewhere else. How about sending plans overseas, use local/salvage materials, and teach the native population how to put these together?
would this shelter be strong enough to have it insulated with straw bales, from the sides over to the other side.???
or,, might it be possible to make a second skin and fill with insulating foam??
or, a second skin and use the R-Max material as insulation
great idea, your use of the notch over rib is brilliant
if our economy gets bad quickly, I can forsee subsidized cities being created, put in electrical, sewer, drop a structure over the slab onto a foam base, tada, instant, (sorta) housing
I agree that trying to house/help the whole world might be a over the top, better to help our family of Americans first, then help others
again, if the economy tanks, these puppies might be considered permanent.
I’m surprised at folks who’s reaction is “help Americans first”. The world is getting smaller and smaller these days and that’s a good thing. Is it possible that this US vs THEM kind of perspective has caused some of the very issues we are now trying to solve? If we looked at those in Haiti as our Neighbors the way we look at those who live across the street or in a remote part of our own country, perhaps less help would be needed now…in Haiti and in many places around the world. I find it frustrating. Discounting the efforts of others seems like a waste of time. Nan…go on and help somebody…anywhere in any way. Then, come back and tell us how you did it. That would be convincing. That would change people’s minds. That may convince others (myself included) to dedicate some of our resources to a cause that can make a difference. Running around the internet and pointing and saying “not good enough” truly is…not good enough. (I’m sure Nan is long gone…..but there’s always another Nan….isn’t there?).
I’ll also mention- I’m not American…but does that matter?
It is evident that the illustrated example has been structurally engineered for long term integrity. The only thing the sample could use is some waterproofing to increase the durable lifetime.It is an admirable design & execution, gaining excellent durability at very little loss of material.
Nan,
You are certainly first to criticize and I applaud this gentleman’s effort.
I’d like to hear all that you are doing to help the homeless, Nan.You oddly didn’t say or do you do Nothing and just criticize others making an effort to help, That is my guess.
Vicki