The Concrete Tent: Solid Help for Humanitarian Aid? Worldcrunch
go to original March 8, 2013

Watch Richard Ambrose and Jonny Phillips quickly construct a building made of concrete canvas—a material that has all the elements of concrete, but is flexible enough to be turned into any shape. This technology allows people to erect permanent structures in a fraction of the time needed for traditional building techniques. (NationalGeographic)

Introducing the concrete tent: It’s made of a material called Concrete Canvas and needs only water and air to "pitch it."

The material has all the elements of concrete, but is flexible enough to move before it hardens. Inspired by plaster casts for broken bones, the fibers of the materials evenly absorb the water. After the water is introduced, it takes 5 hours to harden and become completely solid.

The material comes in an outer plastic casing, into which 800-1000 liters of water is added. Then, it is inflated using a leaf blower and a car, or other method of towing to drag out the 50m2 structure. In just 24 hours, a totally solid structure can be erected.

It is being touted as a way to revolutionize the way that humanitarian aid is delivered in disaster or conflict zones. With thermal properties - so it stays warm or cool inside - it also keeps a sterile environment for surgery or other medical treatment.

The tents are designed to last more than 10 years, and have been created to withstand a high compressive load - be that sandbags, fill material or even snow. They can also provide protection against shrapnel, blasts and small arms fire.

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