Binishell or inflatable concrete house in an hour: alternative construction technologies

Friends, this year we will tell you about the most unusual building technologies. Let's start with an overview of Binishells - domed monolithic concrete buildings erected using inflatable formwork. Don't forget to like and subscribe to the channel - it's interesting with us!

Project creators

In 1964, the Italian Dante Bini developed a way to literally inflate a concrete house. The idea was improved and implemented by his son Niccolo. The result is pre-fabricated and inexpensive to manufacture houses with a fancy round shape.

Primary technology

A special membrane is laid on the finished foundation - an inflatable dome, which, when filled with air, will take the shape of a future building. The mold material is a heavy-duty polymer that can withstand the weight of the reinforcing cage and concrete.

On top of the deflated mold, a specially designed reinforcing-spring frame is laid. The frame is designed in such a way that when the shape expands, it transforms into a domed structure.

Further, the frame is poured with concrete. There is no information about the composition of concrete, but it can be assumed that additives have been added to the solution that prolong its vitality and increase its plasticity.

The poured solution is carefully leveled. On the wet concrete surface, the second membrane is immediately laid and attached along the perimeter. It plays the role of the top cover of the inflatable mold. The concrete solution is, as it were, locked between the two components of the dome shape.

After that, air is supplied to the first membrane. It inflates, takes the shape of a building, thereby lifting the frame filled with concrete. When the dome reaches its design size, it stabilizes, and workers begin to compact the solution with special vibrating plates. The complexity of the process is that the vibrating plates are fed and guided by ropes from the top of the building.

When the concrete gains the necessary strength, the upper membrane is removed, and air is released from the lower one. There remains a monolithic concrete frame in which windows and doors are cut; communications are carried out and partitions are installed; finishing work is in progress. The building is ready.

Of the advantages of "inflatable" domed houses, the following can be noted:

• construction speed - construction of a house with an area of ​​45 sq. meters inflates in just 1 hour;
• material savings up to 50% compared to traditional monolithic houses;
• increased thermal performance of the structure due to the absence of seams and gaps.

Lack of technology: impossible to build multi-storey buildings.

Improvement

Over time, the designers realized that two membranes can be replaced with one, and the frame can be laid out over the inflated mold. Perhaps this idea was at the very beginning, but there were no polymers that had sufficient strength and elasticity at the same time.

Now Binichells are built even faster. First, a durable polymer dome is inflated over the foundation. A reinforcement cage is created on top of it. A cement mortar is placed on the frame using a pump. When the mixture hardens, the mold is deflated.

The new way is much easier and cheaper:

• instead of two membranes, one inflatable "bubble" is used;
• the frame is made of conventional reinforcement without the use of expensive springs;
• the inconvenient process of vibration of the dome surface is excluded;
• openings are immediately provided for by the design and do not need to be cut out - the consumption of concrete and reinforcement is reduced.

How do you feel about such a technological solution and dome architecture? Write in the comments!

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• We wanted the best, but it turned out as always: a selection of construction failures.

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