Sandbag Shelter Prototypes

Nader Khalili won the 2004 Aga Khan Award for this simple and elegant solution for temporary shelters. Sandbags are stacked in circular plans until they form a dome and structure them with barbed wire to keep them in place. An occulus forms at the top. The structure is so secure that it has received California building permits and has been used by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.The curved form works well in seismic events as it integrates load bearing and tensile strength systems. It can be built quickly and cheaply, and the transportation of materials is easy. All you need is sand.

The structure can be configured any number of ways, responding to specific context, like perhaps creating extra kitchen or bathroom spaces. These shelters have been utilized in Thailand, Chile, Iran, India, Mexico, and Siberia, starting in 1995.

More Info and Images


(grabadonut
– flickr/creative commons license)

(grabadonut
– flickr/creative commons license)

(grabadonut
– flickr/creative commons license)

(US Army Africa
– flickr/creative commons license)

(US Army Africa
– flickr/creative commons license)

(featured image by grabadonut on flickr/creative commons)