The Shell House prototype is designed as a three-bedroom house, 85 ft. long facing south and just over 30 ft. wide at its center. It provides 1800 sq. ft. of 1^st floor space with a 600 sq.ft. balcony level giving a house of 2400 sq. ft. (no basement), and an 1800 sq ft outside terrace.  Intended as an organic form, it grows like a plant or tree, with its leaves turned to the sun, transforming that energy into nourishment and its foundation roots wide and firm enough to support its size, part built in the earth which also feeds and nourishes it. This construction prototype was built inside an airform (balloon) and sprayed first on the inside surface to provide an insulation blanket for the shell surface when the airform is removed and shell “skin” is applied, and to provide a soft material which allows for small thin wall board wafer-like inserts with thin black wire attached and placed in a pattern in the flexible insulation. The inserts with connecting wire extending from them provided for tying the flexible pattern for steel reinforcements in the small aggregate spray concrete shell thickness.

The concrete (shotcrete) was sprayed at tested strength capacity and thickness variation using my thickness variations analysis calling for more thickness around the reinforcing bars at most extreme curvature change. The shell shape was spray formed/ as shaped against the curvilinear balloon airform shape.   The forms, such as in a seashell or double curve leaf, or an egg form, work together, each curved in multiple directions (at least two) simultaneously, providing great structural strength.   In addition, the skin or finish is of variable thickness, as I have described, like skin thickness variation in humans and animals, with the greatest at the curvature, where the pressure is greatest, all providing  structural strength and lightness.  The airform is removed from the shell when completed and can be re-used.  A protective outer “skin” is sprayed on afterwards from the exterior using chemical prime and cover material.

Sy Rutkin • Rutkin Designs

Home •  Shell House •   Gallery •  Publications •   Architect •  Future •  Contact Us

copyright © 2007 Rutkin Designs all rights reserved • Web by RVPM Designs