Pallet-House System – Triangular and Cubic Dwelllings
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 06.11.06
In a follow up post to last week’s article about I-Beam’s Pallet-Houses, today we bring you the Pallet-House System, another design proposal on how to use wooden shipping pallets as building blocks for shelters. The PHS project’s angle is different from I-Beam Design’s in that they are focusing more on affordable accommodation than emergency housing. PHS are tapping into the economic and environmental benefits of using ‘disused materials’ and self building, attracting people who would like to own their own house, but can’t afford to buy through the normal route. They tell us that ‘the Pallet House© emerges as a manifesto against overpackaged architecture, exploring the essential use of elemental frame models, applied mainly in urban and rural contexts.’
The most important difference between I-Beam’s Pallet-House proposal and the PHS project is that PHS are very specific in their designs, proposing two formats: triangular, or A-frame, and cubic. However, being so premeditated in the design process seems to work counterintuitively to the chosen material which is modular. The potential of using pallets as a building material, as I-Beam Design show, is that the dwelling can grow and develop organically according to the environment or needs of the inhabitants. PHS say that ‘it is an open design system, involving several general parameters such as programmatic condition, climates, location, a flexible and lightweight structural frame and a cheap budget.’ All of these factors are important benefits, but another important aspect of self-build is the opportunity for self expression and individuality. As the images of the A-frame pallet-houses in a row show, while they are affordable and environmentally friendly, they all look the same. As for the cubic house, don't enough people already live in boxes? via: o2 Group ::PHS
I've rarely seen a Treehugger post as full of hot air as this one. Obviously neither the architests or theperson who wrote this post have ever physically worked with pallets, and have never disassembled one with a four foot crowbar.
To begin with pallets are roughly a meter by a meter square. They have no wood capable of going a structural length.
Secondly, if you do build with pallets, you'll be violating every building code know to man.
What pallets are is a good source of short (one meter) length boards. But they are by absolutely no means enough in themselves to do any building. You have to get the rest of your lumber elsewhere
Hey, I have an idea. We could connect two pieces of discarded corrugated aluminum together and make a triangle, then use the pallets for a floor. Oh wait. They already do that in many third world countries and the dumps of Tijuana! You can even use old garage doors if you want! Check out the Tijuana Dump Dwellers if you want to see ingenious use of garbage for a dwelling.
Pallets are made of useless trash wood. They are not discarded after one use, but are reused until someone steals them or they fall apart. Taking one apart with a crow bar usually just tears it up. Pallets are best to be reused and recycled as PALLETS for shipping things until they fall apart, and then they make great bonfire kindling.
Very neat, never though of using pallets for prefab housing.
Saw two guys in Maidstone, Kent, UK who have outfitted their entire house with furniture, kitchen cabinets etc. made out of pallets that were partially broken.
So it doesn't have to be used just for making other pallets.
Well, its all pretty interesting! Rather than speak to an issue from rejection how about from speculation ,( there really is enough waste out there ). it would be hard to totally embrace the idea of only pallets. With some thought and changes these pieces could be used with a minimal amount of structural material to tie it all together, ( anything saved at this juncture is better than using all new-we're putting enough stress on the environment, our pocket books, our lives ). not all companies/users of pallets recycle there pieces. There are three companies where I get pallets that Burn "new" looking ones all the time! Come on you builders!!
I'm amused at the smug comments of Albert Elbert and his pronouncement that pallets are nothing more than scrap. I see solidly made wooden pallets, nearly impossible to dismantle, all the time. They are perfectly suited to modularly attaching to something like a post and beam skeleton, and there are numerous pictures of just such structures on the net, which have held up extremely well over time. I doubt anyone is suggesting you build a 2500 sq. ft. home with them (but you could with a little ingenuity), but they are perfectly usable by anyone with a speck of creativity, little money, and a desire to shelter one's family from the elements. To say it can't or shouldn't be done makes you look foolish, Albert.
For the 2008 Euro Championship in Zurich, Switzerland and huge structure complete with dining area, kitchen, and bar were created using palates. It was assembled in a few days and I might add that it looks pretty impressive.
So, to the "nay" sayers, it IS possible AND it IS being done.