by Frederick Phillips & Associates
Seeking to enclose the greatest volume with the least amount of surface area, the shell of these simple shelters employs the geometry of a snub cube. Because the snub cube incorporates squares as well as triangles, standard doors and windows do not compromise the purity of this Archimedian solid.
As an enclosure this shape affords great economies of scale. The shell consists in its entirety of 32 identical equilateral triangles and 6 identical square planes. The triangles are fabricated as SIP’s from Insulspan, Inc. or equivalent.
Stock operable windows and doors occupy the squares, limiting custom sizing to only the 3 fixed glass shapes around each door. The floor structure consists of 3 x 6 tongue and groove decking over 2 x 12’s supported on four 8” diameter wooden poles. The four poles and entry bridge provide the sole means of contact with the ground.
The resulting minimal environmental impact allows the shelter to be erected on steeply pitched inclines, heavily wooded sites, rocky areas, flood zones, and harbors.
The Snub Cube Huts, while inexpensive and easy to erect, provide a rich spatial experience within a highly ordered layout.
Category:Multi-family HousesYear:2022Location:Mettawa, Illinois, USAArchitects:Frederick Phillips & AssociatesDesign Team: Rick Phillips and Dean VardijonClient: Frederick Phillips & Associates