'Paper Walled Homes' For Homeless

By Staff

Friday, January 23, 2009, 12:29

Gerd Niemoeller, a design engineer has created the ultimate 'wall paper house' from recycled cardboard and newspapers. These accommodation units provide a fine option for the homeless and poor.

Reportedly, Niemoeller has termed his creation as "the Universal World House" and is co-designed by German development aid agency GTZ, and with the architect Dirk Donath, from the Bauhaus University in Weimar.

The home weighs 800kg and is 36sq m, can be assembled, environmentally friendly, earthquake-proof and, crucially in the age of recession, a bit of a bargain. "Without the foundation block, the whole house actually weighs in at about 400kg," said Niemoeller. "It will not, however, simply blow away. The basic material is resin-soaked cellulose recovered from recycled cardboard and newspapers," he added.

Heat and pressure makes the paper stable, with air vacuum in each of the honeycombed structures on the inside walls of the house. This results in a strong and stable well-insulated exterior wall. The same techniques is applied for the construction of aircraft and high-speed yachts.

"But, they are working with aluminium and other alloys, which is expensive, time consuming, energy intensive," said Niemoeller. "That's not suitable for the Third World," he added.

The main aim of the creation is to build settlement options for the homeless and poor.

According to Niemoeller, "People don't want to flee their countries; they've been driven to leave their homes out of the need to survive." "The number of migrants, refugees living in improvised housing, is going to grow with climate change, and we offer an alternative," he added.

The 'paper home' is created with eight single and double beds, a veranda and an area for shower and lavatory. Also Included are the shelves, tables and benches. The wall of the kitchen can be tipped open to let air in and to blur the distinction between inside and outside.

First one to inquire about the house are the Delta State oil developers in Nigeria, and from Angola. More than 2,000 houses have been ordered by another Nigerian company.

The house is also being considered by the development aid agencies to accommodate those fleeing from the cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe. AGENCIES