No nails, no lumber

de Jeffrey Head

"Imagine a house constructed in less than forty-eight hours, without using lumber or nails, that is more resistant to fire, earthquakes, and hurricanes than any traditionally built structure. This may sound like the latest development in prefab housing or green architecture, but the design dates back to 1941 when architect Wallace Neff developed Airform construction as a solution to the global housing crisis. Best known for his elegant Spanish Colonial-revival estates in Southern California, Neff had a private passion for his dome-shaped 'bubble houses' made of reinforced concrete cast in position over an inflated balloon. Built all over the world, from Brazil to Pakistan, the cost-effective and speedy-yet-sturdy construction method offered shelter to thousands during the 1940s and '50s."--Back cover.