No nails, no lumber
Subtitle: the bubble houses of Wallace Neff
By: by Jeffrey Head
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press
Published: 2011
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 168
ISBN-13: 9781616890247
Subjects: Concrete houses; Criticism and interpretation
Other titles: Bubble houses of Wallace Neff
Description: "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.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: The bubble houses. United States; title: Falls Church, Virginia; title: Litchfield Park, Arizona; title: Loyola University, 1944; title: Pacific Linen Supply Co.; title: Pasadena, California; title: South Pasadena, California; title: Hobe Sound, Florida; title: Airforms around the world. Latin America; title: The Caribbean; title: Europe; title: Africa; title: Asia; title: Conclusion; title: Appendix A. Interview : The Carmody sisters; title: Appendix B. The patents of Wallace Neff; title: Appendix C. Deflated airform plans [timeline].