Pods

Introduction

A pod is a pre-formed room or collection of rooms, that can be used on its own or joined with others.

They can be constructed in a factory environment, and fully fitted out including electrics, decoration, carpets etc. A number of standard units can be used to make larger arrays.

Ferrocement although being very strong and flexible enough to build most structures, is not a good insulator, so adding insulated pods, both provides insulation and sound deadening, but also could speed up many building projects.

Pods could have wire on the outside and be then used as a base of Ferrocement structures, allowing large Ferrocement structures to be made that are both easy to construct with minimal framework, and forming box structures extremely strong.

Pods could be used for any structure and have common or designer units, we will provide some examples below.

Resort hotel

An example of the use of pods could be the construction of a resort hotel onto a preformed island.

Within either a land based factory or a floating manufacturing facility a small variety of standard pods can be constructed, a bedroom unit with entry door, and doors off each side, can be arranged so that it will go with a second pod that contains two bathroom units to construct the bulk of the hotel, the sequence is a room, double bathroom unit, two rooms, another double bathroom etc. This arrangement provides all ensuite rooms with each pair as potentially adjoining rooms.

Once installed and fitted in place only external connections need to be made and doorways joined up, and doors hung. The frame of the pod is constructed of processed wood and insulation infill, and interior of wood or plasterboard.

If we go one stage further, and suggest that the outer of the pods are covered in wire ready for cement plastering to form Ferrocement structures, and that either below or at the rear of the the pod is a service run through which wires, pipes etc can be run, windows in the rear, and half of a passage in the front, and you can see that you could build them into layers, to form the complete residential blocks for a hotel. All you have to build in addition is stairwells, means to get services up to each level and to add a roof.

Suppose you either used other pods or large domes for the other facilities and you have a complete hotel.

In a similar way pods could be used as part of the development of the outer walls of the islands.

Residential homes

Let us suppose we have a large island unit and want to build a series of detached houses, to form a housing estate, similar to on land, complete with gardens.

When the island is built and prior to houses being installed all services can be laid in and fixings to the island structure provided.

We can design the houses in exactly the same way as we would a normal house, all we have to consider is how we could break the house into component parts for reassembly. The rooms could be all different sizes or more likely a number of standard sizes that we can configure together. As much as possible can be pre-assembled, and therefore on site the construction job involves just moving the units into place connecting the sections up and fixing it all down. Again using Ferrocement technology the whole lot can be connected up to become a solid part of the island. Thin facing bricks, tiles or stone can be added to the outside, and a roof made of tiles and then encapsulated in plastic can be added to give it a quality homely look. Many homes are already constructed in a similar way from preformed sections.

Shallow tanks can be formed into the island surface into which peat or earth can be added to allow a garden to be planted. Sheltering walls can be built if needed. As the kingdom will always face into the weather a dome style protective wall could be added to protect some or all the homes on an exposed island, it would also be possible to have a low wall section, that can be remotely raised on the few days it is needed. Many islands will be sufficiently sheltered so as not to need defenses.

Office complex

Starting again with an existing base and services available, that could be the island base or as a higher level over another structure, such as shopping center or resort facility. Offices of any size can be constructed of pieces that will join together, similar to a property on a mobile home park. Once joined and fixed in place all joins can be filled or covered up. In some cases temporary pillars or clamps can be used for transportation, meaning units built of walls with unsupported ends can be used and joined up on site

By this means individual and larger offices can be formed.

In island units

Islands can be formed so that they will house pods, singularly or in groups at below ground level. This in effect turns the island into a ship with apartments or rooms for some other purpose. In most cases this would be done during the construction phase of the island. The island would be constructed with window spaces, and services, plus space for corridors or other means of access. The pods would then be fitted before the floor level of the island is installed. This puts them within the reinforced box structure that forms the island. Many levels can be constructed if required, and you still have a surface to use as well.

Advantages of pods

	High insulation.
	Can be constructed in a controlled environment.
	No need for all craftsmen to install.
	No need for every building craft to tramp through each unit or undertake work that damages that done my another.
	Can be part of the structure providing additional strength.
	Lightweight construction.
	Allows all year round building.
	Allows land based manufacture, or in floating workshop.
	Lower cost of development on most projects.
	Multiple levels are possible cutting the cost per unit.
	Speed of production.

Links page - to people who make modular homes or parts of homes etc.

A lot of references to the potential use of pods is contained within The Visions section available from the Home page.