youth centre made of plastic bottles opens in DR

[PeterInBrat]

Cinder blocks are cheap and plastic bottles are recyclable. I don't see the point and I worry about the safety for anyone under the walls. No rebar, no aggregate, and nothing to prevent cracks. Bad idea. You would never lay a brick wall like that, so bottles will work better? All they need is a wolf with a healthy set of lungs and it's game over.

That "window" with the kids sitting on it is a point of failure for sure.

 

[mobrouser]

If it looks like rebar, feels like rebar then it probably is

rebar.

 

[dv8]

i feel that you wanted to attach a picture but it did not work.

 

[dv8]

i can only see rebar in columns, not in the wall.

 

[ctrob]

rebar.

A masonry block/mortar wall without reinforcement is a weak wall. A plastic bottle/mortar wall without reinforcement is dangerous.

They went home feeling good though, so that's what counts.

 

[bigbird]

i can only see rebar in columns, not in the wall.

Is rebar needed? I would not consider it a concrete wall but a plastic bottle wall. Not a really good comparison but when stone walls are built rebar is not used.

Since the walls appear to be non load bearing walls are building requirements different. The article did mention engineers designed the building so I will guess they knew what they were doing.

If the wall blows over you get bombarded with a bunch of plastic bottles and some concrete chips..............

 

[dv8]

is rebar needed? i don't know. that's why i asked. there is rebar in the walls of our house, for example.

 

[bigbird]

is rebar needed? i don't know. that's why i asked. there is rebar in the walls of our house, for example.

Structual engineering is not my thing, I am into the electrical aspect.

Not trying to stir the pot but I just question how some can be so sure the wall is doomed to fail when not seeing the design specs, not visited the site during construction, and as we well know not seen the completed building.

I am still under the assumption walls are designed differently depending upon whether they will support a load or not. The bottle walls seem just as strong as a wall of metal studs and sheet rock............

 

[dv8]

in a similar way one could question how some can be so sure the wall is NOT doomed to fail when not seeing the design specs, not visited the site during construction, and as we well know not seen the completed building. just sayin'.

 

[bigbird]

in a similar way one could question how some can be so sure the wall is NOT doomed to fail when not seeing the design specs, not visited the site during construction, and as we well know not seen the completed building. just sayin'.

Exactly, so I made no vocal opinion either way. It was mentioned the bottles would start to break down when exposed to the sun. I looked at the links you posted and from what I could see the bottles are NOT being exposed to the sun as the entire exterior walls are concrete. Just sayin'

Matter of fact looking at the second link you posted it appears the bottles are not exposed at all but are used more like a filler....... as far as we know it is possible they used wire mesh every so many courses of bottles.

I give the project the benefit of the doubt and just from reading the article and seeing a few pics I would call it a success......... Just me, but I don't always jump on the bandwagon thinking Dominicans can't do anything right.

 

[dv8]

Matter of fact looking at the second link you posted it appears the bottles are not exposed at all

thew bottles are exposed as "decoration". like here:

this is present all over the building.

 

[bigbird]

are you writing this from a plastic bottle house? yawn.

http://www.inspirationgreen.com/plastic-bottle-homes.html

 

[bigbird]

thew bottles are exposed as "decoration". like here:

this is present all over the building.

Yes, and the bottles are covered with cement............

Did you look at this yet...............

http://www.inspirationgreen.com/plastic-bottle-homes.html

 

[PeterInBrat]

I just hope they're not planning on a concrete roof. They're doing essentially a post and beam construction with the reinforced pillars then filling in the walls with garbage. They need concrete lintels (or better metal I beams) that can handle the spans as if it was an open box construction if they're planning on a concrete roof.

 

[dv8]

Yes, and the bottles are covered with cement............

a splash of cement, one can still see the plastic.

I just hope they're not planning on a concrete roof.

the roof is in place, metal sheets (zinc?).

 

[bigbird]

I just hope they're not planning on a concrete roof..........

RTFF, second link DV8 posted showed the finished building............. and NO it is NOT a concrete roof...........

 

[ctrob]

Just me, but I don't always jump on the bandwagon thinking Dominicans can't do anything right.

I don't think anyone said that. And I definitely didn't say that.

 

[bigbird]

a splash of cement, one can still see the plastic..

and.......... your point is?

 

[dv8]

that the bottles are exposed?

 

[bigbird]

that the bottles are exposed?

Covered with a "splash" of cement does not make them exposed.

The link I posted, any predictions which structure will be the first to have a wall collapse?

The bottle structure is something new to me and quite innovative in my opinion. I would have loved to see the project in it's construction stages.

Thanks for posting the article, I think we all learned something.....................