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Extreme Recycling - Cardboard Buildings

Posted by michael on from the cut-along-the-dotted-line dept.

Xenographic writes: "Apparently, someone in the UK got the idea to build a school entirely out of cardboard and Westborough Primary School decided to implement it. The students are even recycling their trash to help construction!"

8 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. nothing new by blowhole · · Score: 2, Informative

    Both my elementary and high school had cardboard walls. It really sucked, unless you liked learning European History in Algebra class.

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  2. Hrm.... by Bob+McCown · · Score: 4, Informative

    Anybody notice the date on the article is 1 April 2000?

  3. Very dated by proxima · · Score: 3, Informative

    The press release is dated for April 1, 2000. The project is supposed to have been completed by March 2001.

    Try browsing through the parent site.

    Here is an article from the BBC about it dated March 21, 2001.

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  4. More cardboard buildings! by Minupla · · Score: 4, Informative

    Check out this page for more interesting info on using cardboard for buildings, including an Expo pavillion!

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  5. Re:Cardboard and the food chain by Thomas+M+Hughes · · Score: 5, Informative

    It is suggested you read the article. The building has been treated for both water, and fire, and strength.

    The strength tests they used were the following: (1) The strongest man in Great Britain took a sledge hammer to one of the tubes. It was only slightly dented. I'd imagine Lumber acts the same way when he takes a sledge hammer to it. (2) They built a test bridge out of the material, and drove a 1 ton van onto it, which did not dent at all.

    The fire test involved taking a flame thrower to untreated and treated cardboard. The untreated burned pretty good, but the treated charred, but remained physically mostly in tact (similar to lumber). Don't expect it to survive burning jet fuel, but it should do okay.

    The water test involved the local fire department hosing the place down with fire hoses. The inside remained dry, with no leaks or damp spots.

    However, its life is only expected to be 20 years. Which really isn't that bad, for a recycable building.

  6. Fire Hazard: Least of the problems. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    How many people live in wooden houses?

    Compressed cardboard is more dense than some types of wood. Also, it lacks a lot of the natural resins of say birch or pine. Pine tar is *very* flammable mind you.

    Have you ever tried burning heavy gauge cardboard or say a phonebook? it doesnt work very well unless you shred it.

    The parts of such a building vulnerable to flame are the honeycomb wafers used for insulation. Of course, most materials become somewhat flammable if you make them thin enough.

    That was why asbestos seemed like such a good deal. Any ways the point is moot, shredded cardboard is *commonly* used as insulation these days. Its a whole lot easer to work with than fiberglass.

  7. Pictures of the completed building by inio · · Score: 4, Informative

    can be found at http://www.cardboardschool.co.uk/content/projim01. htm. This includes construction photos and some detail shots of the more interesting parts.

    Of particular interest to the masses is this http://www.cardboardschool.co.uk/content/siteim/Au gust_03.htm picture, showing the front of the completed building.

  8. Maybe I'm a tiny bit cynical, but.... by Moonelf · · Score: 2, Informative

    Did anyone else catch the date of that article? Do they observe April Fools day in the UK?