These days inflation is not popular.
People want a lot less of it.
But there’s another kind of inflation people might like to see more of: a kind of inflation can help quickly build inexpensive, sturdy and affordable houses.
The process is called Inflatable Flexible Factory Formwork.
New York-based Automatic Construction produces inflatable PVC forms that are sort of like air mattresses with a hollow space in the middle.
The construction team uses an air compressor and a pump to fill them before setting them into place.
Those forms are filled with a kind of carbon-storing cement.
Once that sets, the forms stay in place as a kind of weatherproofing.
From there, builders finish the structure in the usual ways: installing lines for water and electric, putting up dry wall, hanging a “Bless This Mess” sign up in the kitchen.
Then, there’s a finished living or working space.
The company says its process is five times cheaper than a traditional build and takes half as long.
And these days, making construction cheaper could help bring more affordable housing options to people and communities who need them.
Though I kind of want there to be like a ripcord that makes the house form start to inflate.
Maybe that can be in version two?
When we use the term “presidential race,” it’s a figure of speech; we don’t mean the candidates are literally running toward a finish line.
Except that this weekend in Nashville, there’s an actual presidential race.
The 7th President 7K Race takes place Saturday morning on the grounds of The Hermitage, which was home to President Andrew Jackson.
No, Jackson will not challenge the winner to a duel.
Structure-inflating construction tech could give 3D printing a run for its money (New Atlas)
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