The Northern people have quite an unusual way of housing, that's very different from what we are used to. No, it's not a brick and cement house that we are talking about but something pretty uncomfortable, to say the least!
They live in cisterns! Yes, the same cisterns that are used to transport oil and other liquid substances. But why leave the luxury of a warm home and live in a cylindrical cistern? The answer might leave you shocked!
40 Years
It might come out as a new practice but that isn’t the case. Cisterns have been used as a housing facility for the last 40 years!
They have been used by shift workers, researchers, mountain climbers, and military personnel. But how does living in a cistern warmer as compared to living in a regular home? Let’s find that out!
Nothing Warm
We know that is very difficult for someone new to digest the fact that a metal barrel can be transformed into a home. But experience has cemented the fact that to this day, a warmer shelter has not been invented.
When the air temperature drops to -65 degrees Celsius and the wind rushes as 60 meters per second, only a cistern can save a person from this extreme cold.
A Soviet Discovery
This discovery that these metal containers can also be used as a housing solution, was made in the soviet union. This discovery was made when they were exploring the north.
At that time, housing adapted to extreme weather conditions was severely lacking. But guess what? Empty containers were in abundance. This also stands true to the current scenario.
Enterprising People
Realizing the potential of these containers, enterprising people started transforming these barrels into homes. The standard housing that the industry at that time supplied, were wooden work trailers with frail insulation.
A form of slag wood or sawdust was used to provide insulation. As you might imagine, they couldn’t withstand even 20 degrees frost.
Metal Oil Barrels
We know that it might sound a little strange but these metal oil barrels serve as the most reliable and warm housing in such extreme weather conditions. Yep!
If they are arranged in an appropriate manner, these metal oil barrels can withstand the most severe frost. Not only bone-chilling frost, but these metal barrels can also withstand powerful gusts of wind.
Wooden Work Trailers
These wooden work trailers were only good enough for the moderate cold. People back then realized that they needed something warmer if they wished to survive in extreme cold.
Even a layman would guess that the units that were constructed in the field cannot be compared to the ones designed by dedicated engineers.
Soviet Engineers
Two Soviet engineers namely Alexander Nuklachev and Sergey Komalov got their brains to join forces together. Both the engineers skilfully and professionally improved the work already put in by the people.
They took the already developed specimens of such housing and transformed it into something else together. Something that came to be known as the unified metal block.
Unified Metal Block
The unified metal block that was developed by the two engineers completely transformed the housing scenario.
It was built upon the foundation laid by the previous specimens but was better in each and every way. More importantly, it proved to be considerably warmer as compared to the previous housing solutions.
Production Begins
The first model of the unified metal block was first produced and developed at the Volkolmsk repair and mechanical plant in 1975.
Full-blown production of such units was commenced at a woodworking plant. In 1978, the improved model served as a model for the development of the very first mobile residential complex!
Incredible Results
It was now time to put these units to test in extreme weather conditions. And guess what? These unified metal blocks passed the test with flying colours! After testing these mobile residential units in extreme weather conditions, incredible results were recorded.
When the temperature outside the block was -56 degrees, the temperature recorded inside the block was +16 degrees Celsius. It was reported later that the housing remained warm even when the temperature dropped to -65 degrees!
Not a Lot of Investment
Not only these cylindrical housing units are comparatively a lot warmer, but they also don’t even require a lot of investment. In the form of labour and money, they are a lot more affordable.
Their high reliability and excellent living conditions under extreme weather conditions made them a popular model. Later on, efforts were made to make them more luxurious. Read on!
The Blocks Are Now Equipped With
The modern-day metal blocks are now equipped with kitchens, hallways, showers, warm floors and comfortable furniture. The interior of the blocks is finished with natural wood panelling.
It slowly transformed itself into the dream house of workers, researchers and mountain climbers who otherwise had to live in harsh conditions.
Standard Housing
It took years of innovation and coming up with creative solutions to transform a normal metal barrel into a standard home. They slowly started gaining popularity among workers and researchers who had to live in extreme cold.
The army also had a key role in making them even more popular. Read on to know why!
Mobile Housing Units
Cisterns which are generally used for transporting oil and other liquids, best serve as mobile housing units in the far north. They can be easily transported from one place to another as their mobility factor is very high.
This particular factor makes these housing units a better residential solution as compared to a regular home. But who prefers to live in such an unusual ‘home’?
First Used by Army
The improved models were first sent to the Army where military personnel used them as temporary housing. They used them as offices and shelters during the deployment of troops in remote areas.
They lived away from the location of the main unit. These unified metal blocks were put into use when the other housing solutions were deemed unfit for use in such conditions.
Special Blocks For the Army
For military purposes, these unified metal blocks were a bit modified. They were equipped with absolutely everything needed for living. Shelves, tables and plumbing were included in the package.
Those units also deployed various appliances. This cylindrical metal house soon became the salvation of military personnel and workers living in extreme conditions.
Number of Strengths
The factory production of a turnkey residential module has a number of strengths. These strengths of a unified metal block include durability, streamlining during transportation and stability during strong gusts of wind.
To attain these qualities, several calculations are made and then they are implemented by the technological nature of the production.
Decrease the Consumption
When the production of these unified metal blocks was launched in a full swing, people noticed the decrease in the overall consumption of materials.
The overall cost of building a home out of a unified metal block was considerably lesser than constructing a regular home. This also made it a popular option among people who didn’t have pockets deep enough.
A Real Thermos House?
Why cylindrical shape in particular, you might ask! Well, there’s a scientific explanation behind it. The surface of heat radiation was better as compared to rectangular trailers.
The cylindrical shape combined with insulation around the cistern made it a real thermos house. It could sustain the warmth even if the outside temperature was below the desired level.
No Chimneys
If you take a detailed look at the residential module, you would notice that there aren’t any chimneys electric heaters.
There aren’t any other external appliances that keep these housing modules warmer as compared to the extreme cold outside. How do they sustain the warmth then?
Warm
These cylindrical cisterns are heated with the help of convectors located in the underfloor space. A section of the barrel allows this to be done unnoticed.
The cylinder’s ventilation is installed under the ceiling of the upper part of the cylinder. It helps organize the regulated supply of air from the outside.
Unified Temperature
This sorcery allows the metal block to sustain a unified temperature from the inside. With necessary ventilation and without the accumulation of condensation, this system has proven its might.
The optimal heating system and the correct use of insulation layers can withstand all kinds of winds. It allows for the creation of comfortable living conditions even in extreme weather.
Mounted Unit of Water
Water needs are fulfilled by a mounted unit of water which is installed with the unified metal block. This water storage provides the occupants with both hot and cold water.
If you are wondering, residents also have an option to install showers and flush toilets. These sorts of innovations and creativity have made living in these blocks a huge success!
Ease of Transportation
What makes the case of these unified metal blocks even stronger is the fact that they can be easily transported from one place to another. These units can be transported by all types of vehicles, including a helicopter!
This makes it a very popular choice among people who have to shift and live in an extremely remote place with minimal civilization.
For Extreme People
This unified metal block has proved to be a boon for all those who are involved in developing fossil fuels or studying the north.
As we have mentioned earlier as well, these cylindrical houses are also used as a housing solution by military personnel as well. Particularly those, who are deployed in a remote location.
Disadvantages
These metal barrels have indeed proven themselves to be a blessing for countless people. But the law of the universe states that everything has its downside too.
Needless to say, living in such houses come with its own set of limitations. The limitations are mainly dependent on the weather conditions.
Heats Up Very Quickly
With the onset of days, the metal shells that form the outer lining of these metal barrels heat up very quickly. This happens when they have standard insulation. The inside of these containers can get piping hot on sunny days if certain measures aren’t deployed.
Human beings have a tendency to overcome everything with creative and innovative solutions. This isn’t a very different case in that regard as there are certain hacks that can help cool things down.
Lifehacks
The first and foremost hack is to find a shade. Those regions where such temperature changes exist require additional protective elements. These elements include roofs made out of wood, mats made out of reeds or straw and tarpaulin coverings.
A more organic and cost-effective measure is to use the help of climbing plants. They are also additionally insulated from the outside by using mineral wood materials or polyurethane coating. If these hacks are used, shading is not required.
A True Blessing
Despite the few disadvantages, it is widely agreed that unified metal blocks are nothing but a true blessing. Over the years, they have aided many explorations that have benefitted mankind for good. If these blocks weren’t invented, certain people would still have been battling the harsh and extreme weather conditions.
We can expect these blocks to evolve even further in the future with more and more amenities added inside the container. Would you want to spend a vacay in such a container? We definitely would!