Humble Architecture:
Everest Challenge

The Peak seeks to create a closed cycle for water use. Its round elegant shape blends with the panoramic views from the mountains and resists snow loads. The technology of a Nano membrane decomposes human waste and produces water in this process, returning the water to nature without the need for an energy source.  According to the jury, "A fascinating proposal with a solution to treat the human waste directly on-site using the nano-filtration system. The wooden structure places this object well within its context. The simple arresting form has a small footprint,is  easy to duplicate, is relatively sustainable, and can be prefabricated. The thoughtful materiality, transportability, and structural understanding makes this proposal standout. It is graphically clear and beautifully presented.”

Cairns proposes a modular system made from aircrete - a lightweight and sustainable form of concrete. These molded building blocks can be carried by mountaineers to the desired location, reducing the need for any major means of transport for installation or construction. Once built, inside it includes a mesh seat and simple bag for waste disposal. The jury writes, “The idea of the toilet bag is clever and gives the person who is using the toilet the responsibility to take care of his or her own waste. The proposal offers a robust solution for a shelter combined with a simple and credible way to handle human waste. The presentation is very inviting. The solution can be strengthened by using the construction technique as shown in other proposals, using gabions filled with stone from the site.”

The proposal Crest takes inspiration from tents and other shelters made for extreme conditions, with a metal base structure wrapped in lightweight fabric * in this case, dramatically cantilevered off the edge of the mountainous site’s steep topography. Waste is collected in biodegradable bags placed in bins removed from the mountain at intervals, where they are fed into a biogas plant also proposed as part of the solution. The jury writes; “Crest is poetic, and is a light touch on the terrain, given its need to be strong enough to withstand winds. It can also be made smaller without losing its quality."