Cylindrical houses: who and why lived in them in the USSR

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

A cistern house - a construction from the area of "inexplicable, but true", something unreal and fantastic. Or, if you look at it more simply, then an option for a person without a fixed abode. In reality, this is a fully equipped and comfortable dwelling, called the CUB. Cylindrical unified blocks were originally intended for human habitation. They have nothing to do with tanks, which previously had a completely different purpose. This type of housing is still used by some people.

1. What are TSUBs for?

The idea of creating this type of housing came in connection with the need to develop the north. Given the harsh climate and severe frosts, the main challenge was to provide people working in this region with warm "houses" and, importantly, safe. In addition, the dwelling of the polar explorers had to be durable and also mobile. Initially, the polar explorers were put into trailers, in which a real glacier reigned even at a temperature of -20 degrees. Not everyone was able to endure such a test. In this regard, we have developed CUBs that meet all the requirements for residential buildings.

2. What is the advantage of this design

The first cisterns for life were designed and made in the 75th year, after which the specialists carried out a number of tests and made adjustments. According to the research results, preference was given to the most suitable and functional project - a model called TsUB-2M.

This design is similar to the principle of functioning of a thermos. When it's freezing outside, it's warm inside, and when it's hot, it's cool inside. Polar explorers said that when the frost was -59 degrees, the temperature in this "house" remained at +16 and above. The TsUB was also a good shelter from the cold in especially extreme conditions: -65 and heavy gusts of wind.

The second advantage of TSUBiks is increased mobility. They are transported by any available means - on wheels, skids, by helicopter by air. After delivery to the site, the only thing left to do was to install and secure well. It was possible to enter and live in it almost immediately, since everything inside was already mounted and ready for operation.

The specific shape of the dwelling (round) was also important - this is an excellent prevention for possible destruction by gusty winds and snow drifts, which are not uncommon in the north.

3. Arrangement of cistern houses

The inner space of the TsUB is divided into zones. One such dwelling was intended for four people. It contains a vestibule-boiler room, a living room, a bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom. A built-in water tank and a heater provide residents with both cold and hot water. There is heating under the floor, the ventilation system is located above the ceiling. Everything is so well calculated that the heat is evenly distributed throughout the room and condensation does not form. A number of models also have a shower. The furniture is built-in here, which allows you to optimize the interior space as much as possible.

Basically, the length of the cistern-house is not more than 9, 7 meters, although there were also shorter versions, as well as those whose length reached eleven meters. The diameter of the structure is from 2.5 to 3.2 meters. Outside, the TsUB was covered with sheet steel. Under it was a layer of polystyrene foam insulation. Then there was plywood and plastic panels.

In terms of heating, there can be two options: autonomous from a separate boiler or centralized. Water is pumped into the reservoir by a hand pump.

4. Who operated the cylindrical unified blocks

Barrels were used for the needs of climbers, research expeditions, and the military. At BAM they were also used in full. After the completion of construction, a lot of models fell into the hands of ordinary citizens. Today, you can also see such cisterns in summer cottages in the form of trade stalls and as a permanent home in the Far North for indigenous peoples. There are families in Yamal who have lived in these houses for fifteen years, and in the number of eleven people. In Omsk, four families are temporarily living in such a well-equipped barrel, waiting for their turn to an apartment. The price range for TsUBs is 40-150 thousand rubles.

Today CUBs are used as shops and country houses / nice-flowers.com

As practice shows, even today TSUBiki can be used as a temporary or suburban residential building. Of course, for a permanent place of residence - this is not the best option, but quite possible.