Burning Man “Dhome” | Inflatable Shelter

Background

South Winston is a Venture Capitalist firm based in New York. With a focus on emerging technologies and humanitarian philanthropy, South Winston looks to invest in infant startups within these areas and help develop them into viable businesses.

The Design and Fabrication

The Dhome is designed for ultimate convenience and adaptability. It’s a modular unit, meaning it can be easily transported and assembled quickly in any location. The key to this is a central, solid core. This core houses all the essentials for comfortable living – a toilet, sink, power source, cooking facilities, air conditioning, and even the inflation system itself!

The inflatable living or working areas then expand outwards from this core, on either side, just like wings. The iconic “spider leg” design serves a dual purpose. These legs hold up a large shade that covers significant sections of the inflatable structure.

The Dhome wasn’t built overnight. It took five months of development leading up to Burning Man 2014. The creators went through three prototype structures to test and refine different aspects of the design. They started with the core unit, then built the main dome living space, followed by the special airlock entrance with its “spider legs“.

The Results

The Dhome took its first steps (or should we say inflations?) at Burning Man 2014. This two-week test in the unforgiving desert environment proved its effectiveness for off-grid living. Impressed by its performance, South Winston greenlit a “production” version. Six units were then deployed at Burning Man 2015, further refining the design. The future looks bright for the Dhome, with new versions and layouts in the works for various applications – from temporary housing and glamping to outdoor events and even the military and medical sectors.