By fnord12 | April 26, 2013, 12:31 PM | Ummm... Other? | Link

Hobbit Bunkers

These poor kids in London have to take refuge in these adobe huts on the playground to shield themselves from the noise of the airplanes landing in Heathrow airport.

Four "superadobe" domes have gone up at a primary school in Hounslow, under the flight path for Heathrow's southern runway, and two other schools in the area plan to build similar structures. Constructed from coiled bags of earth with white plaster walls, the domes reduce the roar from incoming aeroplanes by 17 decibels for pupils inside.

The domes' builder, Julian Faulkner, said he had constructed about 70 homes and shelters using the same materials and techniques more common in Africa and Asia, predominantly in Nepal's earthquake-prone Kathmandu valley.

Planes pass 180 metres (600ft) overhead at Hounslow Heath infant school on their way to land at Heathrow. Faulkner said he was shocked by the sight of children clasping their hands over their ears in the playground. He said the buildings helped to mitigate the planes' impact, "both of the noise and psychologically". Classes of up to 30 can be seated inside the main dome, which has a diameter of 5.2 metres, with space for more in a sunken amphitheatre outside.

Needless to say, the proposal to expand the airport hasn't been met with alot of enthusiasm from the local population.