On behalf of the Indian Army, R+D Studio has designed a pilot outpost at 14,000 feet near Razdan Pass in the Jammu and Kashmir region of northern India, a strategic and climatically hostile location in a mountainous area prone to heavy winter snowfall.

The bunker's innovation aims to improve conditions for soldiers and provide an alternative solution to outdated construction techniques. "The world today is in a situation, where innovation in building materials is not just an idea but an obligation," says Shridhar Rao, Partner at R+D Studio.

Inspired by sand bag constructions that can be quickly filled and positioned on site, the studio has designed hollow blocks made entirely from recycled silica and plastic waste, which are then filled with earth. Assembled using only a hammer, the walls are formed in three layers, reducing to a single layer at the top.

Shridhar Rao, Partner R+D Studio

The use of earth has several advantages: it helps to maintain a comfortable temperature difference between inside and outside, it provides fire resistance to the structure and, as a dry fill, it allows the blocks to be reused once they have been dismantled, thereby extending their life cycle.

It is therefore a replicable model that has the potential to be used not only for military purposes but also for civilian shelter, perhaps a small but essential step in addressing the humanitarian crises we face.