Asia’s First School Made of Plastic Bottles is 3x Stronger than Concrete

This morning, we have another awesome project to add to our list of amazing <a href="http://inhabitat.com/index.php?s=bottle+temple">bottle architecture</a> - this cleverly constructed schoolhouse in San Pablo, Philippines, which happens to be the first of its kind in Asia. The innovative building was conceived and constructed by Illac Diaz and <a href="http://www.bottleschoolproject.org/my-shelter.html">MyShelter Foundation</a> as a way of turning a negative - an abundance of discarded plastic bottles - into a positive - a brand new place for children to get their learn on. The school is made from 1.5 and two-liter soda and water bottles filled with adobe, a combo that is relatively cheaper than concrete and - get this - is also about <strong>three times</strong> stronger!

From <a href="http://inhabitat.com/la-casa-de-botellas-argentinian-home-made-out-of-recycled-plastic-bottles/">family homes</a> to <a href="http://inhabitat.com/temple-of-a-million-bottles/">entire temples</a>, we've seen a lot of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/polli-bricks-by-miniwiz/">bottle</a> architecture here at Inhabitat, but this is the first bottle school we've come across, and we think it makes so much sense.

Plastic bottles are every where, and until we can finally do away with them completely, why not turn them into livable, usable structures?

Inside, the school is airy and bright.

We thought that the way the architects alternated bottle "tiles" and open air in a checkerboard pattern was pretty unique.

It isn't easy to make a bottle building look modern and we actually think this school achieved that through clever design.

In order to raise awareness for the school, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2094300&amp;id=1117133287&amp;page=5">MyShelter Foundation </a>organized a run in June.

They also collected bottles - which most people were more than happy to get rid of - at the event.

The <a href="http://www.bottleschoolproject.org/my-shelter.html">Bottle School</a> was constructed with the help of dozens of volunteers who secured the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/trash-temple-made-from-100-tons-of-recycled-plastic-bottles/">bottles</a> with liquified adobe and steel bars.

The site was donated by the local government of San Pablo.

A closer look at the adobe-filled bottles that make up the building.

“It’s very empowering because what used to be a problem is now a solution,” said Mr. Diaz about the inspiring project.

Diaz takes in his organization's achievement.

Congratz to MyShelter Foundation for completing their very first Bottle School and stay tuned because word on the street is that there are many more schools like this one in the works.