Off-Grid Nomad Shelters Provide Relief from the Sun for Tourists in Italy

These modular, off-grid <a href="http://www.filippotaidelli.com/projects.php?areaprojectid=5&amp;projectid=51&amp;page=1" target="_blank">Nomad Structures</a> were designed by <a href="http://www.filippotaidelli.com/" target="_blank">Filippo Taidelli Architetto</a>, and they recently won first prize in an architecture competition for seaside facilities organized by the Regione Autonoma della Sardegna. When the season is right, the solar-powered modular units can be placed on the beach (or other natural settings) and used for picnics and recreation to draw visitors to the area. When the season is over, they can be removed, thus minimizing damage from winter storms.

The 2010 coastal architecture project for seaside facilities competition for the Sardinian coast asked for new structures and facilities for tourism and recreation in the area.

<a href="http://www.filippotaidelli.com/" target="_blank">Filippo Taidelli Architetto</a> proposed a project for Liscia beach, which is on the north part of the island between the town of Santa Teresa di Gallura and Palau.

The site held challenges in that the project needed to be self-sufficient and also integrate harmoniously into the landscape.

The solution was to build modular, solar-powered shelters that could be moved as needed and even removed.

Each shelter is a cube held up on a sturdy pyramidal footing that sits in the sand.

Louvered shades on the roof are integrated with PV panels and lightweight fabric shades can be attached to the sides to shelter the interior form the wind and the sun.

The units are also designed for removal whenever necessary to minimize damage during especially stormy or unseasonable times.

In 2011, <a href="http://www.filippotaidelli.com/" target="_blank">Filippo Taidelli Architetto</a> built a full scale model to test its potential and effectiveness.

The unit was displayed at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.304152562997825.72019.297635146982900&amp;type=3">Rimini International Exhibition of Outdoor SUN 2011</a> and shows just how useful the units could be for tourism or even personal use beyond the Sardinia region.

Close up of the louvered PV panels that act as shade devices.