Quonset huts, developed during World War II, are portable and easy-to-assemble prefab steel buildings that gained popularity among civilians. They were developed in response to the soldiers’ housing crisis and were used to protect supplies, soldiers, airplanes, and hospital wards. The original size was 48 feet long and 20 feet wide. Modern improvements include skylights, windows, plumbing, wiring, insulation, porches, interior walls, and concrete foundation for permanent installation. Civilians continue to purchase them for various purposes.
A quonset hut offers a sturdy, portable, easy-to-assemble prefab steel building that looks like an aluminum can cut in half lengthwise and set on the ground. Developed in response to the soldiers’ housing crisis during World War II, quonset huts not only solved logistical problems overseas but gained popularity among civilians. Today, many people purchase kits to build a quonset hut with steel arches and corrugated iron to house vehicles, animals, household chores, and supplies.
The British developed a basic metal structure during World War I called the Nissen Hut which could be erected quickly by unskilled labor and disassembled whenever a regiment moved. During World War II, America sought a similar building to protect supplies, marines, soldiers, airplanes on temporary airstrips, and hospital wards. In 1941, engineers and developers built such a structure in Quonset, Rhode Island that was lightweight, disassembled into a small volume, and easy to assemble overnight by a small crew.
The original size of military quonset huts was 48 feet (15 m) long and 20 feet (6 m) wide with most of the space usable. Reinforced steel semicircular ribs supported a corrugated steel layer that served as both roof and walls. Often plywood or bare soil provided a simple floor. The government has distributed more than 160,000 fabrication kits appropriate for environments with heavy snow, downpour, or tropical sunlight. One variation extended the roof overhang by a few feet to protect it from eroding rain or sweltering heat. The largest models were 100 feet (30 m) long and 48 feet (15 m) wide.
For its efficiency and functionality, few buildings have surpassed the performance of the basic quonset hut. Modern improvements include skylights, windows, plumbing, wiring, insulation, porches, interior walls, and concrete foundation for permanent installation. Civilians continue to purchase the simple cabins from private manufacturers to set up on their farm, orchard, estate, or small business as a storage, showroom, garage, temporary family quarters, boathouse, or barn.
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