Quonset Huts

Developed at the United States’ Quonset Naval Air Station in World War II as an improvement on the British Nissen Hut, the Quonset Hut was used as a durable multipurpose structure that could be transported virtually anywhere in the world. Basically shaped like a giant metal pipe sawn in half lengthwise, this type of building can still be seen in various places today, being used for everything from farm equipment storage to housing retail military surplus stores to serving as dwellings for those who shun conventionality and high-priced housing.

The simplicity, transportability and lack of any real need for maintenance make Quonset Hut-style dwellings an attractive option in some ways. One major drawback, of course, is the stark appearance of the structures. But some people actually like the utilitarian look of them. Another issue is insulation, and the fact that the side walls curve inward toward the top, but these things are not real obstacles to anyone interested in living in such a building.

“Quonset Huts,” per se, are not built anymore. Companies now manufacturing buildings of this basic design tend to call them “arched metal buildings,” etc. (See an example at RAL Homes).

But they’re essentially the same thing (or better), and genuine examples of old Quonset Huts can still be found in some places, waiting for new owners looking for a simple, yet solid and long-lasting dwelling.

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