# Drought-Defying Shelters These Unique Homes are Made from Translucent Salt Blocks By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2015-09-15 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/salt-blocks References: [magazine.good.is](http://magazine.good.is/articles/cities-made-of-salt-the-future-of-urban-planning) & [buildingwithseawater](http://buildingwithseawater.com/) The Dutch firm 'Design Indaba' recently launched a project that involves building homes out of salt blocks. As global desertification becomes a pressing issue, many drought-prone regions have begun looking for innovative housing solutions. This new project uses an unlikely material to produce [sustainable shelters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/belalu-dome-villa). 'The Salt Project' involves designing a series of homes out of unique [building blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heal-home-hmm). These blocks are made up of compressed salt, which is equally as strong as packed earth and other natural construction materials. The salt blocks can be molded into rounded shapes, which are ideal for [desert architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/juniper-hill-home). In addition to providing a sturdy building material, the blocks also reflect the sun and help keep homes cool on the inside. The innovative project provides a unique solution for housing residents in drought-prone areas and other desert communities. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.7/10 - Popularity: 78% | Activity: 85% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) > [Eco Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/ecoarchitecture) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Salt Block Homes:** Building homes out of salt blocks offers a sustainable and resilient housing solution for drought-prone regions. - **Desert Architecture:** Rounded shapes and sun-reflecting properties of salt blocks open up opportunities for innovative desert architecture. - **Sustainable Shelters:** Using compressed salt blocks as building material provides a sustainable solution for housing in desert environments. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Architecture:** The use of salt blocks in construction creates opportunities for architects to design innovative and eco-friendly desert homes. - **Construction Materials:** Developing and manufacturing compressed salt blocks enables the creation of a new market for sustainable construction materials. - **Environmental Solutions:** The adoption of salt block homes as a housing solution addresses the need for environmentally-friendly approaches in drought-prone regions. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Eco-Friendly Modular Refugee Shelters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/allspace-1.md) - [Climate-Responsive Prefab Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drop-pod.md) - [Climate Relief Temporary Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/additive-manufacturing-homes-crisis.md) - [Disaster-Ready Housing Prototypes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/essential-homes.md) - [Cement Block-Decorated Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/small-houses.md) - [Surfboard Waste Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/surf-block-maui.md) - [Rain-Collecting Skyscrapers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bpas-architects.md) - [Tranquil Sustainable Home Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/saltviga-house.md) - [Balearic Island Housing Projects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/life-reusing-posidonia.md)