What Type of Structure to Use?

Need geographic location....

We will build it in Bahrain (in gulf) and the type: material other than topsoil, rock or artificial hard material..

This paper(see link) seems to be very informative...

http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-09192006-161227/unrestricted/thesis.pdf

Thaaanx aloooot..

I would suggest that you look into the regional government's building codes. If your local area does not have an established set of building codes then acquire a complete set of building codes from a more developed region with similar soil and weather conditions. Or, you could always visit other buildings in the area and ask the facility maintenance personnel about the pros and cons of their building design.

Do you want good, cheap or fast?

Bamboo and thatch could work just as well as reinforced concrete.

Look around I'm sure the wheel has already been invented.

It should be of a cone shape with the outter base up off the ground standing on stilks so the air flow will keep it cool inside and can be a minmie power structure and pull the moisture from the air for drinking water supply. The structure frame can be of depending on the weight above ,6 inch tubulor pipe or larger with membrine of hot air balloon type, 2 layers 1 inside & 1 outside the frame base shape is like a stop sign.

I suggest looking at structures from around the world for this type of facts.

Kennynabb6

For a hot and humid climate like yours in Bahrain, I would suggest that you construct the building using either reinforced masonry or reinforced concrete. Both materials are readily available there and in ample supply. Also, they will hold up very well if constructed properly. Structural steel construction would suffer from high rates of corrosion in the salty air. Wood construction is not really feasible there because you would need to import it, plus it'd be very costly.

It's been 20 years since I was there in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, southeast Iraq and later Bahrain (Desert Shield/Desert Storm in '90/'91), but I seem to remember that a great number of homes and buildings in that part of the world that I had the pleasure to go into employed an unique air circulation design which actually helps cool the building interior without the need for air conditioning equipment, and also collect moisture from the air. Said designs have been employed there for hundreds of years.

i would build the structure usising masonary or concrete so the building would act as a heat sink. the cooler nights should lower mid-day temperatures. your choice of windows is also critical. dehumidifiers will lower the relative humidity inside the building and make the indoor temperature feel cooler.

In most hot and humid countries I've been to they use reinforced concrete, this stays cool in the heat & warm in the cooler part of the day, but is not for the DIYer.

Bazzer