Remember last year's Zombie Safe House Competition? For 2011, the contest's popularity absolutely exploded, and competition holders Architects Southwest received dozens of zany anti-undead fortresses, ranging from silos to stilted houses to the Eiffel Tower to the Acropolis.

Once the dead rise, we'll be in need of practical dwellings to hold the zombie throngs at bay.…

Not all of the designers are credited on the contest's main page (where you can find dozens more of these shambler evasion structures), but we've noted creators as they were listed. Hat tip to Precious Roy!

First Prize: Austin Fleming's "Vagabond" portable zombie shelter

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First Prize: Austin Fleming's "Vagabond" portable zombie shelter

Second Prize: PinkCloud.DK's "Oil Silo Home." Here's the small text:

OIL SILO HOME

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INDEPENDENT ECOSYSTEM

SELF-SUPPORTING

One Oil Silo Home can comfortably house 1-2 families (4-8 humans). Silo families can maintain their own sustainable home through a 100% self-sufficient living solution. Families operate the numerous mechanisms in the silo with self-generated kinetic energy, thereby achieving strong physical health. By farming delicious protein-rich food, families can infinitely subsist in their Oil Silo Homes.

PASSIVE DEFENSE

Oil Silo Homes provide a passive defensive strategy, thereby minimizing weaponry requirements and eliminating hostile direct combat. Oil Silo Homes utilize 3 crucial zombie weaknesses: unintelligence, physical weakness, and lack of agility. Ghouls cannot climb or penetrate the spherical geometry of a lofty silo, thereby restricting weapon usage to rare critical scenarios.

SOLID STRUCTURE

Constructed of fireproof high-impact steel, oil silos are virtually indestructible fortresses. While the bottom half of the oil silo is completely sealed off from zombie threats on the ground, the top half provides a pleasant open-air environment, comprising plentiful windows, photovoltaic solar cells, and greenhouse.

WHAT IS AN OIL SILO HOME?

52000 OIL SILOS WORLDWIDE

AN OIL SILO, OR LPG VESSEL, IS A STORAGE CONTAINER FOR COMPRESSED LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS. NATURAL GAS IS BECOMING SCARCE AND OIL SILOS ARE NOW BECOMING ABANDONED AS STORAGE CONTAINERS. AS THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE APPROACHES, EMPTY OIL SILOS CAN PROVIDE 100% SELF-SUFFICIENT HOUSING AND TOTAL GHOUL PROTECTION!

DISASTER-PROOF

Flood/ Water Proof

An inherently Water-tight container firmly grounded by suspension structure

Hurricane/ Tornado Ready

Aerodynamic Shell + Reduction of uplift due to uniform pressures and airflow

Sand/ Blizzard Proof

Geometry prevents accumulation of sand and snow, reducing structural stresses

Earthquake Tolerance

Structural legs provide flexible suspension as well as rigidity to overall design

UFO Abduction Proof

Geometry makes alien abduction attempts extremely difficult

INDEPENDENT ECOSYSTEM

ENERGY

01 WIND ENERGY

One windmill fan is installed at the apex of the silo. Three additional fans located in the kitchen, greenhouse, and soil composting area capture energy from rising hot air.

02 BIKE ENERGY

A pedal power station generates kinetic energy through human exercise. In turn, the exerciser in- creases his/her muscle mass and overall health, thereby maximizing agility and lifespan.

03 SOLAR ENERGY

Photovoltaic panels are in- stalled between all upper window panels to collect solar energy. Solar energy is also utilized to heat shower and kitchen sink water.

04 WATER HEATER

This mechanism uses solar heat to increase water temperature. As water runs through a pipeline of glass tubing, it is directly ex- posed to sunlight, thereby increasing its temperature.

DEFENSE

05 CORE

The core is utilized to channel energy, water, organic waste, and methane gas through an infrastructure network of pipes and belts. The bottom of the core recycles organic waste into rich compost soil for farming

06 FLAMETHROWER

In case of critical emergency, a rotating methane flamethrower is useful for eliminating zombie threats. The flamethrower is can also dispose of all zombie bodies and toxic emissions

in the vicinity.

07 METHANE GAS

Sustainable energy for the flamethrower is generated by incinerating solid human excrement, converting the toxic waste into pure methane fuel for defensive applications.

08 ACCESS

A retractable titanium ladder installed along the silo's horizontal circumference can be utilized by families when the zombie apocalypse comes to an end.

FOOD + WATER

09 GREENHOUSE

A vegetable garden containing protein-rich crops (soy, oats, wheat) generates nutritious food for consumption. While purifying oxygen, the greenhouse also provides a recreational chill-out atmosphere.

10 SILKWORMS

The greenhouse also supports a silkworm farm for silk and protein production. Silkworms morph into butterflies, establishing a whimsical, meditative ambiance. (Optional hemp plantation for fabric and psychological pleasure.)

11 CO2>O2

The greenhouse plants convert carbon dioxide into pure oxygen, thereby purifying the air inside the Oil Silo Home. Air purification benefits the inhabitants' physical health and psychological stability.

12 GREYWATER

2 rainwater collectors provide fresh water for the kitchen and the hand-crank shower. Grey water is recycled for greenhouse irrigation and toilet water.