The present invention relates to a wall element comprising an upper element extending along an upper edge, a lower element extending along a lower edge, a first and second side element each comprising a substantially rectangular cross section, the first side element extending along a first side between the upper and lower element, the second side element extending along a second side between the upper and lower element and a substantially rectangular board arranged on an outer side and attached to said the upper element, lower element and first side element. The upper and lower element comprise a first edge coinciding with the first side and a second edge coinciding with the second side, wherein the first and second edge are arranged in an angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the outer side, and the first and second side elements extending parallel to the plane, perpendicular to the board and having a total extension in the plane corresponding to the extension of the upper and lower element in the plane, wherein the first side element bears against the board and the second side element extends from the inside of the wall element. The invention further relates to a wall section comprising the wall element and a method for building the wall section.

Structural plates and methods of constructing arch-shaped structures using structural plates. Structural plates may include a combination of features including: an outer structural plate having adjacent circumferential apertures respectively spaced nominally greater than adjacent circumferential apertures of an inner structural plate; and the outer structural plate having nominally 5 enlarged or differently shaped circumferential apertures (as compared to circumferential apertures of the inner structural plate) such that the embodiment structural plates may be radiused to a variety of different radii while achieving desirable overlapping alignment of apertures along overlapping circumferential edges for receiving fasteners therein. Joiner plates may be provided for interconnecting structural plates along transverse edges in a non-overlapping arrangement, 10 thereby reducing the quantity of structural plate material that otherwise would be needed for a given circumferential length of the arch-shaped structure.

A modular building structure has a framework including a plurality of rods and connectors to interconnect the plurality of rods together, and empty spaces bordered by corresponding rods. A plurality of panels, wherein one panel is mounted inside each empty space and connected to the framework to create an interior, an air chamber layer inside which air may circulate. The air chamber layer forms at least a portion of an outer surface of the interior. At least one upper valve system is mounted in the upper portion of the structure, and at least one lower valve system is mounted in the lower portion of the structure. The upper and lower valve systems are selectively operable to regulate the thermal conditions inside the interior as a function of the meteorological conditions outside and a desired temperature inside. A method operates the upper and lower valve systems.