Abstract: An insulating cell element comprises a hermetically sealed shell defining a closed chamber having a volumetric space contained by the chamber wall. The space has a vacuum established in an amount sufficient to achieve a heat conductivity of substantially zero through the space. The shell has a structural configuration effective to resist the outside pressure resulting when the vacuum is established in the closed chamber and is further effective to maintain the vacuum over a substantially unlimited period of time. The energy transfer for a single layer of these elements is down to at least about 0.050 BTU per square foot per degree Fahrenheit (.degree.F.) at an overall thickness of about 1/8 of an inch. A plurality of the insulating cell elements are contiguously disposed with respect to each other to form a monolithic structure.