Eco Domes: How to build your very own, sand bag, earth friendly shelter

Cal-Earth stands for:
THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF EARTH ART AND ARCHITECTURE

Cal-Earth is a non-profit foundation concentrating on this question: How to provide shelter for people of the world, particularly those who have no money?

Cal-Earth is at the cutting edge of Earth Art and Ceramic Architecture technologies today. Founded and directed by the internationally renowned architect and author Nader Khalili in 1986, it's scope spans technical innovations published by NASA for lunar base construction, to design and development of housing for the world's

Cal-Earth is dedicated to research and education of the public in environmentally oriented arts and architecture. It's philosophy is based on the equilibrium of the natural elements of earth, water, air, and fire, and their Unity at the service of the arts and humanity.

They provide an Apprenticeship Program so you can build your own home or help others build theirs.

NADER KHALILI, ARCHITECT AND HUMANITARIAN
(1936-2008)

Nader Khalili developed the simple building technologies known as Superadobe (sandbags and barbed wire) and Ceramic Houses, using the freely available material of earth, for almost thirty years.

He took inspiration from Rumi, the 12th century mystic poet, who wrote in his native Persian language. He served as a consultant to the U.N. (UNIDO) and a contributor to NASA, as well as directing the Architectural Research Program (ARP) at SCI-Arc (Southern California Institute of Architecture).

For his work in Earth and Ceramic Architecture since 1975, Khalili received awards from:
- CCAIA for "Excellence in Technology,"
- the U.N. and HUD for "Shelter for the Homeless,"
- ASCE (Aerospace Division) for his work in lunar base building technolory,
- and the Aga Khan award for architecture for "Sandbag Shelter Prototypes".

Nader Khalili has inspired a global movement and left a rich body of philosophy, design and innovative construction technology. His work is continued at Cal-Earth Institute, as the basis for its research and educational mission.

***information taken from Cal Earth Institute site, at CalEarth.org***