Eco Domes: How to build your very own, sand bag, earth friendly shelter
Ranked #1,268 in Healthy Living, #24,948 overall
Very organic, free flowing, soothing feel to these houses.
Traditional shelters of this type seemed much more in tuned with the earth energies than our modern boxes of today, with their sharp corners and cold atmosphere, sealed windows and recycled air.
When you enter a round structure that rises directly up from the earth yet remains connected to it, you enter the very womb of Earth herself. Immediately, you feel "home," you feel protected, you feel the love of the place.
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Artist, Author, Self-publisher
Sketchblog: DancingBlender
Facebook page: RiverbyNight
Cal-Earth Institute
A quick overview
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
Founder and visionary or Cal Earth Institute
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***
Book by Cal-Earth Press
Emergency Sandbag Shelter and Eco-Village: Manual-How to Build Your Own with Superadobe/Earthbags
Amazon Price: $17.48 (as of 05/31/2012)
How to build your own super adobe / sand bag shelter with over 700 photos and illustrations.
Other Books by Nader Khalili
Nader Khalili explains
Eco Domes in the Blogosphere
- Untapped Wonder: The True Sierra Leone
- I met up with old friends, made new ones, swam in the ocean, slept under the stars in a modern earth dome, and was serenaded by midnight bonfires by the beach. If anyone had ever told me just six years ago that paradise was awaiting me in the West ...
- Floating Lodge puts you on the beautiful waters of the Cambodian jungle
- Adventurous travelers can satiate their desire to be immersed in this stunning environment in the most literal of ways ? by sleeping atop the water at the 4 Rivers Eco Lodge. The 4 Rivers lodge brings upscale accommodations to the unlikeliest of ...
- The 10 Best tents
- £49.99, halfords.com {6} Vaude The Campo Eco three-man dome tent, made from recycled polyester, has been designed with environmental campers in mind. It's easy to pitch and has optimal ventilation through vestibule openings and two entrances.
Making the News
- Untapped Wonder: The True Sierra Leone
- I met up with old friends, made new ones, swam in the ocean, slept under the stars in a modern earth dome, and was serenaded by midnight bonfires by the beach. If anyone had ever told me just six years ago that paradise was awaiting me in the West ...
- Floating Lodge puts you on the beautiful waters of the Cambodian jungle
- Adventurous travelers can satiate their desire to be immersed in this stunning environment in the most literal of ways ? by sleeping atop the water at the 4 Rivers Eco Lodge. The 4 Rivers lodge brings upscale accommodations to the unlikeliest of ...
- The 10 Best tents
- £49.99, halfords.com {6} Vaude The Campo Eco three-man dome tent, made from recycled polyester, has been designed with environmental campers in mind. It's easy to pitch and has optimal ventilation through vestibule openings and two entrances.
Amazon Recommendations
If you loved Ceramic Houses and Earth Architecture: How to Build Your Own, you might also enjoy:
Earthbag Building: The Tools, Tricks and Techniques (Natural Building Series) by Kaki Hunter, Donald Kiffmeyer
Over 70 percent of Americans cannot afford to own a more...1 point
Over 70 percent of Americans cannot afford to own a code-enforced, contractor-built home. This has led to widespread interest in using natural materials-straw, cob, and earth-for building homes and other buildings that are inexpensive, and that rely largely on labor rather than expensive and often environmentally-damaging outsourced materials.
Earthbag Building is the first comprehensive guide to all the tools, tricks, and techniques for building with bags filled with earth-or earthbags. Having been...
1 point
The Natural Plaster Book: Earth, Lime, and Gypsum Plasters for Natural Homes (Natural Building Series) by Cedar Rose Guelberth, Dan Chiras
For builders of natural homes (straw bale, cob, adobe, more...1 point
For builders of natural homes (straw bale, cob, adobe, rammed earth, and other natural materials), this unique step-by-step guide takes the confusion out of choosing, mixing, and applying natural plasters.
From principles to practicalities, and with every stage of the process illustrated, The Natural Plasters Book details the entire process of plastering with earth, lime, and gypsum for a long-lasting and durable finish. Starting with an overview and history of the natural building movement, the...
1 point
The Hand-Sculpted House: A Practical and Philosophical Guide to Building a Cob Cottage: The Real Goods Solar Living Book by Ianto Evans, Michael G. Smith, Linda Smiley
Are you ready for the Cob Cottage? This is a building more...1 point
Art of Natural Building
The Art of Natural Building is the encyclopedia of more...1 point
The Art of Natural Building is the encyclopedia of natural building for non-professionals as well as architects and designers. From straw bale and cob, to recycled concrete and salvaged materials, this anthology of articles from leaders in the field focuses on both the practical and the esthetic concerns of ecological building designs and techniques. Includes examples of diverse natural dwellings, from a Hybrid Hobbit House to a thatched studio and a cob office.
Catherine Wanek is the publisher and...
1 point
Water Storage: Tanks, Cisterns, Aquifers, and Ponds for Domestic Supply, Fire and Emergency Use--Includes How to Make Ferrocement Water Tanks by Art Ludwig
A do-it-yourself guide to designing, building, and more...1 point
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What do you think?
Interaction is fun. Please take the time to rate the lens and take part in polls, voting, and/or sharing of your opinion.
You can see what else I'm up to through my Lensography.
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FantasticVoyages
Apr 22, 2012 @ 3:21 pm | delete
- I've always liked adobe houses. These are quite interesting, but am not too sure about living in a round house!
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flicker
Apr 20, 2012 @ 8:39 pm | delete
- Loved the videos! What a great idea.
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COUNTRYLUTHIER
Apr 17, 2012 @ 11:46 pm | delete
- If you can take a shelter from the materials where they lie, you have preserved the earth. Love the use of the natural materials in the lens. My vote for LOTD!
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ashroc
Apr 7, 2012 @ 10:02 pm | delete
- wow, great lens, i have never heard of these before, thanks for sharing!
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earthybirthymama
Feb 10, 2012 @ 8:43 pm | delete
- I've always loved round homes. I could easily live in a yurt. Nice lense.
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What is your impression of these Eco-dome houses?
Share your likes and dislikes.
With the understanding that we can include all the modern conveniences and luxuries we are accustomed to ( i.e. water, electricity, cable connection, internet, stove, etc.), natural building material offer a much healthier environment than most of our current toxic saturated and outgasing "modern" one.
From looking at the information provided here, would you consider living in an Eco-Dome if given the chance?
Yes / maybe. What attract you to these houses? What do you like about them? Have you actually been in one (or similar)? Tell us about your impressions.
derekawalker says:
I'd give it a try. Never seen or been in one before.
cdevries says:
A very interesting building method! I can see where it could work very well in dry climates; it's like adobe without needing the block-making skills, though making or purchasing the bags has to increase the cost surely? What is the life-span of the bags? And, if used in a damper climate, how could they be effectively waterproofed? (Sorry, an architect, gotta ask questions.) Nice site!
Susanne_Iles says:
Yes! We've been looking to build our own home and art studio and have been considering cob. The Eco dome is an intriguing alternative and well worth looking into.
greenmeds says:
Very ecoy, very homey... kind of a Tipi guy myself, but I've been thinking of getting into the whole Earth/cob/stonje construction thingy as well - nice place ya got here ^_~
Catalysthere says:
It would have to be a very big one - I am claustraphobic. (did I spell that right?)
No. What's keeping you? Doubts, mistrust, construction material, visual, etc. Tell us why.
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