CS05__Cal-Earth SuperAdobe

Cal-Earth [The California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture] is a non-profit organization, led by Iranian-American architect Nader Khalili, has based it earthen architecture research and prototyping in applications ranging from lunar habitats to modern-day refugee.

The SuperAdobe structures are the signature flagship of the group and were first developed in 1992. Originally derived from a technology intended for human habitation of the moon and Mars, the lunar dust has been replaced with local soils and the Velcro has been replaced by barbed wired. The system is essentially a coiling stack of elongated sandbags that arranged to form a simple and efficient domed structure. The soil used has only a small alteration of added cement or lime.

SuperAdobe has been a proven product to help many humanitarian and refugee needs, winning the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2004. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR] as well as the United Nations Development Programme [UNDP] have adopted the procedure and application as part of its solutions for providing needed shelter throughout the world. In all, the SuperAdobe method of building has been put to use in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Iran, India, Siberia, and Thailand.


Sources:

www.calearth.org/
www.calearth.org/khalili.htm
www.akdn.org/agency/akaa/ninthcycle/page_03txt.htm
Design Like You Give a Damn [AFH]

[Image provided by www.akdn.org.]