Comments on: CALEARTH DISASTER RESISTANT HOUSING Attracts NASA

By: Lunarez

Lunarez — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:45:47 +0000

Tried to apply the khalili design for the first generation lunar habitation modules, but unfortunately the cost of shipping the excavation equipment to the lunar platform was too cost prohibitive. Not feasible for a lunar platform, but definitely an option for hot weather environments in Southern California, New Mexico and Arizona, as well as other locations worldwide. The cost of construction for a 3 bdrm, 2bath, 2 car garage house in California (Approx 2200 sqft) runs at between $75000-90000, as compared to $350,000 – 400,000 for the same size house made out of wood, concrete and steel, and is far more environmentally viable.

By: Jack

Jack — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:31:52 +0000

I think the 90,000 is for the big house one. It's really only a couple of dollars per square foot. There are some groups using this method to build villages (on this planet).Fire in the Hole: Fire in the Hole American Sudanese Partnerships

By: silvia

silvia — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 22:07:47 +0000

Huh? 90,000 dollars ???

By: João Sousa

João Sousa — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 01:57:08 +0000

This project it’s really what matters of sustainable architecture. Sustainability doesn’t mean we need to develop enormous cooling systems to our buildings nor developping solar pannel façades. Sustainability reflects as a way of thinking architecture in an ecological way.

The most important factor of this project is that it uses only local resources and that’s the most important thing. With those bags you only need to have earth to fill them up and start building. This architect can start up with a constructing technique that is so simple like this and he creates living spaces, homes for those that doesn’t have, creating a sustainable architecture with a complete interaction with the local environment and landscape.

This is of course suitable for the moon or for any place made with dust and sand.

By: i ketut agus

i ketut agus — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 01:31:06 +0000

a reference for us who’s living in earthquake cracking line, thank you

By: Gopal

Gopal — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:10:41 +0000

Aristotle…what?!! A sanctuary to celebrate the emptyness of the relatively quietness of our universe? Dude…come on man.

Anyhoo, i worked with nader khalili in the desert and learnt so much, mainly to look at you environment and make sustainable decisions.
His technique has been considered by nasa for years. His super adobe technique needs to be incorporated wuith other technologies and innovations in order to be safe and efficient.

By: rek

rek — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:45:11 +0000

Aristotle – I appreciate the sentiment, but there’s nothing on the moon that needs it as a sanctuary; it has no native flora or fauna, and is sort of missing an atmosphere and hydrosphere to boot.

Rather than build clay homes on the moon, I think we should dome the whole thing and turn it into Endor, the forest moon from Star Wars.

By: rick bradner

rick bradner — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 16:08:42 +0000

not eactly an original idea.

I don’t see much difference between the basic idea here and the “trulli” of southern italy which has been around for at least a thousand years. They were also designed to be dis-assembled as well.

By: Willofgod

Willofgod — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 13:15:07 +0000

Aristotle, a ‘permanent sanctuary’ for what?

By: mery

mery — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:25:14 +0000

c’est genial

By: Christoper P.

Christoper P. — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 06:51:33 +0000

Very Pattern-language, Alexanderesque….
Question: how “treeless” or eco-friendly is kiln-firing the interior finishes of these structures? And how is the exterior finish applied, such that it doesn’t shell off in an earthquake, like a snow slide of heavy crust, at the start of an avalanche? (Possibly, the chinked “ribs” between bag layers, particularly if clay/natural-fiber [straw] matrixed “cob” material.)

By: Aristotle

Aristotle — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:44:51 +0000

A question: kiln-fired? How about solar parabolic mirrors to “fire” it? How about microwave magnetrons?

Could Dr. Behrokh Khoshnevis’ Contour Crafting (http://www.contourcrafting.org) equipment be used in conjunction with solar parabolic mirrors or microwave magnetrons to make ceramic earth shelters robotically?

By: Aristotle

Aristotle — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:34:04 +0000

I guess this is a little trollish, but some will say that we have no right to start transforming the environment of the moon in order to house a non-native species (man). We should leave the moon as a permanent sanctuary, pristine and untouched by human development.

By: Christian

Christian — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 19:18:30 +0000

Khalili’s first designs were tested in poor rural communities in Iran. He wrote two wonderful books about his fired earth designs, “Ceramic Houses and Earth Architecture” and “Racing Alone.” I have also seen some of his earthbag designs in use at a permaculture commune in Hawaii. This is wonderful stuff, and simple.

By: Jac

Jac — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 07:05:24 +0000

That is so cool! Looks like straight out of Star Wars!