“How much reinforcement do straight wall earthbag buildings need for earthquakes?
Engineers can’t tell without test results. Until this year no one has tested earthbag on a shake table, since full-size testing could cost between $10,000 and $15,000 USD.
Email question: “We are in the process of relocating to NE Florida, and would like to build a home with alternative building materials. It would seem that straw bale homes are not the best solution for Zone 9 [ed: due to risk of moisture damage]. What is your recommendation for the best building material, based on climate/humidity in the NE Florida coast? Is earthbag the best?”
“This is the dome of a friend in Colombia, is located at 1,600 meters above sea level on a rainy climate, in a land with many gravel. The superadobe is stabilized with hydraulic lime, has a double wall to 3.30 and wire. Foundation is 60 centimeters deep and filled with cement and stone above it a concrete plate 6 cm. The iladas of superadobe may have moisturized longer than necessary due to rain during the construction process despite being covered with plastic dome.
Earthbag Dome Guest House in Thailand 10-18 February 2014 A wonderful opportunity to gain complete hands-on experience of all stages of constructing a large 4 metre diameter earthbag dome which will be used as a guest house in a beautiful location in Northern Thailand. A wonderful opportunity to gain hands-on experience of all stages of … Read more
“We are building our first project in Joshua Tree California using SuperAdobe Earth Bag building technology as taught by Cal Earth. Bonita Domes composed of The Village; a 868 sq. ft. triple dome structure. We are learning to build a home using minimal resources and materials on hand yet requires a good amount of physical labor. We invite you to come build with us. Here we will keep you posted about opportunities to visit to Bonita Domes Project, learn Super Adobe building technology and be inspired to create your shelter within community.”
“Hi Owen, I’ve been sick for the past fortnight but it’s given me a chance to process all the offers and opportunities that have opened up.
I am going to have to work with the government in Vanuatu so I have to be very clear what I can offer to a community and how I can fund it.