Miracle Springs

Miracle Springs eco resort is looking for volunteer builders.
Miracle Springs eco resort is looking for volunteer builders.

This report is from a reader who goes by the name Ajarn Richard. This is where Steve Areen’s dome home is located and other unique structures such as the ones above.

“I’m staying at Miracle Springs right now. The owner is Hajjar Gibran, author, designer, builder. He is the great nephew to Kahlil Gibran, author of the “The Prophet” and has written the sequel to his great uncle’s masterpiece.

Hajjar and his wife Lumyai worked closely with Steve Areen to design and build his dome home out of cement block. Most recently, Hajjar has created a CEB press and a system for building with foam cement and is eager to experiment with these sustainable methods. They are also owners of the organic mango farm where Steve’s dome is located. The property has many of Hajjars creative structures on it. They plan to create an international center for learning various building methods as well as organic agriculture.

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LandTrees.net: Roof for our Cacao Dome


“Here is a video which may be interesting for you: Namely the installation of a corrugated metal roof on one of our domes, “Cacao Dome”. This dome (not to be mistaken with the other you have documented – the EcoRancho and/or Majestic Dome, both in La Chorrera) suffered a lot in the rainy season to the point that we could not use as living quarters during the rainy season.

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Earthbag EcoRancho Update

“Our EcoRanchos are well under way to be finished on the exterior and interior (Lime based Plaster). Missing are the stairs (access to the Lofts) and some other details before we proceed with inner finishings and decor. Towards the end of the Video we show also our other two (2) earlier structures (Adobe Staff House and our Majestic Dome). Our Majestic Dome will be completed after the EcoRanchos. A 4th Dome structure and many other Videos can be seen our website.”

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Open-air Bathrooms

Open-air bathroom in luxury villa. You can actually do some star gazing from the sunken tub.
Open-air bathroom in luxury villa. You can actually do some star gazing from the sunken tub.

Is your bathroom small, dark and smelly, and a place where you spend as little time as possible? Consider surrounding yourself in nature with an open-air or partially open-air bathroom. They’re ideal in tropical climates, because odors and moisture are rapidly vented away. Open-air bathrooms are often used in luxury resorts and eco resorts so patrons can be close to nature. Using natural materials such as stone, pebbles, coral, pottery, wood and plants creates a unique environment with inviting ambience. Scented flowers are a wonderful touch. You can build extremely beautiful bathrooms like the ones shown here at very low cost by using locally available natural materials and doing the work yourself.

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Earthbag Bungalows at Reflections Camp

Earthbag bungalows at resort in Turkey
Earthbag bungalows at resort in Turkey

“Reflections Camp is located in Kabak Koyu inside Kabak Valley (Turkey) and was the fourth camp to be established. Reflections’ focus is on preservation of nature and the enhancement of beauty inside the camp. Where others in Kabak Koyu have concentrated on bigger and more we have spent our time on special designs such as our beautiful Yin – Yang fireplace area, natural wood pieces, mosaics, earth roofs and the overall design of our camp. As well we are superbly located at least 100 meters away from the cluster of other camps with amazing views of both the sea and towering mountains. Reflections is just a seven minute walk from the beach through Kabak Valley’s olive groves, amidst a forest abundant with Red Pines, Carab and Manzanita trees, patches of thyme, lilac and wild flowers!”

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Earthbag Eco-village in Beijing

Dr. Sunny Cai, an architect and Associate Professor at the University of Science and Technology in Beijing sent me news of his most recent earthbag work. It’s interesting to note his Ph.D. is in Historic Chinese Earth Architecture. “To be a designer and professor in university for architectural class teaching, I always advocate low carbon … Read more