EarthBag Homes - you're standing on the building materials...



earthbag home
Long sandbags are filled on-site and arranged in layers or as compressed coils. Stabilizers such as cement, lime, or sodium carbonate may be added to an ideal mix of 70% sand, 30% clay. Straw may also be added. The earthbags are then plastered over with adobe. Arquitectura en Equilibrio (Architecture in Balance) www.flickr.com




earthbag home
Plastic bags recycled into plastic bags -- if plastic does not break down for a thousand years, this building is sure to last several lifetimes. Of course covered with adobe or plaster, so that the plastic does not offgas or degrade. Arquitectura en Equilibrio, Colombia. www.flickr.com




earthbag construction
Foundations differ as per site. Here, in a rainy locale, rocks were placed under the earthbags for drainage. Note the barbed wire which keeps the bags from slipping and creates an earthquake resistent structure. Arquitectura en Equilibrio, Colombia. www.flickr.com




earthbag construction
The time consuming part, filling the bags. The bags are filled in place on the wall. The CalEarth site says that three reasonably-fit persons can lay 100 linear ft of bag per day. Arquitectura en Equilibrio, Colombia. www.flickr.com





earthbag construction
Testing the strength of an arch. Arquitectura en Equilibrio, Colombia. www.flickr.com





earthbag home
Project Seres, Guatemala.  projectseres.org  www.flickr.com





earthbag home
CalEarth -- Emergency Shelter Village, Hesperia, California.
Iranian born architect, Nader Khalili developed the long-bag Superadobe prototype in California. In 1991 he founded the California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture (Cal-Earth), a non-profit research and educational organization. Photo by James www.flickr.com




earthbag home
Cal Earth -- Emergency Shelters. This long bag/barbed wire concept was originally presented by Nader Khalili to NASA for proposed building habitats on the Moon and Mars. Photo by Ashley Muse www.flickr.com





earthbag home
CalEarth let the layers show. Photo by James www.flickr.com





CalEarth -- this might not be totally earthbag, but like the fish face. Photo by James www.flickr.com

earthbag home
The aerodynamic forms resist hurricanes and the structures pass California’s earthquake codes. They are flood and fire resistant as well. A double eco-dome can be built (bagged) in 10 weeks. Photo by James www.flickr.com





earthbag home
CalEarth photo by Mike Smith www.flickr.com





earthbag home
Classical Arches, domes and vaults updated. The combination fireplace and wind-scoop faces prevailing winds. Photo by James flickr.com





earthbag home
CalEarth -- inside of the vaulted house. calearth.org





earthbag home
CalEarth inside of the vaulted house. calearth.org





earthbag home
Cal-Earth -- exterior mud ornament. Photo by Ken McCown www.flickr.com






CalEarth Vault under construction. Photo by Ashley Muse www.flickr.com






Sandbag construction in the Philippines? Long sandbags add stability, but using barbed wire between layers of shorter sandbags, is also fine. It takes much longer to fill the long bags than the short ones. Photo by SCDLR8899 www.flickr.com





earthbag home
Ninos y Jovenes boarding school in San Juan Cosala', Mexico. Pic taken by earthbag expert Kelly Hart see more photos of project here: www.flickr.com





earthbag home
This is the first EarthBag structure to receive proper building permits in New York State. A project of Sister Marsha Allen of Rochester, she hopes the students who helped build the structure will join her in Haiti, where she hopes to build many more. www.rochestercitynewspaper.com




earthbag home
Gainesville, Florida. Photo by Justin Martin www.flickr.com




earthbag home
Gainesville, Florida. Photo by Justin Martin www.flickr.com




earthbag home
Gainesville, Florida. www.flickr.com





Earthbag Home under construction in Argentina. Lots more images here: www.superadobeserrano.blogspot.com




earthbag construction
Tamping is a necesary step. Initially a trench is dug and then filled with gravel, cement or a sunken layer of bags. Makes nice benches as well. www.ecocentro.org




earthbag construction
Everyone lends a hand. Take earth building lessons in Brazil with www.ecocentro.org
Some use bags as a temporary holder of adobe. The bags could rot away and the building would still be as sturdy. For this type of build, the bags need to be filled with a percentage of hardening material (such as adding 5%-10% hydrated lime or cement to dry soil, mixing well and then moistening lightly before filling and tamping bags) or pure adobe.





Inside an EarthBag ready for plaster. The other way to make an earthbag. A mix of native soil; clay/aggregate/sand, and/or insulating material such as lava stone, scoria, pumice, perlite or vermiculite inside polypropylene bags (which have a half life of 500 years). The plastic needs to be protected from the degradation of the sun's rays with a plaster. structure1.com/Earthbag.pdf




earthbag home
CalEarth photo by CuteMatrix www.flickr.com



If you do not like the idea of plastic bags - then Kelly Hart and Dr. Owen Geiger of Earthbag Building suggest natural porous bags (hemp, jute, flax or linen) filled with dirt, stone powder and sodium carbonate or lime (or numerous other cement capable wastes). After you lay a course of bags, sprinkle the layer with water, and after drying you will have a cement layer. Read more here: earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com





Earthbag Home Plans lots more here: earthbagplans.wordpress.com





Earthbag Home Plans earthbagplans.wordpress.com
 


Resources:

Great 'how to' resource here: www.simpleearthstructures.com

Books, Supplies, Links, Lots of Info:  earthbagbuilding.com

Cal-Earth focuses on researching, developing and teaching the technologies of Superadobe. The prototypes have not only received California building permits but have also met the requirements of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for emergency housing. calearth.org

Buy long bags here: calearth.org/shop

See structural notes at bottom of pdf: structure1.com/Earthbag.pdf

Simple Earth Buildings for the Humid Tropics by Patti Stouter: earthbagbuilding.com/pdf

Rubble-Bag Houses - How to: motherearthnews.com

How to make papercrete: www.greenhomebuilding.com

EcoFrame & EcoBags, Israel: www.ecobeamhomes.com

Lessons:

California and Worldwide: calearth.org

San Miquel de Allende, Mexico: karacadirearthbuilding.com

Brazil:  www.ecocentro.org

Argentina: superadobeserrano.blogspot.com lots of building pics

Northwest US:  earthenhand.com

Upstate NY: simpleearthstructures.com


More Pictures:

Lots here: structure1.com/Earthbag.pdf

Interesting bathroom by master builder Gernot Minke www.asl.uni-kassel.de

School in Mexico:  www.escueladeenergiasolar.org

For Korean readers: whitehole.tistory.com

Nice step by step images from Panama: www.landtrees.net

 

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Showing comments 1 to 50 of 62 | Next | Last

Rajesh Karthikeyan
Posts: 62

Earthbag Building in India
Reply #62 on : Tue April 23, 2013, 12:10:49

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Hey thanks for the pics and tips.
Doing an earthbag retreat and residence in TN, India after a lot of study of Nader Khalili and Owen Geiger's earthbag construction.
Great work guys... all of you.. thanks a lot for the pioneering research.
Hello Dr. Amod. You can contact me if you need any help at [email protected]
We need more earthbaggers in India.

Christie
Posts: 62

WOW THaNK YOU
Reply #61 on : Sat April 13, 2013, 08:24:55

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What wonderful work you have done here to collate all that information.

thank you so much.

Dr. Amod Kumar
Posts: 62

Earthbag houses in India
Reply #60 on : Wed March 20, 2013, 04:24:50

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We are planning to develop an eco-resort. We wish to use earth-bag construction technique. Is it possible to find some Indian resource?

Ricky
Posts: 62

Earthbag Construction, Sandbag Buildings
Reply #59 on : Fri February 22, 2013, 12:15:55

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Building of a squarre earth home in the balkans KOSOVO , around mid april 2013, the exact date will be sent via email.

Contact detail for inscription :
[email protected]

C. Hagen
Posts: 62

Alternative Enterprise
Reply #58 on : Sun December 23, 2012, 14:07:02

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Fyld dine indkøbsposer

Melissa
Posts: 62

Awesome!
Reply #57 on : Mon December 10, 2012, 00:22:20

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Thank you for this information. This is something I really want to do.....soon!

Ronkofa
Posts: 62

Cool!!!!!!
Reply #56 on : Fri December 07, 2012, 15:14:18

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Thank you for the excellent information you are providing about building with earth bags. I actually plan to build my house in Jamaica using earth bag technique. I certainly appreciate the information available on your site.
Thank you

Keiren
Posts: 62

@Greg
Reply #55 on : Fri November 09, 2012, 20:50:21

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That's a good question for an expert! Try Patti Stouter ([email protected]) or Kelly Hart/Owen Geiger (kellyhartATgreenhomebuilding.com / strawhousesATyahoo.com - they would surely know...

Greg Kemppainen
Posts: 62

Material in Bags
Reply #54 on : Fri November 09, 2012, 18:18:21

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I want to build an earthbag home in Hawaii and want to know if I can use cinder instead of sand, which is harder to come by here. Please let me know, Thanks, GReg

Tarek Elbarouni
Posts: 62

Questions
Reply #53 on : Sun September 16, 2012, 05:22:28

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Hello sir 

First of all I want to think you about all these good informations , actually I plan to build my house using earthbag technique but I've some questions

1- What is the minimum possible width for earthbag? I mean if i use a bag with 20CM width to give me as a result a wall like if I use normal blocks , or the thickness of wall will be not strong enough .

2- if I finish my house, and in future i want to open a new window or new door in internal or external wall can i do it ? or it will be as a risk to collapse the whole  wall  

3- the roof , can i use some prefabricated cement beams as the array and put the bricks between them and then the cement to create the normal roof like modern houses? Or san d bags can not hold the weight if roof!

4-  could i build two floors with the same plan ? I mean the wall over the wall

Thanks and best regards
Tarek Elbarouni  

Terry
Posts: 62

Re: Earthbag Construction, Sandbag Buildings
Reply #52 on : Thu July 12, 2012, 09:35:58

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These buildings are really cool. I wish I had known about them when I toured eco homes in your region.

Cheers, Terry

Irv
Posts: 62

Barbed Wire
Reply #51 on : Sun July 01, 2012, 19:43:04

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I admire the look, feel and simplicity of this type of construction. However, I see the barbed wire creating problems in the long run similar to the use of rebar in concrete structures. Eventually the barbed wire will oxidize and create structural problems and weakening of the overall structure. Perhaps a nylon or plastic substitute could be used.

Keiren
Posts: 62

To Vedette and Donna
Reply #50 on : Fri June 08, 2012, 19:52:35

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Yes, they hold up really well, as well as adobe. But one must make sure there is good drainage around the base of the building so the walls never sit in water. Earthbag buildings also hold up really well during earthquakes and are resistant to fire to boot.

Yes, they can be heated and cooled with the bonus that the walls are so thick the interior temps will be more stable.

I hope you both get to build one one day!

Vedette
Posts: 62

Natural Calamities.
Reply #49 on : Fri June 08, 2012, 12:35:11

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Would these hold out through rain and natural calamities?

Donna
Posts: 62

earthbag construction
Reply #48 on : Tue May 22, 2012, 11:18:22

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Can these homes be built in the Midwest? They are just like a regular house and can be heated and cooled right?

julia
Posts: 62

Re: Earthbag Construction, Sandbag Buildings
Reply #47 on : Tue May 15, 2012, 00:07:54

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this is amazinngggg! i would love to help build and live in a home like this.

Anonymous
Posts: 62

Re: Earthbag Construction, Sandbag Buildings
Reply #46 on : Sun May 06, 2012, 13:57:46

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a

envienna
Posts: 62

http://blackhawkmines-online.com
Reply #45 on : Fri May 04, 2012, 05:03:27

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wooooowwww..

gene
Posts: 62

ah ---YES!
Reply #44 on : Fri May 04, 2012, 00:30:41

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Ihave wanted un underground Hobbit house for many years. This would be a perfect method. Many thanks!

Mark
Posts: 62

Cool!
Reply #43 on : Mon April 30, 2012, 14:32:27

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Love the innovation behind this, and am always in favor of energy saving, low resource ideas. Now imagine having a few bicycles to power the homes! I imagine with the materials used, you'd already be using way less to maintain a comfortable temperature, so what if you had bike generators powering your lights and everything else, like these guys did! www.melodeego.com

Anonymous
Posts: 62

Re: Earthbag Construction, Sandbag Buildings
Reply #42 on : Sun April 29, 2012, 23:53:48

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THIS IS HOBBIT HOUSE.

Anonymous
Posts: 62

Новите чудотворци!
Reply #41 on : Sun April 22, 2012, 15:38:28

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Възхитен съм от решимостта на господин Нейдър Калили да материализира своята величествена идея,и направи съпричастни към нея голяма част от посетилите мрежата!Вярвам,че някъде ще се окаже като спасителен остров,който ще задоволи житейските нужди на много хора.Удобно е,топло изолационно,дълготрайно,устойчиво на трус,дълготрайно и въпрос на индивидуален избор.
Желая успех на благородното начинание!

Carmen-Elizabeth GUZMAN LOMBERT
Posts: 62

earth home
Reply #40 on : Thu April 12, 2012, 16:07:43

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very exciting. good luck

Lenisaurus
Posts: 62

incredible
Reply #39 on : Tue April 03, 2012, 14:51:41

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these buildings are magnificent and i'm sure a great experience to build!

Delris
Posts: 62

Re: Earthbag Construction, Sandbag Buildings
Reply #38 on : Sun March 18, 2012, 11:59:04

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These are awesome, but I have to wonder how you get a building permit for something like that.

Coty
Posts: 62

Re: Earthbag Construction, Sandbag Buildings
Reply #37 on : Tue February 21, 2012, 09:00:46

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Boo on Jomar. I guess there always has to be a downer on a comment thread. Most of these countries don't have the materials for the "age proven alternatives". They are labor intensive because that's one thing they do have and not to mention that it's a community building these together and that is just as important.

Maxi Malone
Posts: 62

earthbags
Reply #36 on : Tue February 21, 2012, 07:07:02

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How ingenious, can't believe there are Earthbag homes here in Florida, USA, where I live.

Blessings - Maxi

Jomar
Posts: 62

Sandbag Construction
Reply #35 on : Sun February 19, 2012, 17:48:07

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Seems extremely wasteful and too labour intensive, given the age proven alternatives.

Anonymous
Posts: 62

Re: Earthbag Construction, Sandbag Buildings
Reply #34 on : Thu February 09, 2012, 12:27:43

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these are amazing, i would totally be on board to live in a neighborhood like this! really good eco friendly idea.

Paul Patane
Posts: 62

Energy Efficient Buildings
Reply #33 on : Wed February 01, 2012, 12:04:17

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I work for a company that does Energy Performance Certification in the UK and have to say I am very impressed by these structures. If we could just find somewhere for the rain to go then I think these would take off in a big way in England. Trouble is, we'd all be out of a job! If you want to know more about <a href="http://www.justepc.co.uk/landlord-epcs.html">Landlord EPCs click here</a>. "

Aryacalanatha
Posts: 62

Re: Earthbag Construction, Sandbag Buildings
Reply #32 on : Wed January 18, 2012, 19:48:21

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Tattooine houses biotch!

Monique Harmon
Posts: 62

Re: Earthbag Construction, Sandbag Buildings
Reply #31 on : Wed January 18, 2012, 17:55:04

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This is truely amazingg and beautiful!

Shapewear
Posts: 62

Bad weather
Reply #30 on : Tue December 13, 2011, 10:09:36

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How do these houses do on rains and heavy weather conditions?

location voiture agadir
Posts: 62

http://exotikcar.com
Reply #29 on : Sat December 03, 2011, 12:27:52

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Really awesome! i like the idea and the building material earth friendly.
thanks for this alternative

Greg
Posts: 62

http://www.raief.com
Reply #28 on : Fri November 11, 2011, 21:34:56

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Exciting and innovative. This is really great information and hopefully will circulate beyond this exposure to many people around the globe.
The only issues that I see would be with power. I know that many places would not require permits but in many countries the electrical and the water supplying would present a problem to the ordinances.
If the complete package were to include self reliance on power from solar and wind then this could really take off like a storm and never see the dust gathering from complacency.
Great article.

Debby Bruck
Posts: 62

Congratulations on great designs, innovation and earth friendly projects
Reply #27 on : Tue November 08, 2011, 21:10:14

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Such a fine presentation of environmentally sound construction and earth friendly materials to reduce waste, recycle and reuse. How do we get builders to use this type of construction in neighborhoods? It most likely would not fit in established areas, but would take off in new developments. Blessings, Debby

galvinaven
Posts: 62

galvinaven.wordpress.com
Reply #26 on : Wed November 02, 2011, 11:25:11

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OMG! Seriously awesome!

Melissa Waddingham
Posts: 62

self build
Reply #25 on : Mon October 31, 2011, 13:24:01

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Amazing constructions and so simple and great ingenuity.

Scarlet
Posts: 62

http://familyfocusblog.com
Reply #24 on : Sun October 30, 2011, 09:21:19

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How cool! Some of the photos look like Luke Skywalkers home! Thanks for sharing great photos of something I have never seen before!

Recycle Gal
Posts: 62

Very interesting!
Reply #23 on : Tue October 25, 2011, 11:26:37

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Such a cool concept, I absolutely love the look of these and the general idea. My only concern is how they would work in different climates.. A pretty inventive idea, and so eco-friendly!

Kim Claseman
Posts: 62

encourage more study of process.
Reply #22 on : Thu October 20, 2011, 18:42:17

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We have wasted so many domiciles to quakes, hurricanes, Tsunami, due to failure of the materials and planning of the buildings. Using the earth itself to build residences, and probably animals, and more.

Creating all of these will lead to creating newer means of heating, cooling, power sources, storage.

chip adams
Posts: 62

permits
Reply #21 on : Thu October 20, 2011, 02:37:20

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can they be made to code?

chip adams
Posts: 62

getting bags
Reply #20 on : Thu October 20, 2011, 02:35:15

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I would like to try to build one but I would have to get bags and use slate as outside because I have a lot of it.I am disabled so I have plenty of time but not much strength.thanks for the inspiration.

Anonymous
Posts: 62

Re: Earthbag Construction, Sandbag Buildings
Reply #19 on : Wed October 19, 2011, 20:19:02

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this is pretty nice building material. Ancient tech with the modern touch, I'm about to tear my house down and build a dirt house.

Paranoiasnfm
Posts: 62

Re: Earthbag Construction, Sandbag Buildings
Reply #18 on : Wed October 12, 2011, 04:12:00

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Amazing!

Andy Norman
Posts: 62

Inspirational
Reply #17 on : Fri October 07, 2011, 02:25:54

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I love these alternative, eco friendly ideas for buildings. Cracks me up that people suggest they are not practical or ugly. Wake up, what is practical about our current building strategies and in my eyes these are far more beautiful and in harmony with nature than most existing structures. Love it!!

Rex Le Grice
Posts: 62

Telephone directories too
Reply #16 on : Mon October 03, 2011, 09:11:16

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A huge waste product each year. I've heard of these houses with external plaster on chicken wire. External walls are the long width and internal walls the narrow width, Recycled doors windows and frames, wooden or tiles but I have heard of one floor of vertical directories. Because its paper all the walls must be waterproofed

wp
Posts: 62

construct
Reply #15 on : Mon October 03, 2011, 09:07:04

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Is shoring installed within the domes during construction?

Timothy
Posts: 62

LOVE THESE!
Reply #14 on : Thu September 29, 2011, 15:16:09

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If someone ever calls you a "dirtbag," say, "thanks for the compliment! Yes, I am a visionary!" I love these homes! They are another form of "earthship," and the fact that they could be built of any dirt/earth/clay/cement, inside bags made of many locally available fabrics/materials, makes them THE practical, cheap, sturdy home of the future. Will share your link on our Facebook group, "Worlders - A Tribe of Wanderers." Thanks for the inspiration!

Keiren Admin
Posts: 62

Earth as Insulation
Reply #13 on : Wed September 28, 2011, 20:29:15

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Hi there Rebecca, If you put an insulating material such as lava stone, scoria, pumice, perlite or vermiculite inside the bags then you can build in cold climates.
Material -- R-value/inch -- R-value/15"
Rice hulls -- R-3 -- R-45
Perlite -- R-2.7 -- R-40
Vermiculite -- R-2.13 -- R-32 to 36
Scoria -- R-26 to R-30 ?

Showing comments 1 to 50 of 62 | Next | Last