Cal-Earth, USA
Nader Khalili (1936-2008) was an architect, teacher and inventor of the SuperAdobe construction method. Mr. Khalili’s innovative method was inspired by Rumi – the 13th century mystic poet – and the ancient Middle Eastern architecture he encountered on a five-year motorcycle ride across his homeland in the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran). Combining Rumi’s philosophy on nature with ancient building methods and modern technology and know-how, Mr. Khalili developed his novel ideas into construction techniques.
Because his invention is easy to use, ecologically friendly and inexpensive, the new buildings are preserving the environment and radically improving the quality of life of countless people around the world.
Invention
Based on ancient but simple human shelters, the SuperAdobe – also called the super block system – uses layers of sand-filled bags that are coiled and placed one upon the other. The bags are securely attached into a dome-shaped structure using barbed wire. For extra stability, the buildings or adobe (a structure made of sun-dried clay or soil bricks) is held together using cement, lime, or asphalt emulsion. The adobe structure is simple in appearance but strong and resistant to floods, fires, hurricanes and earthquakes. It provides insulation against both heat and cold, and can be quickly constructed by men, women and young adults.
Research and development
In order to convert his idea into a viable project, Mr. Khalili approached the National Aeronautic and Space Agency (NASA) in the United States of America (USA) for research and development (R&D) support. NASA was a willing partner because it was interested in developing simple yet secure habitats on the moon and on Mars.
In 1984, Mr. Khalili presented his ideas to a NASA symposium (“Lunar Bases and Space Activities of the 21st Century”). The architect’s presentation was titled “Magma Structures,” and based on the Geltaftab System (a system whereby the entire earthen structure is treated as a kiln and fired to form a monolithic mass) and “Velcro-Adobe” (which later became SuperAdobe).
Mr. Khalili collaborated in further R&D at various institutions including the Los Alamos National Laboratory, in New Mexico, USA, and with the Space Studies Institute at Princeton University. Working with McDonnell Douglas Space Systems labs, the architect explored ways in which the sun could be harnessed to melt and fuse luna soil into shapes and forms with building applications.
In 1986, Mr. Khalili continued his R&D by founding the Geltaftan Foundation (“Gel”, means “clay”, and “taftan”, means “firing, baking, and weaving clay” in the Persian language) whose aims are to create earth-based ceramic houses. By 1991, the entrepreneur incorporated the foundation into a new non-profit and charitable organization – The California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture (Cal-Earth) – where he taught SuperAdobe building technology based on Rumi’s philosophy (such as “Yekta-i-Arkan” – unity of elements).
Cal-Earth is guided by three principles: (1) shelter is a basic human right; (2) every human being should be able to build a house for him or herself; and, (3) the best way to provide shelter for increasing human populations is by building with earth. Although Mr. Khalili’s focus at the foundation was on fired, ceramic buildings, at Cal-Earth the focus shifted to sand-bag based buildings that would culminate in the development of SuperAdobe.
Prototypes of SuperAdobe were built and have been tested successfully for the city of Hesperia, the state of California, USA, and passed industry building standards – the Uniform Building Code – for California (a region renowned for earthquakes).
A typical SuperAdobe building has an 8 to 10 foot interior diameter dome with about 120 square feet or less in floor area. The technology is resistant to earthquakes, fire, flood, and hurricanes. It has a thermal mass (where heat is absorbed in hot environments or given off in cold ones) which creates comfortable living spaces based on the long-standing, sustainable architectural methods of harsh climatic environments such as in Iran.
Because SuperAdobe technology is easy to build, secure and both cool and warm, the buildings are used in developing countries and for emergency shelter, especially for people displaced by conflict or natural disasters.
Environment and public health
Cal-Earth members work under the philosophy that ecologically sustainable, economically viable, and durable buildings are not just possible but are also desirable. Using Rumi’s poetry as an ethical guide, the organization relies on basic natural resources (earth, water, air and fire) and simple building principles (arches, vaults and domes) to create SuperAdobe structures. Cal-Earth believes that its shelters and homes should be easy to construct so that any man, woman and child, given basic instruction, should be able to build a shelter virtually anywhere on earth – and on other planets.
