Eco-Dome
CalEarth’s Eco-Dome can be built out of nothing more than dirt, barbed wire, and the same kind of polyethylene bags used to make sandbags to contain floods. The house will probably last longer if you mix some cement with the dirt, but it’s not absolutely necessary.
The bags come in the form of a continuous tube, and the house is constructed of layers of dirt-filled “snakes,” with barbed wire laid between them to keep them from moving.
This 400 sq. ft. home is one of CalEarth’s plans that can be built from the dirt on your land.
It’s 21st-century adobe: faster and easier than traditional adobe construction, because you don’t have to make and dry individual bricks. This construction technique can be learned quickly by anyone, and is about the cheapest possible way to build lasting shelter. But these are by no means temporary buildings; they are so robust that they meet California building codes.
Plans and a DVD and bags are available at the CalEarth’s Eco-Dome web site.
Eco-Dome video of the construction:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMNzoWkXTtc
Eco-Dome pictures of the structure.
25 Responses to “Eco-Dome”
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Where is this house located?
Hi David,
This dome is located at the Cal-Earth Institute Site: 10177 Baldy Lane, Hesperia CA 92345. You can also learn more by going to the site at: http://www.calearth.org/EcoDome.htm
Kent
Hello Dave,
How long do the bricks (or snakes) take to dry? Can the snakes be made shorter (1/2 the length) so a woman could
carry and build this dome dome home?
To answer your question Jean, For female builders You can get scoria (volcanic rock) to fill the bags. Scoria is super light, insulating for cold climates. Or alternately, fill the bag 1/3, place bag and fill the rest of the bag in place.
Hi Jean,
According to the photos on the ordering page you fill the tube as you go. Go to this link http://www.calearth.org/ProductsServices/bagorder.htm you should be able to handle it.
what is the wind scoop for?
hello,
i’m also interested why is wind scoop for? thnx
Ventilation.
These are apparently common structures in deserts in parts of Iran and Africa, as described in works by Nader Khalili and Hassan Fathy.
Apparently they operate both with wind and with convection currents. Khalili discusses them at fair length somewhere, but I have leant out my copy.
GREAT Home
see…
http://www.EarthBall.org
Later, [email protected]
is that type of house be in a tropical humid climate (rainy and cyclons)?
how long does it take to build one
That would depend how many people you have working and the availability of materials. Please go to the EcoDome webiste for more information: http://www.calearth.org/EcoDome.htm You can also contact them and get more specific answers.
ok so how many hours would it take to build the 800 sq foot one with 10-12 people?
I personally don’t have the answer, you will need to get in contact with the people who have made them. Please see reply above and let us know what you find out.
Apparently it varies, but they felt safe with 10 weeks from soil analysis to a complete structure for one residence consisting of two of these and allowing another ten for internal details. The crew apparently had 5-7 people most of the time, including one trained person. My understanding is that no mechanical power was used on site other than the vehicles coming and going with equipment, personnel, and the very few supplies.
So I would say 5 weeks plus whatever kind of detailing you wish.
Each central dome was 15′ in diameter. With limited experience, I find that the spaces created by 9′ and 10′ domes quite to my taste. These are considerably faster. Apparently even a smaller crew can put a dome can go up within a week.
will this hold up in snow? rain? Need to know. Would like to build one.
They hold up fine in snow and rain. Flooding requires some care: proper choice of land and, in some circumstances, retaining walls would be necessary, as with any building. Finished over with lime plaster and painted, they’re as watertight as the next building.
The wind scoop is for ventilation, in lieu of expensive and energy-expensive fans and AC units.
The size of the bags should not change whether or not a woman can participate in construction, principally because you will NOT want to move the bags far once they are filled. You put the bag more or less where it will be, then move the earth to it.
I have read estimates of 4 rice bags/hour for 2 people working together. These aren’t the long tubes you see in the picture, but 50 and 100-lbs rice bags. If you can count out the length of the bags, then figure about 7″ per bag-row, that should give some idea.
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I just found this blog recently when a friend recommended it to me. I have been an avid reader ever since.
Looks like a great little place, cant help thinking of Star Wars tho when I look at them pictures.
That’s exactly what I was thinking when I saw this.
Has anyone seen any of these built (and lasting) in the Midwest? My son wants to build one here in Michigan, and I can’t see them lasting through our rains, let alone our winters.
i would like to build one or more in england and wondering whether they will withstand the rain and cold winters here..