Earth Bag (Moon Cocoons)

Earthbag construction is a method developed by Iranian architect Nader Khalili, who works out of California, USA. This is a very innovative style of earth building also called Superadobe. Khalili developed this as emergency shelters and as buildings that could be built in the Moon or Mars. However, this seems to be a means to get this building technique seen.

The beauty of Earthbag construction is that it uses sandbags, earth and barbed wire - materials accessible around the world. Khalili uses and sells sandbags that come in long tubes on a roll. Slightly damp earth is mixed with a percentage of cement and fills the sandbag tubes. The bags are then coiled around itself and compressed to form walls. Khalili has creative round designs that mimic natural forms and maximize space. Windows and doors can be made by using wooden forms for the earthbags to take shape around. Forms are later removed. The result is a coiled, round building that looks like a beehive or cocoon (hence moon cocoon). Walls can be plastered for a smooth finished, but the coils of sandbags can be used for aesthetics. The earth inside the sandbags dries very hard and is similar to ceramic!

I'm very drawn to this method of building because of the domed structure and it reminds me of a hobbit or faery house. Khalili definitely brings his middle-eastern heritage into the home designs - beautiful archways and curved structural lines. This is also a fantastic method of building because Cal Earth (Khalili's non-profit organization) has a project called Pegasus where they go to struggling places and teach children to build these homes.

Earthbag construction can be used in all walks of life and the minimal materials and simplicity of construction make it high on the list of sustainable building solutions.

Written and Researched by Kim Tanasichuk. Copyright © 2007-2009 Kim Tanasichuk. All Rights Reserved. You may not reproduce any content on this website without the written permission of Kim Tanasichuk.

Videos About Earth Bag Homes

Videos courtesy of Youtube and Google Video and Copyright to Their Owners

Cal Earth - Super Adobe	Pegasus Cal Earth Project	Sand Castles - Mexico
Earth Turns to Gold - Nader Khalili