Maisons écologiques Superadobe Maisons écologiques Superadobe Dans les nombreuses constructions écologiques nous avions les abris végétaux, cabannes, igloos...mais il y a aussi les Eco-dômes de l'architecte américain Nader Khalili d'origine iranienne, qui après s'être distingué dans la conception de gratte-ciel, aux techniques de construction anti-sismiques, à imaginer ce genre d'habitations naturelles. Khalili est à l'origine du Cal-Earth Institute (California Institute of Earth), Art and Architecture créé en 1991 dans le désert de Mojave (Californie) et qui concilie des objectifs humanitaire et écologique. Khalili, soucieux du sort du milliard de sans-abris, propose de leur construire ses Eco-dômes, un abri en sacs de sable et terre réalisable par tous, en peu de temps, avec peu de moyens. "Le retour à la terre m'a semblé évident. En 1985 il avait été contacté par la NASA qui recherchait un moyen économique de construire des habitations sur la Lune et pourquoi pas plus tard sur Mars.
Electricity | Systems The Power Organizing Module (POM) is not one of a kind. They are mass produced and used over and over again in a variety of climatic situations. Glitches, bugs and custom design faults have long since been evolved out. Since the POM has been used all over the USA, we know what various code require. These aspects and components are built into the POM. We are simply adapting our needs to the already existing activities of the planet. Why pipe water long distances from a centralized community water system, or from an expensive well that needs significant electrical power, depletes aquifers and lowers the water table, when water falls from the sky? Why have a corporate or political "middle man" between us and our energy needs? An understanding of mechanical systems for most humans is limited to what is within reach of their fingertips. Humans need comfortable temperatures, light, electricity, hot water, food, sewage treatment, etc.
Building an Earthship « Green Building Blog Having built an eco-house myself I thought I had a basic grasp of how an eco-building works and why. However, I have since realised that I had only just begun to understand the principles of eco-building and how they work with each other. Two weeks ago I attended a training course run by Brighton Permaculture Association on ‘An Introduction to Self-Building an Earthship’. I went to learn more about the principles of Earthships – buildings made from walls of tyres rammed full of earth. However, I learnt a whole deal more and thoroughly enjoyed myself at the same time. For anyone remotely interested in eco-building, whether an Earthship or not, I would recommend this course. Brighton Earthship Photovoltaic system on top of Brighton Earthship The course, and Earthships, raised some interesting issues in terms of building affordable eco-homes in Britian: One of the practicals during the course was to start to build a wall using tyres and ramming earth into them. Plastering a tyre wall
Technology - New designs to breathe life back into our cities Urban buildings use up precious materials and cause pollution. We need visionary thinking to create more sustainable designs that respond to their environment, writes architect Neil Spiller. By the middle of this century, our cities are likely to be hotter, experience more dramatic changes in weather, be noisier and have an increasingly tenuous relationship with our natural world. There’s a problem. Not only are cities responsible for 40% of our total carbon emissions, but they also deal with a limited set of physical conditions, and assume that our weather is going to be constant. Our buildings are designed for dryness and therefore deteriorate in the presence of water. We therefore need to think about architecture very differently. Already, designers and architects are considering more ecological urban design, especially in the way that resources are used. No limits Everyday architecture is being re-imagined around the world.
A Look at the Models of Earthships A Look at the Models of Earthships Earthship designs are constantly evolving because they are decentralized and many are built each year. This allows for constant evolution. We have many models in our history which all played their part in our on going evolution. We have presented here our favorite models which have very pragmatic reasons for being favorites. Climate, budget and your individual needs play a big part in determining which Earthship prototype is right for you. The Custom Earthship A custom Earthship is the most expensive and time consuming approach. Design is the first step in a custom Earthship. The Phoenix Custom Earthship Global Model Earthship Our most universal model for the developed world is the Global Model. We can customize any floor plan for the Global model, we have versions with garages and other options as well. This can make the drawings cost a few thousand more but does not necessarily increase the build cost. Tropical Earthship Simple Survival Models Rationale
Earthbag Building How-to Videos Earthbag Dome Workshop in Tepoztlan, Mexico The focus of this workshop was building in a way that connected the structure and the people to the energy flows of the universe. Stella reminded participants to use all of their six senses to touch, listen, taste, smell, see, and intuit their surroundings. Extra care was taken to build this dome as a living structure with breathable walls and natural waterproofing and plasters. The building will serve as a meditation dome and was built with a mix of raw earth and scoria rock. Lime was used as a stabilizer in the foundation and stem walls. 18 participants built the 2.5 meter (8ft) dome during the 5 day course. If you are interested in hosting a workshop or participating as a student please contact us at: guidingstarcreationsATgmail.com and check out our blog at Adine (Stella) Michaels Neil Decker
Earthships – The Independent Eco Future : Robert Wells - Cultural Adventurer I’m sat, in complete luxury. I’ve just had a steaming hot bath, enjoyed a large mug of coffee, and listened to music whilst surfing the web….and I’ve done all of this without connection to either a power or water company. I’m inside an Earthship , situated on the snow speckled desert plains just outside Taos, New Mexico . Above me are large wooden beams, glass jewels are encrusted into the green walls, and dark red slabs of stone are underfoot. Architecturally the building is beautiful, an amazing unity of function and design. The building was not made from expensive, rare, building materials, it was created from the things most of us regularly throw away. I think that we should all be living in houses made like this, and given the choice, I think that we would all like to be living this way; who wouldn’t want to remove quarterly water and electricity bills from their outgoings? For instance… A page from 'Journey' by Michael Reynolds, the designer of Earthships (click to enlarge)
Earthship Construction Our Earthship Experience: So, what exactly is this thing?Christened an "Earthship" by designer/architect Michael Reynolds, literally hundreds of these homes (made primarily from old automobile tires and beer cans) have been constructed in the Southwestern U.S. This project is the first Earthship constructed within the state of Ohio. The concept is pretty cool - taking advantage of the natural heating and cooling properties of the earth, the passive heat of the sun, discarded and problem waste materials and mixing these with an embracing attitude toward your environment - the result is a comfortable and peaceful place to live. Our ExperienceAfter attending a workshop put on by Solar Survival, reading all the books, and purchasing a set of generic blueprints... we were ready to go. So just how do you go about building an earthship like this? Pounding the tires... We all know the problem... hundreds of thousands of tires fillings landfills for generations to come. Laying the Foundation...
INBAR Istituto Nazionale BioARchitettura Earthship Plans The Earthship home will keep you comfortable in most any climate on the planet. These Earthship plans are the result of 40 years of research and development in the field and on the drawing table. Because these plans are "off-the-rack," this a very "user friendly" approach for the owner/builder. This unit can be the easiest first step into the Earthship method of living. Studio - 800 sq. ft. Floor Plan for 2-Bedroom Model If your county requires that you obtain a building permit, you will need a floor plan with a local engineer's stamp. All of the construction drawings are designed to meet standard building code requirements. Construction Drawings 30 pages in color, three sets, 11 x 17, includes five CAD views.