Bioconstruction represents a forward-looking approach to housing. Traditional building systems generate substantial environmental impact through raw material extraction, production emissions, transportation footprints, and waste. Yet constructing with minimal disruption is possible. Green building concepts that return to earth-based methods are gaining traction, with superadobe emerging as a notable technique in many regions.
Techniques like wood framing and straw bale construction are growing in popularity, alongside adobe-inspired methods. Adobe, comprised of soil mixed with organic matter such as corn, straw, and manure, remains one of humanity’s oldest and most versatile building materials, though its formulations can vary.
The current interest in superadobe centers on soil and organic content reinforced with lime, then compacted inside polypropylene bags, the same material used for flood defenses.
The bags are stacked in layered courses, with barbed wire laid between layers to keep them in place and help shape the wall surface.
Proponents say superadobe walls can endure for centuries, offering resilience against earthquakes and a very low manufacturing cost.
This is not speculative. The method has been employed for years and has seen real-world applications: structures in refugee camps in Jordan and training facilities in California illustrate its practicality and adaptability. (attribution: Oxfam, Cal Earth Institute)
Savings on air conditioning
The approach also contributes to energy efficiency. Adobe and earth-based walls act as thermal mass, absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night, which reduces the need for artificial cooling and helps maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.
Building with earth typically involves mixing materials and compacting them, a process that may require several people or animals depending on the project size. The timeline can span from a few days to several weeks.
Savings in cooling, resistance to weather events, the use of inexpensive natural materials, minimal waste, and the possibility of self-building under appropriate guidance have contributed to growing interest in this technique.
Superadobe originated with the work of Iranian-born architect Nader Khalili, who lived in California and studied traditional building techniques across desert regions. His son, Sheefteh Khalili, continues the work as co-director of the Cal Earth Institute, an NGO dedicated to teaching people how to construct sustainable, disaster-resilient homes using soil as the primary resource. (attribution: Cal Earth Institute)
A photo caption notes a house built with Superadobe and highlights its practical design features. (attribution: Cal World)
“According to my father, the earth is truly gold: 90% of the materials needed to build a shelter come from the earth itself,” Sheefteh Khalili told the BBC.
How do you build a superadobe house?
The steps are straightforward:
1. Find a stable site with solid ground.
2. Dig the foundation for the future house where the footings will rest.
3. Prepare bags filled with soil or sand that will form the wall bricks.
4. Stack the bags, interlacing them with barbed wire or another fixation system to secure the layers.
5. Leave openings for windows and doors.
6. When the structure is complete, cover it with a layer of sand or a soil-water mix to create a solid finish on the bags, forming the front.
7. This same mix can be used to sculpt interior floors and to create door and window frames, a porch, and other features.
8. The roof is often formed by gradually narrowing the walls toward the center, producing a dome-like shape with the same bags.
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The approach emphasizes the use of local, natural materials and a design that aligns with the environment rather than imposing a heavy industrial footprint.
While practical guidance varies by location, the core principle remains the same: earth-based building offers resilient, affordable homes with a lighter environmental footprint when executed with proper planning and supervision. (attribution: general summary of superadobe methods)