Opinion - Helping the Homeless Vets

By utilizing Khalili's architectural design, we can empower the homeless to build there own homes, possibly on lands set aside for them by the federal government and or regional and local municipalities. There could alternatively be public private ventures that coordinate the setting aside of lands on which homeless vets can build.

At the Cal-Earth Institute's website, the nuts and bolts of how to receive the simple training in order to build EcoDomes and Earth One houses is listed, along with the many journalistic articles that over the years described Khalili's work as visionary.

The earthen, architectural designs were Khalili's dream for how to house homeless and poor people around the globe in shelters that are earthquake, fire, flood and wind-resistant. The designs are multi-faceted. At the same time as being safe and energy-efficient shelters, meant to stand for perhaps a 1000 years, they are marvelous teaching tools.

The homes are reflective of the rule that the circle is the strongest shape in nature. Arches, apses, tresses, curvatures and domes are used to create their structural balance and sturdiness. Not everyone realizes that the circle is the strongest shape in nature, reflected in the shape of the earth, our heads, eggs and bubbles. In the case of Khalili's designs, people are in fact building on this truth, while at the same time conserving wood and energy with the sustainability of the plans.

"Every man and woman should be able to build a home for his or her family, using the earth under their feet, and integrating some features of modern technology to make their homes resistant to fire, flood, hurricane, earthquake and other disasters," Khalili's quoted on his Institute's website as saying.

The cost to build an emergency shelter can be as low as $40, and a handful of people can build a shelter in a days' time. In short order, a 1000 people working side by side can erect enough shelters to house a village. The cost to build a permanent home, and have it be fully equipped with electrical power and utilities, ranges from $10,000 to $20,000.

In my article at www.yashahusain.com, “A Call to Adopt Earth Architecture,” it states:

Superadobe buildings are built using more than 90 percent earth, and only a small amount of water and cement, lime, or asphalt emulsion to stabilize the earth mix. So, if used on a mass scale they could contribute greatly to the reduction of the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that flow into our atmosphere every day from smokestacks, tailpipes, and as a result of deforestation.

When ready, the earth mix is packed inside Superadobe fabric tubing, and the builder winds up with a sandbag of some predetermined length. One after another, sandbags are packed and laid in concentric circles to form domes, or, one on top of another to build the vertical walls of vaulted structures. Ultimately, they become the foundation, walls and roof of a home, school or office building. In shorter lengths, the bags are used to form tresses, apses, arches, and other curvatures.

Between the compressed bags pieces of barbed wire help hold layers firmly together, and as the building grows in height, windows and doorways are cut out and cut pipe is inserted until construction's completed.

Earth mix is again used to provide a covering or insulating layer over the Superadobe walls. Finally, an attractive lime plaster is applied in place of more traditional paints.

The interior design of the building includes benches, shelves, and bars that are made from the same earthen materials that were used to build the shell.

Ultimately, no trees are cut down in the building process, and very little steel and concrete is used.

The purpose of a Superadobe building is that it stands in harmony with nature, its design is in many ways energy-efficient by default.

The earthen walls of Superadobe absorb heat during the day that is released into the interior of the structure at night when there is a general cooling in temperature outside, so by three a.m. or so your home is essentially being heated by the sunshine it received the day before. At midday, the thick walls absorb and hold the heat so that the shaded interior remains cool, and a flow of energy persists cyclically day in and day out.

Built-in wind scoops help to vent and adjust room temperatures.

Since regular pumps and equipment are normally installed in Superadobe buildings, it's easy to combine the built-in heating and cooling system with a more conventional furnace unit.

It would be an amazing experience for veterans to learn to build this way, and simultaneously they would be gaining shelter.

The goal is to house vets and help provide them with jobs. But first comes housing matters in many cases. A foundation on which to build a life. Superadobe can be a rich means of realizing the goal of helping vets who right now have no home.