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April 2010 Volume II Cal-Earth Reflects on Haiti TripA Note From Dastan Khalili & Sheefteh Khalili | ||
Last month Cal-Earth had the opportunity to send Sheefteh Khalili as a representative on a fact-finding trip to Haiti with HUFAC (Haitians United for Action). She had the opportunity to meet with government officials, visit families in the camps, and take soil samples from areas around Port-au-Prince. Below are some of her reflections.
The camp that we visited is not out in the middle of nowhere, it is on the land next door to the American |
When we went to the camp on the first day, we asked permission to speak with the families and interview them about their experience staying in the camp and what they would like relief agencies to know about their wants and needs. They said that they appreciate the food that has been donated, but what they really need now is clothing, jobs, and
http://calearth.org/donate.html Yours Sincerely, | |
The main difference between what I have now seen with my own eyes and what we see on television is that TV only shows despair, but I have now seen resilience. I had the opportunity to speak with families who have lost everything they own, lost members of their family, and are staying in tents they made out of sheets, tarps, and branches. They do not have mattresses but instead sleep on a bed of concrete blocks covered in a thin blanket. These 
are the same blocks that used to be seen in buildings on every street corner and now sit in piles of rubble where those buildings once stood.
Embassy in Delmas. They have only been offered aide twice in six weeks and otherwise ignored by the countless relief agencies and UN trucks that drive by non‐stop every day. The Chief of Police told us that there are over 75,000 people staying in the camps just in the area we visited (it is estimated that over 1 million people in Haiti are now homeless), and although the streets are overflowing with international aide agencies, there is still not enough aide to go around.
above all else, they said they need safe shelter. Every single family in that camp once lived in a home built with Haitian‐made concrete blocks. These blocks, made from sand and cement, crumbled to the ground during the 7.1 earthquake and fell on top of the families inside. I asked them if they want to rebuild their home in the same way, and everyone said a very clear and adamant NO. Even families whose concrete block homes withstood the quake are sleeping in tents in their backyard or in the street in front of their home because they are too afraid to sleep inside. This camp was not fortunate enough to even receive actual tents, and even a light rain causes significant damage to the few items they keep inside their make‐shift shelter.
The Haitian people have lost family members, jobs, homes and all their physical belongings, but they have not lost their livelihood and the hope that transformation is on the horizon. Cal‐Earth is currently designing a prototype shelter for Haiti and we are in discussion with many groups to find the funding necessary to do a large scale project. Whatever funds we raise will also be put toward this project. If you would like to help, please donate through our website and indicate “Haiti” in the comments area.Help Cal-Earth Build a Library |
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Cal‐Earth has a very small library of reference books for our long‐term apprentices and we’re hoping to expand these resources. If you have books that you would be willing to donate to Cal‐Earth for our apprenticeship program, please mail them to us or drop them off during Open House Days. We are looking to build our library of books on the following subjects: architecture and design, sustainable living practices, renewable energy, water storage practices, greywater systems, solar, wind, and water energy, instructional books on electricity and plumbing, and permaculture. Also, if you have stumbled across any books/magazines/newspaper articles that feature Cal‐Earth, please send those as well! Thank you for your help, please be sure to indicate if you would like a receipt for your tax‐deductible donation. Books can be mailed to: P.O. Box 1977, Claremont, CA 91711. |
What’s Happening On-Site?“Progress is the activity of today and the As some of you who have been here in the last six months may know, we worked hard for many a sweaty hour on renovating one of the old ranch houses on the property. A good number of you put time and effort into it as well — duly appreciated! This house provides much needed space to shelter long‐term apprentices comfortably, and the finished result is beautiful. We are now busily chipping away at the “Harmon House,” the former residence of our dogged technical master, Mark Harmon. The design and build team are being led by two new apprentices with previous training in architecture and design. When completed later this spring, this newly renovated house will offer space for an additional three apprentices. Adding to our regular maintenance and progress on the Cal‐Earth site, we have recently begun some plaster work in the Emergency Shelter Village. This Village comprises eight domes of various sizes that have sat partially finished for years while we’ve observed their response to the elements. They have also served as an educational map for visitors, showing superadobe in its different stages of completion. Now, we decided, it is time to apply some finish work to them. Our current apprentices began the work with rough and finish coats, utilizing cement and lime plasters. Windows will soon be installed, and some of the open‐topped domes may be capped later this spring. This work is already giving the Village a refreshed feel. And we are revisiting promising territory: lime plaster! |
Still in its conceptual stage is a dome design that we will execute in April together with a group of Spanish apprentices. By the time you read this, we will be hard at work in the desert sun, putting together this new dome. It is meant to offer a meaningful and serious model which can be implemented in Haiti as an emergency relief structure, and which also fits into Cal‐Earth’s long‐term site plans and research. Pictures of the new dome will appear in the next newsletter, so keep reading!
And finally, particularly exciting is the solar panel which will soon be installed and functioning on‐site. This 96”X60” panel will provide hot water for the radiant floor heating which warms the Earth One main space and offices. Before installing the panel, we built an in‐ground “bed” for it by appropriately grading the earth to maximize year‐round solar exposure. A beautifully sloped, U‐shaped superadobe wall supports the panel. Next we get to see how well it works. |
2010 Workshop Season | ||
Learn to BuildIf you have a vision for building your home, a community, or even helping others to build theirs, stop and consider the hands-on Workshops or Apprenticeship Course at Cal-Earth Institute in California. Give us a few days of your time and we will teach you hands-on how to build your home, your school, your career, or your entire community, without cutting down a single tree; by using the earth under your feet and utilizing the elements of earth, wind, water and fire. | ||
Topics Covered:
Upcoming Dates Spring/Summer 2010April 19-24 One-week workshop (few spaces left) |
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Interested in Studying Long Term?
We have had many success stories from past apprentices who attended our intensive workshops and subsequently went out and really built some impressive structures. Richard and Monica Binstock, who live near Porto, in Portugal, come to mind. Following a one‐week intensive workshop they returned to Portugal and built themselves a larger version of the Eco‐Dome! Although we cover all of the principles involved with this work within the four to six day program — and — although we include a field trip off‐site |
to get some real hands‐on experience on a double Eco‐Dome project which has been started in the Joshua Tree area, still, of course, there is a limit to what can be learned in just one week. This is where the long‐term apprenticeship might be desirable. This program (track two) is geared more to those who might like to make a career out of this or who might like to teach and train others in sustainable or "green building". Those interested in designing or building an eco‐village would be advised to sign up for the long‐term apprenticeship. Additionally, the program will prepare you to lead a larger and more complex project — perhaps for a client or community. The long‐term apprenticeship ranges from 3 months, to one year ‐ or more, upon agreement with Cal-Earth. Clearly, the longer an apprentice is at Cal-Earth, the more deeply the subjects will be understood. Furthermore, many other opportunities to learn other building skills like plumbing and electrical can be picked up during the long‐term apprenticeship. We have a list of necessary criteria for successful completion of a long‐term apprenticeship and the fulfillment of these criteria is followed by an off‐site building project which must be professionally executed. After the program is successfully completed there may be many opportunities for teaching, training, traveling overseas — and all manner of future endeavors. If anyone is interested in the long‐term or one‐week apprenticeship programs please contact Cal-Earth and we will be happy to give you more information. |
As you may know, Cal-Earth is in a dynamic state of growth and expansion. We have always attributed our successes to our students and apprentices — under the good leadership and inspiration of founding architect Nader Khalili. In terms of what programs of study we offer today, there are two tracks. Track one is a very rapid four‐day or six‐day intensive workshop which is suitable for those who cannot take too much time away from other things but who would like to know how to build their own home or structure.How Much Bag? How Much Barbed Wire?
Using an Excel program Mark has designed, we are now able to calculate the volume of material needed for any size dome! In addition to this we are researching bag length relative to dome size, barbed wire lengths relative to dome size and cement or lime needs relative to the volume of earth used. With this data we shall be able to accurately estimate the proper material and financial costs of all common dome sizes. For many years we have talked about some of this stuff but never have we had the time and resources to really do the research and calculations. Thanks to Mark Harmon's rather impressive grasp of the parabolic math needed for this, I am glad to say that we will have this data by the time the next edition of "Elements" comes out! Our thanks go out to Mark Harmon on this‐‐as well as our new crop of long‐term apprentices without whom Mark would never have had the time to tackle this! Oh, and by the way... the next time you need to know the parabolic curvature of a banana, you'll know exactly who to talk to... |
At Cal-Earth, we constantly get questions about our work. Although many are addressed in our "Frequently Answered Questions" section on the Cal-Earth website, questions persist around issues of how much: How much earth does a particular sized dome need? How much bag does a particular sized dome need? Same for barbed wire, cement ‐ you name it! In light of our more active global initiatives spearheaded by Cal-Earth's president Dastan Khalili, we find ourselves in need of answers to all of these questions since any proposal we put together must be accompanied by empirical data regarding the above questions. Given that this data relates to costs, the information is critical for realistic project estimation. Cal-Earth's technical director, Mark Harmon, and myself — have undertaken a project which will answer these questions accurately.International Sandbag Orders | |
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If you have built a superadobe structure anywhere outside of the United States, and you also bought your bags outside of the U.S., we’d love to get some quick information from you. Can you tell us:
Any other information you have to offer will be very much appreciated.
With this information we’d like to be able to provide a list of reliable bag sources in various countries, to
be posted on the Cal‐Earth website. Help from any/all of you will make this happen much more quickly
and easily. Thanks, everyone! Please email any information to: |
Featured Alumni Project:
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Ulises Ramirez spent two years as a long‐term apprentice at Cal‐Earth and has now gone off to do great things in Mexico. Last fall, a gentleman took our workshop who dreamed of starting a Cal‐Earth Mexico. Ramon Quintana wanted to bring Nader Khalili’s work to the people of his country, and particularly to the indigenous people of Guachochi, Chihuahua, who have been pushed into the caves in the mountains over years of oppression. He touched all of our hearts. Ulises went back to Mexico with Ramon to make this happen. His first project — an Eco‐Dome to be used as a nutrition center for low‐income mothers-to-be and their newborns — was just completed. Ulises built with the help of Ramon and his family, local people, and a few Cal‐Earth trained apprentices. His goal is to build 100 more homes for the indigenous people there.Featured Product |
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Originally published in 1983, Racing Alone is Nader Khalili's first book and it takes the reader on a journey through the early years of his quest to provide shelter to people in the world. |
It tells the story of how an Iranian‐born, Western‐trained architect — armed only with notebooks, a motorcycle, and his own unique vision — set off on a five‐year odyssey through the poor desert villages of his native Iran in search of a simple, inexpensive, yet permanent form of dwelling — and his ultimate triumph in discovering the "untouched magic" of clay. Racing Alone begins as one man's dream, and ends with a village of ceramic houses, an exhibition in Paris, and lectures to schools of architecture all over the world. To purchase this book, please visit our online store: | |
"Is it really sane to follow one's ideals and dreams and race alone in today's world?...Midway in my life I stopped racing with others. I picked up my dreams and started a gentle walk…I touched my dreams in reality by racing and competing with no one but myself." — Nader KhaliliCheck Out Our New Items!We have just release a brand new hat and t‐shirt design, now available for sale on the website. Both are 100% organic cotton. The shirts are available in green, brown, dark grey, and natural in sizes XS‐XL. The hat is available in green or black and is velcro adjustable. Support Cal‐Earth — each item is $20. Visit our online store to purchase these items: |
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Open House at Cal-Earth |
Rumi Corner |
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A free event, held the first Saturday of every month (except August and on rainy days), Open House at Cal‐Earth has been a tradition for over a decade. Every year more people come to experience it for themselves and to teach their children how to build a sustainable future. Cal‐Earth associates and apprentices give tours and answer questions throughout the day. Most buildings are wheelchair accessible. Please no pets. |
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seek only the knowledge Poem#67 | |
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| Elements Newsletter | April 2010, Volume II | |
Continuing in his tradition, Khalili's associates and apprentices are dedicated to research and education of the public in environmentally oriented arts and architecture. Its philosophy is based on the equilibrium of the natural elements of earth, water, air, fire, and their Unity at the service of the arts and humanity. To donate to Cal-Earth, please visit our website: |
About Elements Newsletter | |
| Subscribe on our website to receive Elements Newsletter bimonthly by email: http://calearth.org/subscribe.html |
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About Cal-Earth
