La Luna And Dome Dreams



Skylight of main dome of eco-dome |  www.calearth.org
 

 Argh, la luna! You are magnificent and powerful and tonight, you are stealing my sleep. Occasionally, when I shift from Camille's bed to my own once she has drifted off, I am struck with relentless inspiration. In the quiet, my mind overflows with visions of clothes not yet stitched, rooms not yet decorated or foods not yet cooked. Our apartment is compact and efficient and I love it so much that I rarely fantasize about moving but tonight I am dreaming of the refuge of a small studio or sewing hut to quiet these thoughts and invite sleep. Since we have no such thing, I have revisited an old flame, a sometimes obsession...the earthbag home. Because what more an inspiring place to work than a hive shaped studio?

Eco dome at dusk | www.calearth.org
 

Several years ago, I stumbled on this most economic and eco-friendly way of home building. The idea of building an earthbag home is one of my lotto win fantasies. Not because it is an expensive endeavor but a time consuming one unless you hire a lot of labor. Iranian-American architect and founder of California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture (Cal-Earth ), Nader Khalili, was the mastermind behind this sustainable type of construction. Khalili was inspired by Rumi's wisdom concerning humanity and the elements of Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. Earthbag architecture reflects the sensibilities and is energy efficient, inexpensive to build and uses primarily sustainable materials...the ground beneath our feet!



Exterior of Eco Dome | www.calearth.org
 

Entry of Eco Dome | www.calearth.org

Eco Dome | www.calearth.org
 

Earth One South Exterior Detail | www.calearth.org
 

At first glance, the buildings have that Hobbit, hippie house look, an aesthetic I would not normally be drawn to. The more I studied the photos and the philosophy behind this kind of construction, the more I felt that this is a very calming and creatively inspiring way to live. Someone recently referred to me as an "earth mother" which I found completely hysterical but nights like this one make me realize that it might not be as ridiculous as it seems. Maybe if Lucile Ball could have been an earth mother, then that is what I am.



Inerior view of construction of main dome Eco Dome | www.calearth.org

Construction of Eco Dome | www.calearth.org

Construction with forms and compasses of Eco Dome | www.calearth.org
 

I love the idea that these buildings can be constructed by real people and looking at the photos of one being built, it looks like an old-time barn raising. What a sense of community and accomplishment the builders must feel when they have finished building these delightful structures. I often get stressed out that I am nearly 41 years old and still have so many things left to do and ideas to work out. This earthbag home obsession is one of those things that makes me feel like I have wasted too much of my life but who says we can't build our dream earth home at the age of 50, 60 or 70? It just might take us longer and we'll have to have more help.

Earth One entry interior | www.calearth.org

Earth One view from kitchen | www.calearth.org

Earth One view of kitchen from dining space | www.calearth.org

Emergency shelter Eco Village plan | www.calearth.org
 

Since everything these days can be looped back in to a lesson at Lucile Preschool, I am planning a family outing to check out CalEarth and fuel my dome home dreams even more. They have an open house and pot luck the first Saturday of every month.

Visiting day; Rumi Dome - right, Eco Dome- left | www.calearth.org
 

Maybe it will inspire my conventional spouse to dream with me or encourage Camille to think outside the box (literally!) when it comes to making her own home some day. Check out the CalEarth website for more info and get inspired by the idea that trees do not have to give their lives to shelter us. www.calearth.org

2013 Open House Dates	2014 Open House Dates
January 5, 2013 February 2, 2013 March 2, 2013 April 6, 2013 May 4, 2013 June 1, 2013 July 6, 2013 *no open house in August* September 7, 2013 October 5, 2013 November 2, 2013 December 7, 2013	January 4, 2014 February 1, 2014 March 1, 2014 April 5, 2014 May 3, 2014 June 7, 2014 July 5, 2014 *no open house in August* September 6, 2014 October 4, 2014 November 1, 2014 December 6, 2014
In the case of rain, Open House is postponed to the following Saturday

*All images are from the CalEarth website.

oxo-n