My second day of Superadobe dome building started bright and early with a hearty breakfast at 7 AM sharp, fueling us for a long day of hands-on work ahead. We headed to the construction site where a foundation was already laid with gravel that needed to be leveled.
We learned how to expertly fill the earthbags with dirt and tamp them down into sturdy blocks. Working with the natural earth mixtures to craft structural building components was incredibly gratifying. After a nourishing lunch break, we gathered for Mariana’s informative theory lesson on foundational design and waterproofing based on techniques from Nader Khalili’s guidance.
Mariana taught us the nuances of creating a reliable foundation, including how to angle the first layer of earthbags and prepare the ground for a water-tight seal. We covered methods like adding bentonite clay between earthbag layers and applying natural plasters. Equipped with this new expertise, we headed eagerly back to the worksite.
After another round of earthbag construction and a tasty afternoon snack, we spent the evening hours chopping vegetables and cooking up a delicious meal for the whole camp. While I was too exhausted to play cards with everyone after dinner, I’m proud that our team hosted such a wonderful feast. Now I can rest up to apply what I’ve learned about durable foundations and protecting earthen structures from moisture damage.
Stay tuned to hear more about the thrill of stacking these natural building blocks higher into the distinct dome structure and learning even more ingenious construction approaches from master builder Mariana! Let me know in the comments what you most want to learn when it comes to Superadobe building methods.
