The founding philosophy is the equilibrium of the natural elements of earth, water, air, and fire and their unity at the service of the arts and humanity. The Cal-Earth project has transformed this philosophy through hands-on research into sustainable earth architecture through building and testing life-size prototypes, and by educating the public in environmental arts, architecture, and awareness.

The technology and designs developed at Cal-Earth are inspired by timeless principles in architecture: the universal natural elements, the arch and its derivatives of the vault, dome, and apse; sustainable energy, natural geometry and symmetry of structure, the unity of tension and compression.

This building system focuses on housing as a basic human right, and on the economic empowerment of people by participating in creating their own homes and communities, while at the same time addressing today’s global needs: preserving natural resources and energy, halting deforestation, slowing pollution and global warming, promoting health, healing communities and cultures shattered by globalization, sheltering the homeless and refugees.

Cal-Earth houses and infrastructure are constructed by unskilled labor, using available on-site earthen material, local supplies of sandbags and barbed wire, and usually a locally produced stabilizer (lime, cement, or asphalt). Hands-on team work molds the solutions for sustainable development while the flexibility of plan and finishes allows the integration of indigenous, traditional forms, patterns, and colors.

Cal-Earth’s next educational plan is a Distance Learning Program to be broadcast directly from the institute to universities, NGO’s and disaster struck areas in need of shelter around the world, in a hands-on, live, interactive format.
http://calearth.org/about/about-cal-earth.html

Cal-Earth believes that the whole family should be able to build together, men and women, from grandma to the youngest child. As such, we have spent many years researching hands-on how to make the process simpler and easier. There should be no heavy lifting or backaches, no expensive equipment, and a flexible and fast construction. The bags are filled in place on the wall using small pots like coffee cans, or even kitchen utensils. You can build alone or as a group.
http://calearth.org/building-designs/what-is-superadobe.html

Check out some gorgeous images here:
http://calearth.org/galleries/eco-dome.html
http://calearth.org/galleries/earth-one.html
http://calearth.org/galleries/emergency-shelter-village.html
http://calearth.org/galleries/rumi-dome.html