The Cal-Earth Institute (California Institute of Earth Architecture) in collaboration with Vide Terra organizes a SuperAdobe workshop in Italy. This 8 days intensive course teaches how to apply the SuperAdobe/earthbag technique for a dome construction. The participants will receive an official certificate of completion from the Cal-Earth Institute. During the workshop we will build an earth dome with a door opening and a window. The purpose of the course is to give the theoretical and practical tools useful to design and build a small earth structure or living space.

The workshop will be divided into a theoretical and a practical part.

Theory:
- Earth architecture and the importance of building with earth
- The SuperAdobe technique
- The principles of the arch and of the dome
- The use of the compasses for dome construction
- SuperAdobe dome designing principles
- Earth composition
- Techniques used to recognize earth suitable for construction and how to calibrate the mix
- Soil improvement and stabilization
- Water management
- Introduction to the protection and waterproofing of domes
- Interaction between the electrical/plumbing systems and the SuperAdobe structures
- Designing more complex structures and connections between domes
- Presentation of the Eco-Dome housing unit

Practice:
- Hands on construction of a complete 1,8-2m earth dome (foundation and structure)
- Creation of openings for doors, windows and ventilation
- Introduction to plastering

Tuition Costs:
600€ - if you book your place before 30 March 2025
680€ - if you book your place after 30 March 2025
The places are limited. The deadline for the registration is 27 April 2025. We may anticipate the closing of the registration if we reach the maximum number of participants. The course will be held in English and Italian.

Booking:
A 150 euros deposit will be requested to book. The deposit will be fully returned in case of workshop cancellation. The deposit cannot be returned in case the attendee will not attend the course. Please write to davide@videterra.org for booking your place.

PROMOTION: Discounts available for groups of 2 or more people.

Accomodation:
- Cute wooden shelters can be rented for 28 euros per night. This special price is reserved only for the participants of this course. Each participant can have their own shelter for this price. It is also possible to share this space with another person (15 euros per person per night) but being this a small shelter the mattresses will be not very much apart from each other. The bathrooms are detached and in common with the other participants. Pillow and bed linen are included in the price. Towels are not included so please bring your own. The wooden shelters are in the land where the workshop will take place. There are two kinds of shelters, one called “Wooden tent” and the other called “Stilt house”. To see them, please visit GaYa.
The participants can book their preferred choice in order of registration and according to their availability.

- A mixed dormitory is available inside of the A-frame house. You can book your place in the dormitory for 10 euros per night. Mattresses in the floor, pillows and bed linen are provided. The bathrooms are external to the house and are shared with the rest of the participants. Towels not provided.

- A caravan with 5 beds is available on the land. You can rent your bed in the caravan for 10 euros per night. Pillows and bed linen are provided. The bathrooms are detached from the caravan and shared among the participants. Towels not provided.

- It is also possible to place your own tent for 7 euros per night per person (tent and equipment not provided).

The participants are free to find other accommodation solutions, but they have to be able to reach the workshop site in autonomy.

Meals:
The host will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner for 25 euros per day. All the food provided is vegetarian.

The Host:
The workshop will be hosted by GaYa (website)/(facebook) and will be located at their center in Calabria.
GaYa is a non profit organization located at the foot of Aspromonte massif, a special protected area in Calabria, Italy. It is home to agricultural and horticultural activities that operate in harmony with nature. Soon, it will become a center for experimenting with innovative methods and technologies, as well as hosting cultural events, practical workshops, and educational activities.

The trainer:
​The workshop will be held by Davide Frasca (founder of Vide Terra, representative and trainer of the Cal-Earth Institute in Italy, designer and builder of superadobe​ domes, specialized in earth architecture). More info in About us

​ Additional information:
For the participants who would like to remain at GaYa after the workshop to continue the practice, the host can offer free accomodation, while the meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are provided for 30 euros per day. The practice could include, for instance, continuing the plastering of the dome or using the SuperAdobe technique to build other elements in the land. The trainers will not be present or involved in these activities, the extended permanence of the participants and the activities have to be directly agreed with the host of the workshop.

For further info and to register:
davide@videterra.org
Tel. 0039 3394178848