The Ultimate Earthquake Proof Home

New mud-brick construction methods could provide an affordable building alternative for the devastated town of Bam in Iran.

1 minute read

January 7, 2004, 5:00 AM PST

By Adam Weiss

Following the recent earthquake in Iran, experts have been researching modern methods to prevent damage in future disasters. "Nader Khalili, an Iranian-born architect based in California, disagrees. He believes his 'super-adobe' building technique is the answer." Using a mixture of concrete, adobe (mud), and barbed wire, he claims to make buildings that look like the original mud structures, but are "strong enough to withstand a pull of 27,000lbs -- equivalent to a concrete-filled truck dangling off a cliff. [The method] has been approved by building authorities in California as safe for the state's earthquake zone."

Thanks to Adam Weiss

FULL STORY: 'I can rebuild city with mud and barbed wire,' says architect

Sunday, January 4, 2004 in The Independent

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