Benefits of building with adobe bricks in developing countries

Simple to Learn, Easy to Build, Yet Worthy of a Family’s Homestead

Unlike other building materials adobe brick construction is quick for a novice to learn, forgiving with regards to precision, while always yielding durable constructions with a beautiful finish. Some of the most architecturally beautiful homes we have seen were created by families at sustenance levels. They used earth to lovingly create their own homestead, worthy of being their family’s core, a place to sleep, share meals and stories and retreat to in difficult times.

Indigenous to all the World

The primary raw material we use, earth, is indigenous to all parts of the world and can be fashioned into walls, floors and even roofs. By training voluntary local labor, the costs are minimal and the results are always true quality, providing families in need a shelter and sanctuary for generations.

Other Benefits of Building Aid Housing with Adobe Bricks

  • Adobe bricks are our world’s most energy-efficient building material to manufacture, which is extraordinary considering the walls are a generous one-foot thick (or 300mm), or more, if desired.

  • Adobe brick walls’ marvelous thermal properties save energy and provide comfort to any region, from wet and cold to hot and dry.

  • Adobe brick walls last hundreds of years or more. If undertaking the effort to build, the effort might as well give true value and sanctuary for generations.

  • Sand/Clay based adobe mud plasters, preferably with an added stabilizer such as cement, lime or bitumen will give a brilliant beautiful smooth finish that feature outstanding shadow effects. Our solid walls are dust-free, sponge-wipe cleanable and rainwater shedding, guaranteed.

  • We have developed specially shaped adobe bricks which accept reinforcing, conduits and, perhaps most importantly, easy, safe and inexpensive scaffolding.

  • Adobe bricks, being somewhat irregular, are easier to use than concrete bricks and can be laid-up using semi-skilled labor. It can be learned in one day.

  • Adobe brick walls require less steel than concrete block walls, yet are proven to withstand both hurricane and earthquakes.

  • Adobe brick walls are fire-proof, insect-proof, vermin-proof, and they don’t dust, rust or rot.

  • Adobe bricks are aesthetically pleasing, using natural earth materials, and are therefore more harmonious with the natural environment.

Introducing YourAid - Create your own aid project. You choose the place, we’ll build the houses

Launch your own aid project by selecting a community anywhere in the world that you would like to help. If you are able to offer funding and you have an affinity for a particular community of people in any area of the world, we would love to hear from you. With your contribution, and provided the people accept your kindness, we can go to any community in need of housing or clinics or disaster shelters and provide permanent constructions to fulfill these needs.

We encourage your participation with the research, planning and construction or, if you prefer, we will carry out all tasks and link you to our progress by opening a channel of communication with our people on-site. We will meet with the locals, research the culture and their needs, handle all necessary planning and documentation, and construct whatever is agreed upon by all parties.

Building with adobe bricks is a wonderful method for constructing lasting homes for people who need them most. We can teach local people to build homes in a fast and effective way.

If you’re interested, call us as soon as you can, let’s get started...

Support we offer for disaster aid, destitute relief, or community shelters, Worldwide

  • Design, Planning & Consultation for adobe homes and community shelters, wherever required

  • Construction of community shelters, wherever required

  • Housing/Training projects, wherever required

  • Training programs, USA or New Zealand based

Qualifying for aid, or free or reduced cost services

If you or your organization would like to apply for aid (in the form of a housing and/or training program) or other free or reduced cost services (in the form of planning, consultation, training, etc.) please fill out and return our application form and we will respond as soon as we can.

We are only just beginning and our resources are very limited (suggestions or donations appreciated), so please forgive us if we are not able to assist you in the time required. All applications considered, world-wide service offered.



Download Our Flyer

To dowload a copy of our 2-page full color flyer, click on the icon above. The flyer includes a brief description of our system, adobe brick dimensions, facts & benefits, frequently asked questions, as well as photographs of our work.

Email

staff@adobebuilding.com

Telephone

(407) 810-5030

Address

Waiheke Island, New Zeland
Orlando, FL
Decatur, Alabama
Seattle, WA (Coming Soon)

Vince had a passion for adobe building and a vision for environmentally conscious construction. With 23 years of building experience, including 12 years of earthen and adobe building, Vince was a respected leader in his field. His development of a unique adobe building method inspired numerous articles about him and his talent. Sadly, Vince passed away on April 5, 2005, after a 5-year battle with cancer. His last project was traveling to Afghanistan to assist in an adobe project with USAID and the Ministry of Health. Vince dedicated himself to working on our how-to manual in the last year of his life so that others could benefit from his knowledge and expertise in adobe building.

Lisa Morey, Vince Ogletree’s partner since 2000, is carrying on his dream to see that proper housing is provided for by those who need it most. Lisa has created the Vince Ogletree Foundation in which 10% of the proceeds of the manual will go towards helping to build adobe houses in developing countries or those in need of shelter.

This article was published in EBANZ Newsletter (Earth Building Association of New Zealand) July 2005.

Kabul, Afganistan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are currently working with USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and SFL (Shelter for Life) to build 150 schools and 40 clinics in Kabul, Afghanistan using our adobe construction method. Vince went to Afghanistan to train the workers during the month of August 2004.

They were producing 800 adobe bricks per day and laying up the walls efficiently and beautifully. The project received great interest and USAID has accepted the adobe schools made for the Ministry of Education and the training center for the Ministry of Health.

The US Corp of Engineers is also considering using the adobe system for the refugee housing program. Stay tuned to learn more about this important project.

 

Mbambie Medical Mission, Sierra Leone

The Republic of Sierra Leone is a small country on Africa’s western “bulge,” north of the equator. The population is around 5 million. Most of the men of Sierra Leone are farmers. But many grow only enough food for their families and many of the women sell goods in local markets. Freetown, the capital, was founded in 1787 as a home for freed slaves. Freetown has many modern buildings however, in the more poor, rural regions people live in mud houses with corrugated iron or thatched roofs.

In a project initiated by Dr. Dahan A. Sheref, MD, PhD, MsPh, we are working with locals to plan and construct a children’s clinic in the city and smaller medical clinics in remote villages. Primary funding has been sourced by Dr. Sheref through sources such as the UN and the other aid organizations, but we have been able to assist by networking with all who visit this web site to accept donations and/or on-site volunteers. For more information on how you can help please contact our office so we can tell you how.

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