Earthbag/superadobe homes have traditionally been built by hand and therefore only attainable by DIY'ers or coincided with an overly expensive price tag. In order to bring the cost to a comparable rate, and to complete them in a timely manner, we at Matabariba have mechanized the process with the Matabariba Home Builder (research with this method in regard to domes is ongoing). Well, Earthbag Tech
nology improves living conditions and solves many issues that conventional homes have today. Some of those issues are vulnerabilities to natural disasters (tornado, hurricane, earthquake), rot, mold, fire, flood, wind, pests and insects. How does it solve those issues? Being a wall of thermal mass, there is nothing to burn down; the weight of the walls is too much for a flood to move; no food for mold; and no place to burrow. Nothing is. But in comparison to a timber home, this is much more survivable and designed with that in mind. The Koutammakou is an outstanding example of a system of traditional
settlement that is still living and dynamic, and subject to traditional and
sustainable systems and practices, and which reflects the singular culture of
the Batammariba. It is also an eloquent testimony to the strength of spiritual
association between people and landscape, as manifested in the harmony
between the Batammariba and their natural surroundings.
