Ceramic Houses and Earth Architecture

How to Build Your Own

by Nader Khalili

Table of Contents

Preface

The Beginning

Part 1: The Evolution

1. A Tale of Two Communities: Boshrouyeh and Taos
2. Earth Architecture
3. Celtaftan (Fired Structure) Earth Architecture
4. A Ceramic House—A Dream Come True

Part 2: Philosophy and Design Principles

5. The People’s Architecture: Working with Nature
6. Structural Principles
7. Basic Forms and Design

Part 3: Materials and Techniques

8. Appropriate Site, Appropriate Material
9. Adobe
10. Celtaftan (Fired-Earth) Adobe Mixture
11. Adobe: Forms and Block-Making
12. Foundations
13. Walls
14. How to Build Arches, Domes, and Vaults
15. Roofing and Wall Covering
16. Flooring, Interior Finishes, Openings and Utilities

Part 4: Firing and Ceramic Glazing

17. Celtaftan: Firing Earth Structures
18. Interior Design: Sculpting and Glazing
19. Landscaping and Rehabilitation

Part 5: Beginning

20. Model Making
21. Visions for the Future

Appendix:
Shell Membrane Theory Applied to Masonry Domes
Magma, Ceramic, and Fused Adobe Structures Centered in Situ
Building Codes
Glossary and Metric and U.S. Systems of Weights and Measures
Index