Super Adobe Building Course

Kilifi, Kenya
March 3 - March 30, 2025

Join us on the stunning Kenyan coast for our second immersive super adobe building course at Distant Relatives Eco-Lodge & Backpackers in Kilifi. Under the expert guidance of natural building specialist Tommaso Bazzechi, you’ll gain both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in constructing a resilient, sustainable full-dome structure using local, natural materials. This course is ideal for anyone looking to learn and apply eco-building methods that withstand challenging climates and natural disasters while creating beautiful, low-impact spaces.

Superadobe construction utilizes natural materials to build resilient and sustainable homes. Utilizing the earthbag technique, this construction style is disaster-resilient and durable against many natural disasters. Through this course, you will learn about the background, design principles, and theory of superadobe construction and gain hands-on experience on the entire superadobe building process, including:

What You’ll Learn

Participants will gain skills in every aspect of super adobe construction, including:

- Fundamentals of super adobe and stabilizers
- Soil types and their application in earthbag building
- Geometric principles of domes, arches, and vaults
- Passive cooling strategies, building orientation, and site management
- Foundation, drainage, and insulation techniques
- Earthbag building, wall and buttress construction, and dome closures
- Incorporating doorways and windows
- Waterproofing, plastering, and natural finishing
- Makuti roofing and thatching with coconut leaves

Who Should Join?

This course is perfect for:

- Those seeking hands-on, practical experience in sustainable, natural building
- Individuals interested in learning earthbag techniques for personal or community projects
- Participants excited to work collaboratively on an eco-building project in a community setting
- Those interested in Kenyan culture and applying super adobe techniques to an African context

Course Details

Duration: Two options available:

Full Course: 28 days (March 3 – March 30)
Half Course: 14 days (March 3 – March 16 or March 16 – March 30)

Group Size: Maximum of 30 participants; registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Cost:

Full course + shared accommodation: $1,250 or 160,000 ksh
Half course + shared accommodation: $800 or 105,000 ksh
Fees include shared dorm-style accommodation at Distant Relatives Eco-Lodge, superadobe training and certificate, breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinking water. Dinner and alcoholic beverages not included. Part of your fee supports local Kilifi community member participation.

*Private accommodation upgrades available at Distant Relatives Eco-Lodge. Contact us for more information!

**Course without shared accommodation possible; contact us for updated pricing.

Discounts & Payment Options

We’re excited to offer the following discounted pricing for African Citizens!

- Full course + shared accommodation: $1,035 or 135,000 ksh
- Half course + shared accommodation: $655 or 85,000 ksh
- $50 Early Bird Discount if registered before January 15
- Groups of 4 or more: 10% discount per person
- Couples: 5% discount for partners

To secure your spot, complete the registration form and schedule a call with a team member. Payment options include bank transfer or M-Pesa, with full payment required before the course begins. Monthly installments are available.

Meet Your Instructor: Tommaso Bazzechi

With over 13 years of experience, Tommaso Bazzechi is a respected architect, permaculturist, and eco-building specialist. Known for his expertise in natural building techniques, particularly super adobe and earthbag construction, Tommaso’s work emphasizes sustainable, resilient architecture tailored to local environments and resources. As a Board of Director at New Earth UK, he has led earth architecture workshops worldwide, designing and constructing sustainable buildings that integrate permaculture principles.

His projects span across Italy, England, Kenya, Turkey, Greece, Spain, and Bangladesh, where he has applied earth-based solutions for humanitarian and environmental resilience.
Notable accomplishments include a two-story earthbag orphanage in Kenya, water and solar power systems for communities, and capacity-building initiatives that bring sustainable architecture to vulnerable areas. Tommaso’s philosophy of eco-architecture reflects a deep commitment to reconnecting with traditional methods and using locally sourced materials to create innovative, resource-efficient designs. Participants will benefit from his knowledge, creativity, and dedication to sustainable solutions.

About Distant Relatives Eco-Lodge & Backpackers

Designed as an experimental model of environmentally and socially conscious living, Distant Relatives is an affordable ecolodge, bar, restaurant, venue and digital nomad hub aiming to bring a message of optimism and inspiration to visitors from all walks of life. Intertwined with the surrounding environment, all of our spaces and accommodations were designed over many years with all the love and care in the world to offer guests the utmost comfort and peace while minimizing our footprint wherever possible.

Dinners are not included in the accommodation packages, but Kilifi offers various
dining options to suit different budgets. Recommended spots include:

- Distant Relatives Eco-Lodge & Backpackers
- Salty’s Kitesurfing Village & Bar
- The Food Movement
- Twisted Fig