Our Mission

To advance and promote earthen construction

Our Vision

Earthen construction is an established mainstream building technology

Earthen structures are as old as human history, and some are among the most well known structures on the planet, like the Alhambra and portions of China's Great Wall. ECI was founded by a group of people who appreciate adobe, rammed earth, compressed earth block, cob, and other earthen styles for their sheer beauty, but we also believe that these ancient technologies have much to offer modern humans in terms of comfort, health, and environmental resiliency. ECI exists to bring earthen construction into the mainstream by developing standards and best practices, through research to understand and improve earthen construction, by providing quality resources, and through educational programs and training.

You are welcome to join us at our monthly board meetings held the first Tuesday of each month, followed by our "Members Presents!" series, where ECI members and friends give presentations and demos on various aspects of earthen construction and sustainable practices.

To see past presentations visit our video page or click here to visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Earthen Construction News

We are proud of our accomplishments in advancing earthen construction in central Texas and beyond. Here's news on the progress of ECI initiatives, publications, and upcoming events.

ECI Authors New Earthen Building Code Amendments

Effective October 1, 2018, the City of San Antonio approved ECI's suggested amendments adding earthen construction to the City's building code.

TERRA 2021 abstracts are due March 1, 2020

Terra 2021 is the 13th World Congress on Earthen Architectural Heritage. The event will be June 8-11, 2021 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Check the website for more information.

TERRA 2021 website