San Antonio, Texas · October 5–10, 2026

Build With Earth. From the Ground Up.

A hands-on 6-day workshop where you'll construct real Alker earthen walls, install a timbrel vault, and design a living green roof — faster, better, and cheaper than conventional construction.

October 5–10, 2026
10–15 Participants
3 Complete Modules
Classroom + Hands-On Build
Reserve a Spot — From $500 See the Curriculum

Not ready to register? Get notified when registration opens →

Why Earthen Building

Faster. Better. Cheaper. And it's been under your feet the whole time.

The Alker method — a gypsum-stabilized earthen system with T-form slip forming — sets in 20 minutes, builds at 500+ sq ft per day with a 4-person crew, and costs $2–3 per square foot of wall face. It outperforms concrete block on thermal mass, carbon footprint, and buildability.

This workshop is for anyone who wants to understand and build with this system firsthand. Contractors, architects, owner-builders, developers — if you're serious about earth construction, this is where you start.

20 min
Form stripping time
500+ ft²
Daily wall output (4-person crew)
$2–3
Per sq ft wall cost (materials + labor)
Near zero
Embodied carbon footprint

The Curriculum

Three Modules. One Complete Structure.

Each module combines classroom instruction with hands-on construction. You leave with skills you can apply on your next project — not just theory.

Participants building Alker earthen walls using T-form system

Module 01

Days 1–2 · October 5–6

Alker Walls + T-Form System

The foundation of the Alker method — from mix design to placed and stripped walls. You'll build real wall sections on a pre-set foundation using the T-form slip system.

  • Alker mix design: earth, gypsum ratios, water content
  • T-form setup, alignment, and cycling
  • Mixing, placing, and compacting in lifts
  • Form stripping at 20 minutes, quality inspection
  • Opening and corner detailing
  • Surface finishing and moisture management
$700 · $175 deposit to register
Register for Module 1
Timbrel vault construction with terracotta tiles

Module 02

Days 3–4 · October 7–8

Timbrel Vault Installation

The Catalan timbrel vault is one of the most structurally elegant forms in architecture — thin tile, fast-setting mortar, no formwork. There is no US workshop south of Oregon teaching this. Until now.

  • Vault geometry, thrust lines, and form-finding
  • Tile selection, layout, and cutting
  • First layer: fast mortar, no centering technique
  • Second and third layers for structural depth
  • Springing and crown detailing
  • Integration with earthen wall system
$700 · $175 deposit to register
Register for Module 2
Green roof installation on earthen building in Texas landscape

Module 03

Days 5–6 · October 9–10

Green Roof Design + Build

Close the building envelope with a living roof — waterproofing, drainage, growing medium, and native Texas plantings. Both design principles and hands-on installation.

  • Green roof systems: extensive vs. intensive
  • Waterproofing membrane selection and installation
  • Drainage layer, filter fabric, and growing medium
  • Native Texas plant species and load calculations
  • Irrigation, maintenance, and performance monitoring
  • Passive House envelope integration
$500 · $125 deposit to register
Register for Module 3

Registration

Reserve Your Spot

A 25% deposit holds your place. Balance due August 1, 2026. Early bird pricing for the first 5 registrants per module.

Best Value — Save $300

All 3 Modules

Complete Workshop

6 days · October 5–10, 2026

$1,600

$400 deposit today · Balance due Aug 1

  • All 3 modules included
  • $300 savings vs. individual pricing
  • Alker walls + T-form system
  • Timbrel vault installation
  • Green roof design + build
  • All materials included
  • Digital reference manual

Module 1

Alker Walls + T-Form

2 days · October 5–6

$700

$175 deposit today · Balance due Aug 1

  • Classroom + hands-on build
  • Mix design and T-form technique
  • Real wall construction
  • All materials included
  • Digital reference manual

Module 2

Timbrel Vault

2 days · October 7–8

$700

$175 deposit today · Balance due Aug 1

  • Classroom + hands-on build
  • Only vault workshop in South US
  • Tile vault construction
  • All materials included
  • Digital reference manual

Module 3

Green Roof

2 days · October 9–10

$500

$125 deposit today · Balance due Aug 1

  • Classroom + hands-on install
  • Waterproofing + planting
  • Native Texas species
  • All materials included
  • Digital reference manual

Early Bird Pricing: The first 5 registrants for each module receive 15% off the full price. Deposits are non-refundable. Cancellations within 30 days of the event forfeit the full amount. Balance payments are refundable up to 45 days before the event.

DK

Your Instructor

David Komet

Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) Alker Method Specialist Building Science Expert Urban Earth · San Antonio, TX

David has spent years developing and refining the Alker earthen building method — testing mix designs, building prototype structures, and pushing the boundaries of what earth construction can do. His background in Passive House design means every wall he teaches you to build is also a high-performance building envelope.

His unique ability is seeing over the horizon of construction technology and translating it into skills you can use on your next project. This workshop is the distillation of that work — what took years of testing compressed into six days of hands-on learning.

Urban Earth provides Passive House consulting, owner's representative services, and earthen building design for developers, architects, and owner-builders across Texas and beyond.

Visit Urban Earth →

Questions

Frequently Asked

No. The workshop is designed for anyone genuinely interested in earthen building — complete beginners are welcome. The classroom sessions provide the context you need before you pick up a tool.
All construction materials, tools on-site, classroom instruction, and a digital reference manual for each module. Meals and lodging are not included — San Antonio has excellent options nearby.
Yes. Each module is self-contained and can be taken independently. The combo price saves $300 if you plan to attend all three, but individual registration is fully available.
Deposits are non-refundable. Balance payments are fully refundable up to 45 days before the event. Cancellations within 30 days of the workshop forfeit the full amount paid. We can transfer your registration to a future workshop with 30+ days notice.
We cap enrollment at 15 participants per module to maintain a high instructor-to-participant ratio and ensure everyone gets meaningful hands-on time. Modules typically sell out — register early.
The workshop is held at our dedicated build site in the San Antonio, Texas area. Exact address and directions are sent to registered participants 30 days before the event.

Spots are limited to 15 per module.

Early bird pricing for the first 5 registrants. Secure your place with a 25% deposit today.

See Individual Modules

Not ready yet? Join the notify list and get early bird access