Building on the beach in Mexico

I'm so grateful for all of the fantastic advice here.

I've been fantasizing about earthbag construction and I thought I was close.

I want a small structure on the sandy bluff just above the beach (Sea of Cortez), employing a rubble foundation.
I may eventually concrete the floor and small patio.

While I would love to use the circular bags, they need wet material. I'll only have real access to sea water.

I planned to use sand bags filled with sand and reinforced with barb wire, covered with concrete. I just read that the concrete finish isn't recommended.

The property will be on its own a fair amount of time, so I can't liberally use windows (security issues). On the West wall, it will be mostly
solid with bottles wedged into the seams in a few places for light. I can use stove pipes in the north and south walls for ventilation. Door will be on south wall.

The first stage will involve 3 almost solid, 10' high walls and a partial wall on the east, 40" tall, overlooking the ocean. The wall will function as the counter top, bar area
until I can figure out the security and can have the place function as a house and not 3 walls with an outdoor kitchen.

Any suggestions re: materials, salt water, filling exclusively with sand, security, etc are wildly welcome.
Resources for earthbags in Southern California or Mexicali area would be lovely.

Thanks,

Katie

Howdy Katie, welcome to permies!
I have no advise for you but it sounds like a neat project.
I will be looking forward to seeing how it progresses.

Thank you, Miles!

Hi Katie,

Someone inquired about salt water and beach sand on Owen Geiger's site: http://www.naturalbuildingblog.com/owens-book-dvd/

If I'm understanding his response correctly, sand can be used if stabilizer is added, Owen suggested lime or cement. Salt water, however... should not be used with lime or cement. Then Owen says that lime/cement are not usually needed, but don't use all sand; add clay.


A couple years ago Ie read a couple blogs by surfers with this sort of part-time beach house in remote 3rd world areas; they found the key to security was good relations and integration with local people, so someone would be living on site, tending a garden, etc.