4 Walls International’s goal is to promote sustainable community development around the globe. We provide clean drinking water, food access, and safe shelter while addressing infrastructure inadequacies, pollution, urban sprawl stressors, and economic growth opportunities, with one solution. These issues are interrelated, mutually enhancing, and require immediate action on all levels. Inspired by the work of green building inventor Michael Reynolds, we are currently focused on bringing the principles of sustainable development to the US-Mexico Border Region, specifically in our home town of San Diego-Tijuana.
PRESS ROOM
February 2011 – 4Walls Crew Completes First Structure in Los Laureles Canyon
“After raising the necessary funds through grass-roots fundraisers and street-canvassing, the 4Walls crew (with new additions of William Debrule and Luis Miguel Mayagoitia) has successfully built a model live/work facility in Los Laureles Canyon, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. With volunteer labor from both sides of the border, they were able to remove over 400 tires and countless plastic bottles from the waste stream. The 450 square foot home is earthquake resistant, harvests water, uses it efficiently, thermoregulates itself, controls for erosion, and promotes native plant restoration. 4Walls is currently working with the community to develop a larger scale sustainable community incorporating on-site waste management and agricultural production.”
March 2010 – 4Walls Crew Participates in Earthship build, Baja California Sur
“The 4Walls crew headed to the town Todos Santos, in the Baja Peninsula to intern for green building inventor Michael Reynolds. They successfully raided the La Paz tire pile in a crucial moment, and helped build a 2 bedroom 1 bath home designed for a family of 4. They were able to learn about large scale grey water systems, on-site sewage systems, off the grid energy production, as well as how to manage up to 60 people on site daily building rapidly and efficiently. It was a great experience and many great friends were made in the process.”
January 2010 – 4Walls Completes Pilot Project in Southern California
“After pulling tires from the Tijuana River Valley Estuary, the 4Walls crew was able to build a 600 square foot structure in southern California that is earthquake resistant, thermoregulates itself, harvests water, and produces food in an indoor garden. The crew of Christian Husband, Waylon Matson, and Steven Wright built the structure out of pocket to prove that it could be done. They built with tires, cans, and glass bottles. There was occasional help from friends and family, but for the most part, the 3 co-founders built it all themselves. She was lovingly refereed to as “The Hole” during the build, but was finally named “Ophelia.”