About
Gain hands-on experience in how masons built traditional domed structures such as churches, mosques, tombs, palaces, and simple homes using just one material – earth. Learn the techniques to rotate and incline small blocks of natural materials to create arches, vaults, and domes, allowing you to design in harmony with the Earth. Engage in full-scale exercises and model-building activities to understand the timeless design principles that can inspire the creation of new homes, places of worship, and community spaces.
This course seeks to re-awaken a method, latent in the world’s diverse religious systems, of architectural design and building construction as an orderly process of spiritual guidance. In the process of “research and in-search” our quests become more meaningful when our goals meet with others’ needs and goals (Khalili, 1984)
The content of this course includes one of the most ancient frames of reference: Masonry Architecture. It provides the participant with an ancient mnemonic, like a string of prayer beads or a ladder of ascent and descent. Continuing the essence of its tradition into the 21st century, digital fabrication with traditional masonry are integrated, building on the work of Masters.
“An arch is like a prayer,
Nader Khalili, architect
its strength is in its unity,
its beauty in its repetition.”
The course content addresses building with earth and masonry as a living art, relating historical precedent and contemporary practice. You will be learning to work with the universal elements of earth, water, air and fire as architectural design generators and innovators, within a design theory that works with their properties and qualities (divine names) and the process of analogy. The principle of unity within diverse multiplicity is explored through work “made without hands” (acheiropoeiton) and “doing while not doing” (anenergesia) in the design and fabrication of masonry buildings.
Lectures in theory are followed by hands-on building scale models and full-scale architectural elements. Both theory and hands-on teach a gravity-guided architecture experienced by all the senses.
Key Information
Who is this course for?
All levels of ability and experience are welcome. You must be aged 18 or over to participate in our programmes.
What days do I attend?
Monday – Friday, 21 – 25 July 2025, 10:00 – 16:30
How many students can attend?
10 people
Where will this course take place?
This course will take place at our studios at The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts,
19-22 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3SG.
What should I bring to class?
All materials are provided on this course.
Wear comfortable clothing that you do not mind getting slightly messy. Avoid wearing baggy clothing (especially sleeves), loose jewellery, high heels or open-toed shoes.
FAQs
Do you offer concessions?
Yes, we offer concessions for full-time students and Seniors/60+.
Concessions cannot be applied in retrospect. To receive a concession, please apply via our online form. We will then send you a discount code to use when booking your space.
Terms & Conditions
The School reserves the right to discontinue or suspend a Course up to fourteen (14) calendar days before the advertised start date of the Course. This course requires a minimum number of enrollments to run.
The School may take and use images of you and/or your work for course advertisement and social media purposes.
Our normal terms and conditions apply.
Tutor biography
Dr. Iliona Outram Khalili is a professional architect registered in the U.K. As a Master Builder in Earth Architecture, her practice specialises in load-bearing masonry. As a theoretician, her doctoral research translates between theology and masonry architecture to deduce the hands-on spirituality of the master builders of Hagia Sophia in Thessaloniki.
She has taught Earth and Ceramic (Masonry) Architecture around the world in universities and private institutes, and has built prototypes with students, masons, and the public in the USA, UK, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tanzania, Cyprus, Czechia, France, and Spain. Her enduring interest is, “How can architects re-awaken the knowledge of architectural design and construction as a process of spiritual guidance?” She was the recipient of a CHASE doctoral scholarship (2018-2021), and was
Project Manager for Nader Khalili/Cal-Earth’s ‘Sandbag Shelter Prototypes’, awarded the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2004. A former lecturer in architecture in Manchester Metropolitan University, she presently teaches through New Earth UK.
