Adobeisnotsoftware was founded in 2009 to inform, enable and advance adobe construction in California.
Our Instructors
Ben and Kurt founded Adobeisnotsoftware in 2009 to inform, enable and advance adobe construction in California. They strongly believe in educating the public in the building and conservation of adobe structures so California can reform its building regulations and remove ill-informed barriers to adobe construction. Adobeisnotsoftware encourages research about the seismic and thermal behavior of adobe construction. Their goal is to foster dialogue and connect practitioners, as well as encourage collaboration with advocates for other building technologies and pursue common goals.
Ben Loescher
Ben Loescher is a founding Principal at Terrain where his work focuses around reuse of existing buildings, high performance workplace design for the film, television and media industries, and innovation in earthen construction. Loescher provides education and advocacy for earthen building through Adobeisnotsoftware, is former Chair of the Earthbuilders’ Guild, and holds an Adobe Proficiency Certification from The Earthbuilders' Guild.
Lucy Lloyd
Lucy is a Design Director and Project Designer at Terrain and a Senior Designer at Adobeisnotsoftware, the advocacy and education arm of the firm. Lucy has led design on several earthen projects in Southern California and assists in education and advocacy work with Adobeisnotsoftware in her spare time.
Kurt Gardella
Kurt Gardella specializes in online and field-based adobe construction education. He holds a Certificate in Adobe Construction from Northern New Mexico College (Quentin Wilson) and is also certified as a Specialist for Building with Earth (Registration #01-208-0810) by the Dachverband Lehm (German Association for Building with Earth) and the Handwerkskammer Ulm (Ulm Chamber of Trades and Crafts). In addition to Adobeisnotsoftware, Kurt also teaches classes for Adobe in Action and Santa Fe Community College.