Over 500 years ago, the people of the Songhai Empire in Africa raised the Tomb of Askia, which is still a venerated relic today. The complex also includes two flat-roofed mosque structures, the mosque cemetery, and an open-air assembly area in the city of Gao, Mali, close to the banks of the River Niger. Askia … Read more
The Last Straw recently published this Oral History of The Straw Building Revival with Matts Myhrman The Last Straw: So, Matts, when you were younger did you have any sense that you would end up building with bales? Matts Myhrman: Not in the slightest. My dad was quite a good carpenter and he started me … Read more
Located in Burkina Faso the Lycée Schorge Secondary School shows what is possible when you mix traditional techniques and new materials. The school consists of nine modules arranged around a central courtyard that is protected from wind and dust. Each module is built out of locally sourced laterite which is cut into bricks and left … Read more
The story of earth architecture continues to be told through structures that have stood the test of time. Earth construction techniques have been pioneered by many ancient civilizations. What appears to be a feeble structure made of raw earth is actually very durable. Earth architecture is considered one of the first methods developed by humans … Read more
In the heart of Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico, ‘Santerra House’ is a rammed earth structure combined with burnt wood. Parma Arquitectura led the design and construction of the residence, opting for earth as the main material because it requires only a small amount of water compared to other systems and a large part of it … Read more
As the sun beats down on Iraq, most people swelter in their concrete homes — but not the inhabitants of one mountain town known for its ancient and cool stone houses. Tracing its roots back 2,700 years, the picturesque Kurdish town of Akre is better adapted to the modern-day perils of climate change than other … Read more