Earth, Wood and Sun – Natural Building, Local Style


“When we are able to successfully work with local ecologies to meet our needs, we do the Earth a better service. And we are becoming empowered in our own lives.”

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Africa Vernacular Architecture Database

One of the many houses in the Africa Vernacular Architecture Database
One of the many houses in the Africa Vernacular Architecture Database

“Welcome to the data base on African vernacular architecture.
There is very little information available on vernacular architecture of Africa…. this data base is the only source on line to view images of vernacular structures in every African country.

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Malawi Vernacular Architecture

Malawi vernacular architecture
Malawi vernacular architecture

“Hello.. my name is Jon (Twingi) Sojkowski, I am a registered architect and I have a passion for African vernacular architecture. I recently (Sept. 2014) traveled to Malawi to document the vernacular architecture in the country. For 3 weeks, me and my Malawian team traveled the entire country, stopping at 300+ villages and homesteads to interview people on their traditional structures and to take pictures and video. The end result is the web site: Malawi Architecture.com

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Vernacular Architecture

“Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources and traditions to address local needs and circumstances. Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it exists. It has often been dismissed as crude and unrefined, but also has … Read more

Architecture without Architects

“In this book, Bernard Rudofsky steps outside the narrowly defined discipline that has governed our sense of architectural history and discusses the art of building as a universal phenomenon. He introduces the reader to communal architecture–architecture produced not by specialists but by the spontaneous and continuing activity of a whole people with a common heritage, … Read more