Sustainability of Traditional Architecture of Africa: The Case of Mali & Ethiopia

Hisham MortadaProfessor of ArchitectureKing Abdul Aziz UniversityJeddah, Saudi Arabiahmortada@kau.edu.sa

Subjectivity of Sustianabilty

West Hollywood, CA Johannesburg, S. Africa

African Issues

• Poverty

African Issues

• Illiteracy

African Issues

• Diseases

African Issues

• Political instability

African Issues

• Deteriorated built environmentNeirobi, Kenya

African Sustainability

African Sustainability

• Aim: To explore the sustainable aspects of traditional built environment of Africa: Mali & Ethiopia as case studies.

Mali

Ethiopia

African Sustainability

• Sustainable traditional built environment of Africa:

• Architectural Scale• Urban Scale

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Natural construction materials: Mud

• Thermal advantage

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Natural construction materials: Mud

Djenne, Mali

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Natural construction materials: Mud

Djenne, Mali

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Natural construction materials: Mud

Djenne, Mali

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Natural construction materials: Mud

Segou, Mali Djenne, Mali

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Natural construction materials: Mud

Djenne, Mali

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Natural construction materials: Mud

Djenne, Mali

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Natural construction materials: Mud

Djenne, Mali

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Natural construction materials: Mud

Segou, Mali

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Natural construction materials: Mud

Harar, Ethiopia

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Natural construction materials: Stone

Harar, Ethiopia

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Natural construction materials: Stone

Harar, Ethiopia

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Natural construction materials: Straw

Segou, Mali

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Natural construction materials: Straw

Segou, Mali

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Natural construction materials: Straw

Harar, Ethiopia

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Natural construction materials: Straw

Harar, Ethiopia

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Design Aspects: Simple compact form

Harar, Ethiopia

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Design Aspects: Multi-use indoor spaces

Harar, Ethiopia

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Design Aspects: Multi-use indoor spacesHarar, Ethiopia

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Design Aspects: Extended/Multi-family housing

Harar, Ethiopia Segou, Mali

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Design Aspects: Extended/Multi-family housing

Harar, Ethiopia

Djenne, Mali

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Design Aspects: Courtyard

Djenne, Mali

African Sustainability: Architectural Scale

• Design Aspects: Natural lighting and ventilation

Djenne, Mali

African Sustainability: Urban Scale

• Urban compactness

Djenne, Mali

African Sustainability: Urban Scale

• Urban compactness

Harar, Ethiopia

African Sustainability: Urban Scale

• Urban compactness

Harar, Ethiopia

African Sustainability: Urban Scale

• Urban compactness

Harar, Ethiopia

African Sustainability: Urban Scale

• Urban compactness: mixed land uses

Harar, Ethiopia

African Sustainability: Urban Scale

• Urban compactness: mixed land uses

Harar, Ethiopia

African Sustainability: Urban Scale

• Urban compactness: narrow alleys

Harar, Ethiopia

African Sustainability: Urban Scale

• Urban compactness: limited & small outdoor spaces

Harar, Ethiopia

African Sustainability: Urban Scale

• Urban compactness: limited & small outdoor spaces

Harar, Ethiopia

African Sustainability: Urban Scale

• Urban integration with nature

Regardless of the environmental, economic, social, health, and political crises of African countries, the traditional built environment of the African continent delivers unique lessons of sustainability. In countries such as Mali and Ethiopia, this sustainability is exhibited in two physical scales: architectural and urban. It varies from utilization of natural materials, indoor spaces of mixed use, and spatial elements such as courtyards, to compact urban form that feature narrow streets, mixed land uses and integration with surrounding natural environment.

Summary & Conclusion

Thank you for listening!