Submitted by admin on 29 June, 2010 - 13:10
Location: 
Hassan II Centre
Date: 
13 July, 2010 - 18:00 - 20:30

Earthen Buildings – History and Future Perspectives, Focus on the UAE by

Building with earth is among the world's oldest architectural building traditions. For thousands of years, people all around the world have used earth to construct different types of buildings. A variety of traditional construction techniques have emerged over time, using the earth's natural insulating properties in order to provide optimum shelter in all types of climates. Northern Europe's wattle and daub houses were designed to insulate against frequent rain, while majlises in Abu Dhabi's historic desert forts stayed cool in the blistering heat.

In recent decades, traditional building methods have been largely replaced by modern industrial construction techniques, and the knowledge associated with these long standing traditions is being lost.

However in today's climate of change and innovation earthen architecture is being revived. The United Arab Emirates is rediscovering its earthen architecture heritage and promoting it through the integration of earth into modern, sustainable building and development projects and through the development of research and initiatives related to earthen building architecture and conservation such as Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage's planned Centre for Earthen Buildings in Al Ain and the recent restoration of the Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain with earthen building techniques and the integration of adapted, sustainable modern systems into the existing old earthen structure.

This lecture will reveal the history of the practice of earthen architecture, the variety of related building techniques, and the various qualities that make earth suitable for so many types of constructions. The lecture will also reflect the beauty of earthen buildings as well as their ecological soundness.