#earthenarchitecture

[encontrarvida]

Flowers evolve with little help from the rain. Therefore help should never be underrated 🌧🌹😊👉👈🍂🍃💜

[johanklejs]

dwelling in earth

1:50 model

[sustainablemountainarchitecture]

Anne Fenstra nominated for Terra Awards, 2016

Our founding member  Prof.Anne Feenstra has been NOMINATED for 40 best contemporary Earthen Architecture buildings in the world.

A jury and scientific committee of prestigious international experts identified and distinguished 40 outstanding earthen architecture buildings that were designed & build after 2000.

 Amir, the first National Park of Afghanistan in  Bamyan province.30 C at 3000 m. altitude, for which Feenstra and team have designed a 80 cm thick, locally made mud brick wall. The pitted texture of the center comprises of a mud/straw/mustard oil plaster  inserted with flat stones, blends in with the natural beauty of the place. The architects used passive solar energy, double glazing, natural cross ventilation and an underground heating system.  

The ’open design process’ was key to the project’s success  in which Prof. Anne Feenstra deeply involves the local community, local crafts people and other stakeholders.

The project will be exhibited in July 2016 during the TERRA Award ceremony  in Lyon, France. For more information, please see: http://terra-award.org/project/band-i-amir-national-park/

[johanklejs]

[archupnet]

Shibam Hadramout Yemen: The World’s First Mudbrick Skyscraper City

Review

Shibam Hadramout stands as one of the most extraordinary architectural experiments ever created in an ancient urban setting. Often referred to as the Manhattan of the Desert, the city demonstrates that traditional materials can achieve remarkable efficiency when paired with intelligent design. Long before steel frames and reinforced concrete shaped the skylines of modern cities, Shibam introduced a vertical urban model built entirely from mudbrick yet capable of reaching heights of nearly thirty meters. This achievement was not a historical coincidence but the result of a deep understanding of climate, structure, and sustainable living.

Detailed map of the Middle East: Highlighting countries, borders, and key geographical features.

Vertical Mudbrick Engineering That Reached Thirty Meters

Most people assume that mudbrick cannot support tall structures, but the builders of Shibam developed an ingenious system that allowed the city to rise vertically. The lower floors were constructed with exceptionally thick walls designed to withstand both the weight of the building and the heat of the desert. As the height increased, the wall thickness gradually decreased, creating a lighter upper structure that remained stable and thermally responsive. Carefully positioned ventilation openings helped regulate internal humidity and reduced structural stress. This gradual load reduction resembles the tapered design principles used in modern high rise buildings, yet here it was achieved entirely through natural materials.

A Climatic Innovation That Stabilized Temperature Year Round

The architectural brilliance of Shibam becomes even clearer when examined through the lens of environmental design. Mudbrick acts as a natural thermal mass capable of absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night, maintaining a comfortable indoor environment despite extreme desert conditions. The vertical layout of the homes also contributed to climate control. Lower levels provided shaded storage, while upper floors were used for living to capture cooler breezes. This passive temperature regulation mirrors many strategies in modern sustainable architecture, proving that Shibam’s builders had mastered environmental design centuries before it became a global trend.

Dar al-Hajar: Yemen's majestic rock palace, an iconic masterpiece of unique architecture carved into the heart of Wadi Dhar.

A Vertical Urban Fabric Long Before Compact Cities

Although Shibam occupies a very small footprint, its population density is surprisingly high due to the vertical urban layout. Narrow shaded streets reduce heat gain and encourage airflow, while the compact grid ensures minimal land use and material consumption. This planning concept strongly resembles today’s compact and smart city models that aim to reduce energy waste and urban sprawl. The difference is that Shibam achieved these goals in the sixteenth century using only mudbrick, geometry, and a sophisticated understanding of community oriented design.

Modern Lessons from an Ancient Mudbrick Metropolis

Shibam offers invaluable lessons for contemporary architects seeking sustainable solutions. Mudbrick, once dismissed as outdated, is now being reconsidered for its low carbon footprint, impressive insulation properties, and recyclability. The city proves that environmental harmony does not always require advanced technology but can be achieved through thoughtful design and local materials. For a world struggling with rising temperatures, energy consumption, and sprawling urban areas, Shibam stands as a powerful reminder that architectural heritage can inspire the future of sustainable development.

Golden Hour over the 'Manhattan of the Desert.' A breathtaking sunset illuminates the historic mudbrick towers of Shibam, Yemen, showcasing an enduring blend of architecture and nature. ✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

Shibam Hadramout challenges modern assumptions about height, material strength, and climatic performance. Its mudbrick towers reveal how architecture can achieve verticality without relying on industrial materials, instead drawing strength from geometry, thermal intelligence, and collective craftsmanship. The city’s tapered structures and dense urban grid form a passive environmental system that responds gracefully to heat, airflow, and light.

Shibam’s enduring silhouette invites contemporary architects to rethink the relationship between material simplicity and urban ambition. It proves that sustainable design does not require technological complexity but a willingness to listen to site, climate, and community. In an era searching for low-carbon solutions, Shibam stands not as a relic but as a blueprint for future vertical ecologies shaped by local knowledge and environmental empathy.

Aggregation Links

To analyze Shibam's genius, explore Research on earthen Architecture and how it shaped the vertical Cities planning model, and delve into the unique Construction techniques and sustainability of its (Building Materials).

https://archup.net/zaha-hadid-architects-creates-weatherproof-shelters-and-housing-units-for-displaced-communities/ Dive into the world of architecture – from bold concepts to global competitions – curated with ArchUp. #ArchUp #architecture

[cringecasket]

House in Sanaa, Yemen

The closest equivalent today of everyday Ancient Egyptian architecture can be seen in the mud-brick houses in Yemen. Details such as roll moulding to strengthen corners and layers of brick rising slightly at the corners correspond to those found in Ancient Egypt.

[johanklejs]

[furrina]

Rámmed Earth Ranch @lakeflato Marfa, Texas, USA 🇺🇸 • • • Architecture: @lakeflato Building: @pilgrimbuildingcompany It took 2 years and 3.5 million pounds of dirt just to create the two-foot-thick rammed-earth walls of the resulting 6,000-square-foot home (the rest of the construction took an additional year). Pilgrim Building Company, the general contractor, tapped Austin-based Enabler to do this incredibly labor-intensive and time-consuming work on-site—outdoors and by hand. Part of the reason that rammed earth was the chosen construction method was due to the thermodynamic properties. Because of the diurnal swings in temperatures—cold nights and warm days—the mass of the walls allows for moderating the temperatures. AWARDS 2022 Texas Society of Architects Design Award • • • #rammedearth #rammedearthdesign #rammedeartharchitecture #earthwall #earthenarchitecture #tierracompactada #rammed_earth_design #rammed_earth_wall #rammed_earth #stampflehmbauer #stampflehmwand #rammedearthwall #eartharchitecture #archdayli #stampflehm #lehmbau #rammedearthconstruction #archidaily #ecobuilding #clay #rammedearthwalls #wabisabi #dezeen #design #earthdesign #rammed_earth_architecture #designstudiomag 🤝 @designstudio_mag https://www.instagram.com/p/CflLkkuNmDY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=