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Iconic mud structures guide us toward sustainable future

great mud mosque of mali

Eco Factor: Mud structures offer low-carbon and low-cost construction.

Civilization has come a long way from the ancient mud houses to the contemporary, luxurious architecture of today. But, the iconic mud structures still hold the same charm and fascination. Mud has been shaping extraordinary structures for thousands of years and is one of the most cheapest, widely available, durable and green building materials. Mud construction requires minimal energy and creates almost negligible waste. The buildings made from mud can be recycled with minimal effort are easy to maintain. I believe all these qualities stand behind the iconic mud structures that have been standing for centuries.

The landmark that stands as the greatest achievement of Sudano-Swahelian architecture is the iconic Great Mosque of Djenne in Mali, which is claimed to be largest mud brick building in the world. Other stunning and unbelievable construction of mud is the city of Shibam, Yemen. The world’s tallest mud city dating back in the 2nd century AD was built using local clay and is still home to around 7,000 residents who live in the 5- to 11-story-high buildings. Another impressive city made of mud is Bam in Iran. Constructed some 2,000 years ago, the Bam tower was constructed using mud bricks and is believed to be the largest adobe building in the world.

The list of magnificent mud structures doesn’t end here, the Siwa Oasis in Egypt and the Eastern Castle in Syria have also employed mud bricks in their construction. The Bob Dioulasso Grand Mosque in Burkina Faso and the Khiva Wall in Uzbekistan are also among the mud draped masterpieces. Looking at the low-carbon, low-cost and beautiful mud construction, I see no reason why we should not use them to decorate our future.

Via: GreenProphet

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