Of mud ...

Mud, bio, local, ecological ...

Traditionally, mud (also called adobe or banco), wood, stone and terracotta were the main building materials.

In the Sahel region, adobe houses are a real shelter against the heavy heat which can reach 50 degrees Celsius, bringing diseases and mosquitoes.
"Banco" construction consists mainly of sand, clay, and water; but straw, wood chips, cow dung, lime, shea butter ... can be added to bring some more texture.
Banco is a100% recyclable local material, protecting against deforestation and CO2 emission, resisting to fire, xylophagous insects, fungi and mold.
Some would criticize its rustic and severe aspect ...
Photo credit: Marta Abbado & Gustave Deghilage| RFI

This is Boubacar Assoumane residence, in Niamey. 10 years later, it still preserves the family against the heat.

Very colorful sewing school in Karadje, Niamey.

Dried, mud brick are very resistant and solid.

The bricks are attached to each other by a wet banco.
To stall them, the masons use small pebbles.

Jungle Park ecodome, Madagascar; Shibam, skyscraper of mud; Turkmenistan, oldest mud city; Djenne, biggest mud building

Give your home some African touch

Container of natural elements ...

Traditionnaly, these gourds were used to store milk, honey or food.
Made of calabash, they are decorated with beads, leahter, shells ...
Calabash are ecological and can be found easily in Africa at a very affordable price. They give to your home a vintage and elegant touch.

Palm wine container
Grassfields region of Cameroon
qcc.cuny.edu

Gourd Horniman Museum and Gardens

Long and beautifully shaped milk container from the Masai people
ebay.ch

Milk gourd Ethiopia Bruno Mignot

Bamileke people of the Grassfields of Cameroon amyas.net

Milk Pot by the Borana or Gudji people of Ethiopia arts-primitifs.com

Cameroon calabash canteen amyas.net

Plant accessory; African decor; indoor plant; bedroom inspiration;macrame deco idea

Ecodome before Nader Khalili?

Way before climate change and preserving the environment discussions were on the table, African huts were built, beautiful, imperial and ecological.
Made of local material, those hut are smartly buildt to protect against weather.
From Cameroon to South Africa, each country brought its personnal touch, all are just beautiful.

Le Soudan de Oswald Iten via endilletante.tumblr.com

Guinean hut via webguinee.net

Zulu hut via Africa Guide

Cameroonian hut via citynoise.org

Ethiopian hut via
paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com

Rwanda King hut via
africavernaculararchitecture.com

Adobe construction; Jungle Park ecodome, Madagascar; Shibam, skyscraper of mud; Turkmenistan, oldest mud city; Djenne, biggest mud building

Arijuju, wabi-sabi kenyan retreat in the wild

Arijiju, a jewel in the wilderness, is a luxury retreat which bears the name of the hill where it is located.
The family house’s beautiful terraces overlook the conservatory of Borana and Lewa Wildlife Conservancies.
This beautiful wabi-sabi residence is a perfect spiritual getaway in communion with nature with its stone walls, wooden terraces and natural color.

Une retraite wabi-sabi

Ce joyau en pleine nature, c’est la retraite de luxe, Arijiju qui porte le nom de la colline où elle se trouve.
Les belles terrasses de cette maison familiale surplombent le Borana Conservancy et Lewa wildlife Conservancy.
Cette belle demeure wabi-sabi se prête bien à une escapade spirituelle en communion avec la nature, avec ses murs de pierre, ses terrasses en bois et sa couleur naturelle.

villaguru.com

cntraveller.com