
Necessary Architecture
Raw Earth Solutions for a Common House in Niger
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Book Description
Niger is sand, light, and heat. Starting from the necessity of the Mission Catholique du Dosso, which has worked in Niger for several years, this book speaks about the Nigerien situation which is characterized by a countrywide spread of poverty.
Along with studying the country’s environmental, geographical conditions, the book discusses raw earth architecture in both vernacular and contemporary contexts. A number of the most common techniques are described. The possibilities for these methods to adapt to the contemporary language of architecture without losing the technical and physical benefits inherent in them are illustrated.
The book embraces some topics that are not common but highly relevant in the Developing World, such as identity through the evolution of architecture and the value of transmitting knowledge related to the vernacular building process.
Nowadays, Niger’s condition is characterized by a lack of resources, both physical and cultural. Earthen technology appears to be a valid solution in this situation for the creation of an environmentally sustainable approach.
The book aims to provide an overview of the possibility of constructing new buildings related to the climate and traditional context, applying vernacular technology and solutions in a contemporary application.
Providing a balance between teaching vernacular knowledge and the contemporary architectural language could help face this out-of-resource situation, aiming to get comfortable and affordable living spaces.
Table of Contents
The necessary Niger Alisia Tognon and Luca Trabattoni 1. The Niger territory: land between an ethnic crossroads and the dynamism of the desert Alisia Tognon and Lara Spadari 2. The conceptual apparatus of tradition Alisia Tognon 3. A contemporary vision of raw earth architecture Luca Trabattoni 4. Updating vernacular architecture Luca Trabattoni 5. To the future for fragile but strong territories Alisia Tognon and Luca Trabattoni Bibliography
Author(s)
Biography
Alisia Tognon is an architect and Adjunct Professor at the Politecnico di Milano (Dastu).
Luca Trabattoni is an architect and an Associate Professor at the University of Technology of Opole (PL) in the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning.