Housing of the Dogon Tribe in Mali, Africa

The Dogon people inhabit a rocky and mountainous territory in the center of the West African state
of Mali. Their settlements range along the massive Bandiagara Escarpment, a sandstone outcrop of
some one hundred miles that divides central Mali in two.

This unique historical trajectory has also shaped

their architecture: remarkable mud brick structures stacked vertically on seemingly impassable cliff
faces.

Individual Dogon buildings are quite beautiful as well, exhibiting a seamless integration of painting
and sculpture with architecture that I find quite appealing.

THE MUD SKYSCRAPER OF SHIBAM

Like Manhattan, the high-rises of Shibam were built on a rectangular grid of streets and squares.
Unlike Manhattan, the skyscrapers are made of mud, date back to the 16th century, and the dusty
streets are often overrun with goats.
Shibam, in the desert of central Yemen, is home to about 7,000 people. Located at the crossroads of
Asia, Africa, and Europe, the small town was once a stopping point for traders traveling along the
frankincense and spice routes.

The walled city of “skyscrapers” was built on a hill in the 1530s after a mighty flood destroyed much
of the existing settlement. Its five hundred huddled buildings, ranging from five to eleven stories
high, are the tallest mud buildings in the world and provided protection against the elements and
deterred potential attackers. They continue to shelter the residents of Shibam.

THE TERRACED HOUSING OF MASULEH,IRAN

More than a thousand meters above sea level on the slopes of the Alborz mountain range in Gilan,
northern Iran, a remarkable village dating back to 1006 AD bustles with life. The unique ochre-brown
structures of Masuleh follow the slope of the mountain that the village nestles on—or rather, grows
from—giving the village its most unusual quality: the roofs of many of the houses connect directly
to, or even form a part of, the street serving the houses above.

developed around an iron mine and soon grew into a thriving commercial hub with trade revolving
around the ironworks industry.

Here, nature, architecture, and the community flourish together. This is a village built not by trained
architects, but by the inhabitants themselves. Like all vernacular architecture, it is clever in its
sensitivity towards the environment, climate, materials, and local needs and traditions. Houses built
out of a combination of wood, adobe, and stone stand resolutely on a 60-degree incline. With
natural rock at the foundation, and a sturdy “koh deevar” or “mountain wall” supported by the
mountain slope at the back of each structure, the stepped village is built to be earthquake resistant.
 natural rock at the foundation,
and a sturdy “koh deevar” or
“mountain wall” supported by the
mountain slope at the back of
each structure, the stepped
village is built to be earthquake
resistant.

THE HOUSING IN WATER VILLAGE OF LAKE INLE IN MYANMAR

Inle Lake is one of the most visited touristic sites in Myanmar and for good reason. Tourists travel to
Inle Lake to see the local Intha people who have developed their own fascinating culture and
lifestyle that revolves around the water. The Intha live on the lake in stilt houses while growing food
in floating gardens. Living on a lake has its benefits, such as easy access to water and resilience to
floods. But an increase in population and tourism means human activities like agriculture are
polluting Inle Lake and negatively affecting its unique ecosystem. The fish population is dropping,
asis the quality of the water – both of which are threatening the livelihoods of the people living on
the lake.
Inle Lake has a tropical hot and humid climate, and in this type of climate providing enough air flow
is important to make people feel more comfortable while indoors. The traditional bamboo houses of
Inle Lake are built on stilts and the walls are made by weaving together strips of bamboo. These
walls provide shading from the sun, but the light structure and the small gaps in the wall let air and
light pass through. This way air flow and ventilation can be provided without needing to open a lot
of windows which would let in the heat of sun.

ITALIAN HILL TOWN OF MORANO CALABRO

Morano Calabro is perched on top of a hill, a clustered village sketched on Mt Pollino background.
Morano is a very ancient town (called Moranum) whose name, in the form Muranum, was found for
the first time on a 2nd-century B.C

The town consists of three districts where houses merge with the castle and the main churches. The
built area develops downhill, inside the town walls. Morano is one of the most evocative and
preserved Medieval-origin villages in Calabria, and it is characterized by clustered houses and narrow
streets. Environmental beauties, together with the historical and cultural heritage of the town.