Morocco to Focus on Earth Houses to Beat Climate Change

February 24, 2025

(3 Minutes Read)

Supporters point out these houses have a high thermal mass that can slow down the passage of heat through the deep 50-centimetre walls to make the interior cooler during the day. The building material releases the absorbed heat when the temperature falls, usually at night.

Necessity is the mother of invention may be an adage. But this time around, it is not innovation people are looking forward to beating the effects of climate change. They want to return to the past and try and test what their forefathers had done to rough up the scorching summer.

Morocco is turning to the bygone concept of building earth houses to beat climate change. The basic idea of this type of construction is using natural materials such as soil and stone which are readily available here, reducing the need to shift building materials over long distances.

Supporters point out that these houses have a high thermal mass that can slow down the passage of heat through the deep 50-centimeter walls, making the interior cooler during the day. The building material releases the absorbed heat when the temperature falls, usually at night.

However, there are obstacles to overcome, and new technological solutions are required if these buildings become more widespread, especially in cities where large, dense populations may require taller, larger buildings.

According to International Energy (IEA) data for 2022, energy use in building stock contributed to 26% of global carbon emissions. The earth construction technique began to disappear to make way for new materials. Many used new materials like concrete for house construction. But today, there is a return to the past. Historical monuments such as Rabat’s Hassan Tower built in 1196 by Sultan Yacoub El Mansour, a ruler of the Almohad dynasty was built by Earth are inspiring people to adopt such technologies and concepts for house building blending them with modern concepts of thermal cooling and ventilation.