(3 minutes read)
- Concrete is cheap and widely available in Senegal
- But some builders are going back to the use of earth bricks and following traditional building methods in order to provide better insulation and heat-protection to buildings
- This approach stands out against the development of the Senegalese capital which is undergoing rapid and sometimes anarchic urbanization
Concrete is cheap and widely available in Senegal. But some builders are going back to the use of earth bricks and following traditional building methods in order to provide better insulation and heat-protection to buildings. This approach stands out against the development of the Senegalese capital which is undergoing rapid and sometimes anarchic urbanization.
Traditional Senegalese houses were built of mud. This has been abandoned long ago. Now, they are coming back to the old concept. People are combining sand and stone piles with cement to produce cheap construction blocks that can give greater comfort to houses built especially from scorching sun.
Earth bricks, unlike concrete, take minimal energy to manufacture. According to British think tank Chatham House, cement, the primary component in concrete, accounts for 8% of carbon emissions. It is believed that switching over to traditional construction will make carbon emission less, making the ecosystem environment friendly. Does it mean that concrete jungles are on their way out in Senegal? But many feel that it is too early to jump into that conclusion.
