Local Expertise Versus Local Extraction: African Vernacular Architecture and a More Holistic Sustainability


© Ralf Steinberger via Flickr, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

© Ralf Steinberger via Flickr, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

Every year, in the hot, dry town of Djenné in Central Mali, something special takes place – La Fête de Crépissage. Roughly translated to the “Day of Plastering”, this day sees the entire community of Djenné collaborate to reinforce the mud walls of the Great Mosque of Djenné – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the African continent’s most distinctive architectural landmarks.

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