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Introducing Sana'a -

The capital of Yemen, Sana’a is noteworthy for a number of reasons. As one of the highest capital cities in the world, it is predicted to run completely out of water by 2030.

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Eye-catching architecture -

Sana’a also stands out from its fellow capital cities because of its architecture. Inside the city walls, the buildings are made entirely of mud and decorated with eye-catching geometric patterns.

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World Heritage Site - The architecture in Sana’a is stunning. In fact, it’s so striking that the city has been granted status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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In the words of UNESCO -

According to the UNESCO description of the city, "The buildings demonstrate exceptional craftsmanship in the use of local materials and techniques."

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Many benefits -

But these mud buildings are not only valued for their looks. Indeed, they are also well-insulated, sustainable, and easily adaptable for modern use.

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Mud as a material -

As architects the world over aim to design buildings that are sustainable and able to withstand extreme weather, many are looking towards mud as a construction material.

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The status quo -

As it stands, the construction industry is responsible for 38% of global CO2 emissions. Compare that to the 2.5% produced by the aviation industry, and the problem is clear.

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On alert -

Scientists have warned that we must replace concrete, which has a huge carbon footprint, with more sustainable materials if we are going to achieve our 2050 climate goals.

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Concrete jungles -

To quote Salma Samar Damluji, author of ‘The Architecture of Yemen and its Reconstruction,’ "We cannot live in these concrete jungles anymore.”

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Great for the environment -

According to Damluji, mud could offer the perfect alternative. It has a very low impact on the environment and the material itself is fully recyclable.

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Tradition -

In certain cities around the world, the re-claying of buildings is an important social and historical tradition.

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Over to Djenné, Mali -

In the city of Djenné, Mali, for example, residents gather every year to repair and re-clay their magnificent earthen mosque.

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Joint effort -

Everyone gets involved: the children mix the mud, the women bring the water, and the masons direct the re-claying process.

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Trevor Marchand -

According to Trevor Marchand, author of ‘The Masons of Djenné,’ "There is a dynamism to it. Mud is very malleable and it responds to the changing demographics of a home."

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Mud homes -

If a family grows, new buildings can easily be added to the existing structure. If it shrinks, the unused buildings are left to decompose and go back to the earth.

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Kojičić -

Contemporary architects are taking inspiration from this ancient building practice. For example, Serbian architect Dragana Kojičić is passionate about raw-earth construction.

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Work in Serbia -

Having completed her training at the Centre for the Research and Application of Earth Architecture, Kojičić uses ancient methods to restore and build houses across Serbia.

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In her words -

To quote her directly, "Mud is contagious – it is love at first touch," she says. You don't need to wear any protective gear when handling the material, she adds. "With earth, you can just play."

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Heringer -

Another modern-day architect of earthen structures is Anna Heringer, an Austrian developer who creates buildings using natural materials, including mud and bamboo.

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Her work -

Heringer has been creating mud structures for almost 20 years and is the woman behind many notable buildings, such as the METI handmade school in Rudrapur.

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Future of sustainable construction -

Heringer has championed mud as the “future of sustainable construction.” She has pointed out that we can recycle mud using no energy, and that it gets better the more we use it.

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Caveat -

As a caveat, author Marchand notes that mud can only be a solution on a certain scale, since it should not reduce the amount of land we have available for growing crops.

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Great insulator -

In addition to being recyclable, mud is a great insulator. Mud buildings have a wonderful way of staying warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

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Less air conditioning -

This reduces the need for air conditioning, thereby further reducing greenhouse gas emissions and moving us toward our global climate goals.

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Extreme weather resistant - Mud buildings are also very sturdy and resistant to extreme weather conditions, such as heat waves, floods, and droughts. 

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Extreme weather on the rise -

This will become increasingly important as instances of extreme weather globally become more frequent.

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Earthquake resistant -

There is even a suggestion that mud buildings are able to withstand earthquakes, although it seems that the level of resilience depends on the earthquake strength and the soil.

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Conditions -

The impact of floods on mud buildings also depends on whether they are built on a flood plain and have strong foundations.

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Overall -

Overall, however, mud appears to be a pretty good bet if you are looking for a sustainable and breathable place to live.

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Highly recommended -

Architects left, right, and center are recommending mud homes for their comfort, adaptability, and, of course, their beauty.

Sources: (BBC)

See also: Sustainable travel destinations around the world

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