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Popular Posts...

  • The Persian ice house, or how to make ice in the desert
    April 4, 2016

    The Persian ice house, or how to make ice in the desert

  • Build with Gambia Earth Architecture Workshop: Experimenting with local materials in rural Gambia
    August 18, 2019

    Build with Gambia Earth Architecture Workshop: Experimenting with local materials in rural Gambia

  • Earthbag domes of Dome Lombok: From ecotourism to earthquake-resistant housing
    November 17, 2019

    Earthbag domes of Dome Lombok: From ecotourism to earthquake-resistant housing

  • Architecture, sustainability, travel and this blog
    November 23, 2015

    Architecture, sustainability, travel and this blog

  • Bridge building with Toni Rüttimann and rural communities of Myanmar
    December 17, 2019

    Bridge building with Toni Rüttimann and rural communities of Myanmar

  • Floating villages and gardens of Inle Lake
    January 4, 2016

    Floating villages and gardens of Inle Lake

  • Traditional earth lodges of the Great Plains
    July 7, 2016

    Traditional earth lodges of the Great Plains

  • Searching for windcatchers in Hyderabad
    February 15, 2016

    Searching for windcatchers in Hyderabad

  • Providing clean drinking water to the people of Lake Atitlan
    June 19, 2017

    Providing clean drinking water to the people of Lake Atitlan

  • Ganvie, Africa’s largest lake village
    September 2, 2019

    Ganvie, Africa’s largest lake village

Vernacular architecture

The Nubian vault is transforming low-cost housing in West Africa
Architecture, Social sustainability, Vernacular architecture February 6, 2019

The Nubian vault is transforming low-cost housing in West Africa

2,241 Views 1 by Erika

The Nubian Vault Association is improving housing conditions, fighting climate change and creating employment in West Africa by facilitating a market in earth brick vaults.

Painted earth architecture of the Kassena people
Vernacular architecture December 17, 2018

Painted earth architecture of the Kassena people

2,636 Views 0 by Erika

The Kassena people of southern Burkina Faso are known for their beautifully painted earth houses.

Living heritage and earth architecture of Djenné
Cities, Historic sites, Vernacular architecture November 22, 2018

Living heritage and earth architecture of Djenné

2,822 Views 0 by Erika

Djenné is a historic town in central Mali that is known for its remarkable urban earth architecture and mosque, but locals have mixed feelings about the conservation of traditional earth architecture.

Traditional and modern stone architecture of Mauritania
Architecture, Historic sites, Vernacular architecture May 20, 2018

Traditional and modern stone architecture of Mauritania

3,207 Views 0 by Erika

Stones have been the main building material in Mauritania’s historic desert towns, but what role does stone architecture play in 21st century Mauritania?

Restoring earth buildings and community life at Moon Desert in the Moroccan Sahara
Responsible tourism, Vernacular architecture, Volunteering April 29, 2018

Restoring earth buildings and community life at Moon Desert in the Moroccan Sahara

1,429 Views 0 by Erika

The Moon Desert project is preserving and sharing traditional knowledge about earth building and desert living in southern Morocco.

Boosting rural community tourism with cob houses
Responsible tourism, Vernacular architecture, Volunteering August 21, 2017

Boosting rural community tourism with cob houses

896 Views 0 by Erika

A new tourism cooperative in Rio Chiquito, El Salvador gives the locals a chance to benefit from tourism on a new level – thanks to affordable cob construction.

Building structures and futures with bamboo around Lake Atitlan
Social sustainability, Vernacular architecture June 5, 2017

Building structures and futures with bamboo around Lake Atitlan

672 Views 0 by Erika

When used correctly, bamboo is a material that has the potential to improve lives, boost local economies and contribute to environmental sustainability.

Cob houses and community living at Ecovillananda
Communities, Vernacular architecture February 13, 2017

Cob houses and community living at Ecovillananda

1,201 Views 0 by Erika

Ecovillananda is a permaculture based community in southern Mexico that promotes sustainable living in the village of San Sebastian Rio Hondo.

Rammed earth construction at a future ecocenter
Architecture, Vernacular architecture, Volunteering January 25, 2017

Rammed earth construction at a future ecocenter

1,308 Views 1 by Erika

Rammed earth is a popular sustainable building technique, and the key to building a quality rammed earth structure is understanding the materials.

Development of Ancestral Puebloans and their architecture
Historic sites, Vernacular architecture September 10, 2016

Development of Ancestral Puebloans and their architecture

1,916 Views 1 by Erika

Ruins of Southwest USA tell the story of Ancestral Puebloans and the development of their architecture, partly driven by environmental factors like drought.

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About

Welcome to my blog! My name is Erika Alatalo and I’m a world traveler and humanitarian architect writing about sustainable development, architecture and travel. Check out this page for more information.

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