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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

housing

Contrasts and challenges of Lagos, Africa’s largest city
Cities, Communities, Social sustainability September 17, 2022

Contrasts and challenges of Lagos, Africa’s largest city

2,174 Views 0 by Erika

Lagos, Africa’s largest and soon the world’s largest city, is a city of inequality that faces a multitude of challenges.

Earthbag domes of Dome Lombok: From ecotourism to earthquake-resistant housing
Architecture, Responsible tourism, Social sustainability November 17, 2019

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

2,218 Views 4 by Erika

Dome Lombok is building an ecoresort of earthbag domes on the Indonesian island of Lombok, and the technique is also proving to be valuable for affordable housing in the earthquake-prone country.

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

2,263 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.

Hurricane relief with All Hands Volunteers
Social sustainability, Volunteering February 5, 2018

Hurricane relief with All Hands Volunteers

217 Views 0 by Erika

All Hands Volunteers in a volunteer-powered disaster relief organization that provides immediate and long-term support to communities impacted by natural disasters.

Community development in indigenous Guatemala by Mayan Families
Architecture, Social sustainability, Volunteering July 12, 2017

Community development in indigenous Guatemala by Mayan Families

880 Views 0 by Erika

Mayan Families is a non-profit organization that works with community development and poverty alleviation in indigenous communities in rural Guatemala.

Silent challenges of Indian reservations
Communities, Social sustainability, Volunteering June 23, 2016

Silent challenges of Indian reservations

1,899 Views 0 by Erika

I recently volunteered at an Indian reservation and learned a lot about the problems of Native Americans and reservations – and something about solutions.

Global Village volunteering and building houses in Mongolia
Social sustainability, Volunteering May 23, 2016

Global Village volunteering and building houses in Mongolia

599 Views 2 by Erika

A few years ago I participated in Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village program in Mongolia. It was a rewarding experience but I view it differently today.

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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