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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

world heritage

Defensive and spiritual tata sombas of the Batammariba
Vernacular architecture July 28, 2019

Defensive and spiritual tata sombas of the Batammariba

1,220 Views 0 by Erika

Tata sombas are a type of vernacular house in Togo and Benin built by the Batammariba tribe, for whom the traditional house is full of cultural and religious symbolism.

Vernacular architecture of Dogon Country and its development
Architecture, Vernacular architecture March 7, 2019

Vernacular architecture of Dogon Country and its development

4,016 Views 0 by Erika

Mali’s Dogon Country has a rich heritage of vernacular building techniques and this heritage is being kept alive and developed through school building projects.

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

Living heritage and earth architecture of Djenné

2,878 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

3,279 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?

Self-sufficiency and tourism in the Wadi Rum Desert
Responsible tourism, Volunteering, Water February 19, 2018

Self-sufficiency and tourism in the Wadi Rum Desert

711 Views 1 by Erika

Malakot Camp in the Wadi Rum Desert of Jordan shows how a combination of responsible tourism and traditional Bedouin knowledge can improve lives while keeping traditional cultures alive.

Chinampas, the floating gardens of a sinking city
Agriculture, Cities October 31, 2016

Chinampas, the floating gardens of a sinking city

2,168 Views 1 by Erika

Chinampas are an efficient Mesoamerican method of agriculture and a reminder of Mexico City’s past as a city of canals and artificial islands.

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

Development of Ancestral Puebloans and their architecture

1,942 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.

4500-year-old urban planning at Mohenjo-daro
Historic sites November 30, 2015

4500-year-old urban planning at Mohenjo-daro

6,369 Views 0 by Erika

The Bronze Age city of Mohenjo-daro is a reminder of how simple technology and materials can be used to provide the most basic human needs.

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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