Traditional building practices offer sustainable solutions as African cities develop

An additional facade made of local eucalyptus wood wraps the classrooms like a transparent fabric and creates various shaded spaces to protect students from muggy daytime temperatures.

The building, designed by Berlin-based architecture firm Kéré Architecture founded by Burkinabè, is an example of how countries on the continent are using traditional building techniques to reduce the carbon footprint of their buildings.

Tests shows that these techniques can help prevent the need for air conditioning, long-distance transport of building materials and concrete production, all of which contribute to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that cause the climate crisis.

*Construction of Naaba Belem Goumma Secondary School is underway. Photo: Kere Architecture |*

Experts say these energy-saving techniques are crucial because 70 percent of Africa’s building stock that will exist in 2040 is still unbuilt.

“Traditional sustainable building and construction practices are the cornerstone of Africa’s cultural heritage,” says Jonathan Duwyn of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). “Locally adapted sustainable design, construction, practices and materials combined with renewable energy sources and innovation present a great opportunity to both mitigate the impacts and increase the resilience of Africa’s rapidly growing building stock.”

UNEP played a role in the Burkina Faso project, working with the United Nations Office for Project Services and UN Habitat.

Africa accounts for about 6 percent of global energy demand, more than half of which comes from buildings. With Africa’s population expected to reach 2.4 billion people by 2050, with 80% of that growth coming from cities, sustainability must be a fundamental principle of all future buildings, experts say.

These solutions were highlighted in the UNEP Global State of Buildings and Structures 2022 report, launched at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt. The report focuses on how Africa can address urban growth and increase the resilience of its housing stock while avoiding increases in greenhouse gas emissions.

Inspiration for climate-resilient buildings can be found throughout African history. Travel Africa today and traces of its past can be found everywhere, from the beehive huts of Eswatini, to the Drogon cliff villages in Mali, to the mud-brick mosques of West Africa.

“Africa is rich in renewable energy sources, solar and wind, with almost half of the planet’s total renewable energy potential,” says Duwyn.

This is especially important considering the forecast demand for air conditioning devices due to people’s increasing access to electricity and rising temperatures. “We expect cooling to be a major future energy challenge for households in Africa,” says Duwyn. “That is why it is so important that new buildings use natural cooling systems wherever possible.”

Lycee Schorge Secondary School — *Schorge Secondary School in Burkina Faso. Photo: Kéré Architecture/Iwan Baan*

Another Kéré Architecture project using sustainable design and construction practices is Gando Elementary School. It is constructed of hybrid clay-cement bricks, with a dry-laid brick ceiling – rather than the more common corrugated iron roof – ensuring maximum natural ventilation.

“These projects demonstrate that sustainable construction practices are possible when innovative techniques are used,” says Duwyn. “And as the climate in Africa warms even more, it is critical that we adopt sustainable building designs that do not require costly and harmful cooling systems.”

As highlighted in the Building Global Status Report, Africa is rich in natural, sustainable materials such as adobe, laterite, termite mound soil, wood, stone, bamboo, sand and dry vegetation. Traditional building techniques include rammed earth, sun-dried bricks, rammed earth blocks, wattle and daub, cob, timber-framed structures, sandbag structures, and thatched roofs.

It is particularly important to ensure the use of sustainable materials, given that, according to UNHabitat, more than half of the population of sub-Saharan Africa lives in overcrowded informal settlements, which are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

“High-quality sustainable housing is an important way to make vulnerable groups more resilient to the impacts of the climate crisis,” says Duwyn.

This article was originally published on November 22, 2022 and has been updated.