Project
Competition
Sub Sahara Region
The building is made of mud brick walls which are perforated to filter light and provide natural ventilation. To regulate the microclimate, the outer walls have a thickness of 50 cm whereas the inner walls are 30 cm thick. The building is covered by a slightly transparent and waterproof textile which channels the precious rainwater into the central basin, and allows a certain amount of light to enter each home. The fabric is held in place through wooden bars on the exterior, and tied to pierced bricks resting on the walls.
It was decided to use a triangular shape to break winds and create small communities comprised of three families, connected by a central courtyard. Each home has a surface of 70 m².
The heart of the courtyard consists of a basin containing water, the most valuable resource that can be found in the Sahara. The water helps to achieve a pleasant microclimate in the courtyard and the individual homes through the perforated inner walls. Each wall can have a different pattern, giving each home a certain amount of individuality.
“Beneath the surface” can be built as a single structure or be multiplied to form a village. Thanks to the simple construction system, each individual structure can be merged, individualized or converted to better suit individual needs.