Tackling emissions of greenhouse gas and struggling against global warming is everybody’s case, from big companies to governments and private individuals. Anyone can contribute to an eco-friendlier world, and this is what we are going to tell you with the architectural projects of the Dakar based architecture firm ID+EA founded by Senegalese architect Fatiya Diene Mazza. Do you know about the U:BIKWITI house from Nguerigne?
The U:BIKWITI house is a rammed earth house located in Nguerigne Serere, a fertile province located in Mbour, Western Senegal. The concept was imagined by ID+EA’s founder, and the house was built up thanks to raw and local materials only in a genuine desire to limit the impact on environment: a unique and experimental project that calls for others.
The main construction material of the house is rammed earth, a traditional technique people were already using centuries ago to build houses. The U:BIKWITI house is not a simple homage to tradition and history though, and using rammed earth is also an efficient way not to be harmful to the planet. Rammed earth, indeed, is made up with natural raw materials that do have a low carbon footprint.
When living in the house, you will not be harassed by the heat since the walls protect you from heavy temperatures. Such walls were produced involving local laborers who master traditional techniques and the use of rammed earth in construction work. The project was also an opportunity to involve the Mbour community and create local employment.
When taking a look at the house, you will be impressed by the mix between tradition and modernity: the architecture takes its inspiration from traditional Serer structures. The large windows enable you to contemplate the landscape and the beautiful surroundings, while the interconnection of rooms creates a comfortable and interactive living space that fits the needs of the ones living there.
Considered as a potential next reference in sustainability, the U:BIKWITI house is completed with modern elements such as solar panels which provide a natural and sustainable energy source and tend to limit the environmental impact of the house.
Cultural preservation, community building, knowledge transfer, protection of the environment: the house designed by Fatiya Diene Mazza is actually more than a simple architectural project among others. The U:BIKWITI house stands for the African architectural evolution.