THE RENOVATION OF EARTHEN SETTLEMENTS IN NORTH AFRICA:
A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO UNDERGROUND HERITAGE
BY
Amer Rghei
M.Arch. (McGill), Ph.D. (Waterloo) CANADA
Department of Architectural Engineering, United Arab
Emirates University,
P.O.Box: 13356, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
A paper for the Third Annual Adobe Conference,
during May 20 - 22, 2005, El Rito, New Mexico, USA
Through past experience, man has learned how to use the earth as a natural insulator by using underground spaces where geological and climatic conditions permit. This type of dwelling is found in North Africa between (Jabel Nafousa) region in northwestern Libya and (Matmata) region in southern Tunisia. The climate of this area is hot and arid, since it is located at the edge of the Sahara desert. Underground buildings are ideally suited to the hot dry climates, which are characterized by very hot days and cool nights during the summer season. A study of the process of development of earth-sheltered buildings through the years provides us with the means to find more appropriate solutions for our architecture today. Technically, the climatic advantages of underground settlements with earthen environment are very important in a hot arid region at the edge of the Sahara region. This study has investigated the climatic conditions in these settlements with their thermal regulatory effect of massive earthen edges during hot summers and in comparison with modern settlements made of concrete structures in the same region. Despite the growing interest in earthen architecture in many countries around the world such as in Germany, Australia and the United States of America, it is found that most of the traditional underground settlements of the (Jabel Nafousa) region is being left to ruin. This is happening because of the population migration from these settlements and the increasing importance given to modern living standards. In this regard, entire settlements and cave dwellings dug underground and made of earth are no longer being lived in and are rapidly falling into disrepair. However, I argue that there is an urgent need for a strategic approach to protect the underground heritage for modern use such as tourism. In this respect, the paper discusses ways of protection, renovation, reconstruction and tourism possibilities of traditional underground settlements in North Africa. The recommendations in the paper are strategic to the earthen architecture sustainability and heritage security in many desert areas in North Africa and the Middle East in the sense that they promote new ideas for discussion and awareness of planning, designing enhancing and use of underground space architecture in the area.