Material Innovations

Earthen architecture in Djenné, Mali (Wikimedia Commons)

The earthen architecture of Mali seems to be one of the most important physical expressions of this West African country’s genius loci, or spirit of the place. Many domestic and religious structures throughout rural and urban Mali are constructed of sun-baked adobe bricks covered with earthen plasters, fortified by wood pillars, supports and other organic materials. Since most of Mali lies in the southern Sahara and receives little rainfall, these have been the most available materials and have contributed to a signature style of architecture identified as Western Sudanic style, one of the most revered examples of which is the Great Mosque of Djenné (mentioned in my last blog post).

UNESCO proclaims, “Earthen architecture is one of the most original and powerful expressions of our human ability to create and build environment with nearby available resources,” and has designated several earthen structures in Mali as world heritage sites because of their cultural importance. These buildings could be identified as “hard assets” of the region, according to John Thackara’s discussion of “territorial capital” in his book In the Bubble: Designing in a Complex World. The cultural importance of the buildings, however, depends more on the “soft assets” of Mali—the religious ceremonies that take place within the structures, the annual community re-plastering events, the markets and festivals and daily life that take place in and near the structures.

Weekly market in front of the Great Mosque of Djenné (Wikimedia Commons)

Mali’s World Heritage mosques have been the subject of study and conservation by the Earthen Architecture Programme of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, an agency that “engages in the physical and social revitalisation of communities with the aim of improving the quality of life.” This agency also has recently partnered with the Government of Mali to create the National Park of Mali—a large urban park in Bamako, the country’s capital. This new, permanent green space is located in a larger protected forest reserve and includes gardens, trails, fitness tracks, etc. The park provides both designed and open space for the people—the “soft assets” of the region—to thrive, contributing to the spirit of the place.

The new National Park of Mali includes a Medicinal Garden, highlighting local natural heritage (Aga Khan Development Network)