an appropriate architecture, as soon as possible, for...
TRANSCRIPT
An appropriate architecture, as soon as
possible, for as many people as
possible
In sub-Saharan Africa, with a
majority Muslim population, as in
many semi-arid regions, the problem
of access to decent housing plunges
millions of families into a vicious
circle of poverty.
In order to remedy this problem, the
Association La Voûte Nubienne (AVN) promotes an appropriate
construction technique (the Nubian
Vault - NV) built professionally by
skilled masons as part of an
emerging and actively promoted
markets.
This technique is appropriate also
for the construction of mosques.
The building of a mosque can be an
important launching-pad phase for
promoting the NV technique locally.
We invite you to join us in
supporting new communities in
getting access to decent and
sustainable housing based on the
traditional African Nubian Vault
technique, at the same time
strengthening local economies and
quality of life.
The Challenge
According to the UN and WRI (World Resources Institute), over 50% of African families in the Sahel lack
access to decent housing.
In sub-Saharan Africa, bush timber has traditionally been used for roofing and for load-bearing supports.
However, climate change, deforestation, and increasing population growth, mean that traditional building
techniques are no longer feasible.
Therefore, rural families have to dip into their meager food, health, and education budgets to buy imported
and expensive corrugated iron sheets and sawn timber for roof building. Such roofs have many
disadvantages, especially a poor thermal and sound insulation, making houses too hot in the day, often too
cold at night, and extremely noisy during the short but intensive rainy season. They can easily be damaged
by wind and rain, last little more than ten years, and their very fragility is a source of danger. They have to
be paid for in cash, which is often a problem for the many families who live outside the cash economy.
Families are locked into a vicious circle of poverty and squalor, with no durable solution to the problem of
decent housing; this costs the local economy several billions of CFA Francs every year.
In order to help solve this problem, we need a global solution that integrates:
A construction technique for affordable and appropriate roofs
Built professionally by masons with the necessary skills
As part of emerging and actively promoted markets in sustainable housing
The solution
«A construction technique for appropriate roofs…. »
The Nubian Vault (NV): a standardized version of an ancient African technique of earth architecture.
Social Responsibility:
Solid (thick walls, weather-resistant roofs)
Comfortable (less noise, good thermal isolation)
Can incorporate traditional flat roof terraces
Reinforces local and family networks
Conserves traditional Sahelian construction
practices.
Economic viability:
Less expensive than sheet metal and cement =>
accessible to local families.
Simple => rapid training of local masons and
creation of local markets.
Local labor force and materials => strengthening
the local economy.
Environmental durability:
No timber => 1 standard Nubian Vault (about 25
m2) saves 4 trees.
No sheet metal, cement or steel => 1 standard
Nubian Vault saves 2 tons of CO2-equivalent.
Cultural suitability:
Conserves the heritage of traditional Sahelian earth
architecture.
Ideal for the construction of mosques.
« A construction technique for appropriate roofs; built professionally by skilled masons… »
NV masons: there are five levels of skill:
L1: a novice apprentice.
L2: an advanced apprentice.
L3: a mason, able to build a vault.
L4: a foreman mason, able to supervise a
construction site.
L5: a mason-entrepreneur, able to negotiate
with clients and supervise several
construction sites.
The NV masons:
are local, currently from Burkina Faso,
Senegal or Mali
most of them are farmers
are trained on site as apprentices by other
masons, and are thus introduced to market
realities
promote the NV technique and sell their
know-how locally
supervise the NV construction sites
transfer their know-how to trainers
share their experiences with other masons
are paid 100% by their clients, in cash, trade
or barter
are not employed by the Association La
Voûte Nubienne.
can not only build simple houses, but also, in
partnership with local organizations, public
buildings based on the NV technique.
collaborate mainly with La Voûte Nubienne : exchanging ideas and information about the market,
clients’ needs, potential apprentices, both informally, and at formal congresses arranged by AVN
each year; some of them go even further, getting involved as extension agents promoting the NV
technique, for which AVN compensates them.
1- In the pilot-village of Dendjola and surrounding villages, I identified a local “champion”,
Imam Siaka Djiri, who was convinced of the NV technique and who is locally respected.
2- I accompanied Imam Djiri to promotional meetings to explain the NV technique and to attract
interested clients and apprentices, thus setting the foundations for an eventual NV market; the
first, unanimous, request from the villagers was for the construction of a mosque.
3- I then sent a NV mason-entrepreneur, Ibrahim Mien, to start the local market: paid by the local
clients, he trained the first group of village apprentices on-the-job, and built the village mosque
and several houses for local people. I stay in touch with him and Imam Djiri to provide any help
needed to develop the local NV market.
4- Over a 4 - 5 year period, the process of raising awareness, construction and training will
reach a level that is self-sustaining, with the appearance of an autonomous local market; at this
point both I and the original NV mason can withdraw, leaving the place to the locally trained
masons.
So far, after 3 years, 22 villages have been involved, 8 mosques and 30 houses have been
built, and about 20 masons have been trained.
5- From this original pilot village a true pilot “zone" is now emerging. Using this strategy, my
colleagues and I will promote and spread this solution on a large scale, then withdraw
progressively from the areas that have developed an independent market in NV construction.
Adjara, an AVN
extension agent
A construction technique for affordable and appropriate roofs; built professionally by masons »
with the necessary skill; as part of emerging and actively promoted markets in sustainable housing »
"Pump-Priming" the market
AVN’s mission is to promote the Nubian Vault as soon as possible, for as many beneficiaries as possible. In
order to do this, the Association trains and guides extension agents to “pump-prime” local markets. Starting
from a base of pilot villages, evolving into pilot zones, and then entire regions.
The construction of a mosque has proved to be a successful way of introducing the NV technique into pilot
villages.
Adjara is an AVN extension agent; here she explains her approach, in collaboration with Imam Siaka Djiri,
in the pilot village of Dendjola in Mali:
Imam
Siaka Djiri
Examples of NV buildings in Dendjola (Mali)
A village mosque
About 85 m2 floor space
5 vaults
Cash cost to the local community: 200 000
Fcfa (450 USD), or c. 2 800 Fcfa/m2 (6.20
USD/m2)
Unskilled labor and finishes provided free by
the community
A small house
About 25 m2 floor space
1 vault of 7m length
Cash cost to client: 70 000 Fcfa (156 USD)
The AVN solution (A roof + A skill + A market)
Generates increasing, sustainable, rapid, and large scale impacts
Impacts
In four countries: Burkina Faso,
Mali, Senegal, Zambia
10,000 beneficiaries of NV
176 trained masons
More than 1,000 Nubian
Vaults built
11 mosques have been built,
6 under construction
44 volunteers and
employees
300 "social investors"
40% annual average growth
in the percentage of NV built
The local economic impact generated is more than 500 000 €
The annual estimated budget (2010-2011) : 350 000 €
They said about us
« …. A remarkable initiative ….. » (Muhammad Yunus, Nobel peace prize 2006)
« The Nubian Vault is until now the best program in the world in this field » (Satprem
Maini, UNESCO chair, architecture of the land)
« The leverage effects generated by the Nubian Vault are one of the most innovative
initiatives for the benefit of the population in the Sahel », (Arnaud Mourot, Chief
executive of Ashoka, France)
Our Proposal
« You also, being individuals, NGO's or private companies, you could help to launch the NV market from a
Muslim pilot village, creating local jobs, and at the same time helping the local population to build,
independently, durable and decent houses, mosques, schools, dispensaries, etc. »
Example of investment / impacts for the deployment of the Nubian Vault from a Muslim pilot village in
Mali or in Burkina Faso.
Potential impacts in 4 years:
3 NV mosques built
15/20 NV houses built
3 trained masons and 6
apprentices in training
400 beneficiaries
Costs:
3000 € / year for 4 years
Impacts after 4 years:
Independent growth of impacts as NV markets develops, without any new external investment
For more information
Visit our web site:
http://www.lavoutenubienne.org/ : In French
http://www.lavoutenubienne.org/?lang=enIn English:
For photos and updates of the Program around Dendjola, go to our entry on Global Giving
(http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/sustainable-housing-for-rural-communities-in-mali/ ).
You can also make donations to help the local Muslim community gain access to decent housing
via Global Giving.
Call us on the telephone number: +33 (0)4 67 81 21 05
Or send us a mail: [email protected]