Earth
Architecture
Lab
Earth
Architecture
Lab
Earth
Architecture
Lab
Promoting understanding of earth architecture through educational programmes, workshops, and events.
The Earth Architecture Lab was set up by Dr Salma Samar Damluji, the world expert on mud architecture, to promote this form of sustainable construction through workshops, teaching and projects.
The Lab will deliver skills training, create an archive for the preservation and maintenance of materials relating to earth architecture, to promote the culture, and heritage through education and will investigate modern uses for this most sustainable of contruction materials.
Promoting understanding of earth architecture through educational programmes, workshops, and events.
The Earth Architecture Lab was set up by Dr Salma Samar Damluji, the world expert on mud architecture, to promote this form of sustainable construction through workshops, teaching and projects.
The Lab will deliver skills training, create an archive for the preservation and maintenance of materials relating to earth architecture, to promote the culture, and heritage through education and will investigate modern uses for this most sustainable of contruction materials.
What we do
What we do
—
Create and operate a dedicated study centre for earth architecture and the built environment, serving as a focal point for research, education, and collaboration.
Establish and maintain an archive of earth architecture materials for public access, supporting education and research with professional papers, models, drawings, plans, photographs, and artefacts.
—
Create and operate a dedicated study centre for earth architecture and the built environment, serving as a focal point for research, education, and collaboration.
Establish and maintain an archive of earth architecture materials for public access, supporting education and research with professional papers, models, drawings, plans, photographs, and artefacts.
—
Provide assistance to safeguard, reconstruct, protect and promote earth-built architecture, as well as traditional arts, artefacts, and crafts associated with it.
Advocate for and actively promote the practice of earth-building techniques, emphasising architectural reconstruction, rehabilitation and retrofitting projects within local communities
—
Provide assistance to safeguard, reconstruct, protect and promote earth-built architecture, as well as traditional arts, artefacts, and crafts associated with it.
Advocate for and actively promote the practice of earth-building techniques, emphasising architectural reconstruction, rehabilitation and retrofitting projects within local communities
The (Old) British Administration Governor’s Headquarters
(Phase 2), Mukalla, Yemen 2022-2024
Located near the city gateway, the building represents a distinguished landmark for Mukalla and is among its best constructed buildings. When al Qaeda operatives seized the coastal city in April 2015, the building was subjected to destruction and looting and set on fire. The first and second floor ceilings collapsed completely, and the building has been in a precarious state ever since.
The first phase of the rehabilitation, consolidation and mitigating against any further collapse, was implemented by Daw‘an Architecture Foundation in partnership with the Cultural Emergency Response Network of the Prince Claus Fund in the Netherlands and the Office of the Governor of Hadramut (2020-21).
The second phase (Nov 2023 - Dec 2024) consisted of the rehabilitation of the building, entailing reconstruction of damaged areas, electrical and mechanical work, exterior and interior proofing and plastering, floor plastering and tiling, woodwork in addition to landscaping of the surrounding gardens, funded by
the British Council's Cultural Protection Fund in partnership with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Implementation Team
Chief Architect & Advisor: Dr Salma Samar Damluji
Engineer Consultant: Dr Abdullah BaGhumyan
Project Coordinator: Mira Kfoury
Architects, Assistant Project coordinator: Marguerita Alhayek and Gaelle Tawk
Site Architect: Umar El Bayti
Training and Site Assistant: Fatma Hazzaa
Master Builder consultant: Salem Hadri, Ahmad BaṢabiḥ (Abu Ayyub)
Master Builders (Contractors): Abdul Malek Muhammad Ahmad AlRashidi (Electricity), Umar Saleh Abid Mousay'ed (Roof reconstruction), Ahmad Abid BaSabih (Construction), Ahmad Abid BaSabih (Plastering), Muhamad Ramadan Muslim (Sanitary), Karamah Saleh BaHashwan (Woodwork)
Photographer: Rashid Bin Shibraq
Qu‘aiti Palace, Al Qatin, Yemen
2022-2024
The Palace, comprising 5 floors of sun-dried mud brick, suffered considerably from seasonal flooding that caused the gradual destruction and collapse of the ceilings. During the most recent conflict in Hadramut (2015-7) it was subjected to looting and damage during al Qaeda’s occupation of al Qatin.
The immediate and initial phase was the emergency consolidation and reconstruction completed in December 2023. This project was in partnership with ALIPH, who funded the project, and the Governor of Hadramut’s Office.
Implementation Team
Chief Architect & Advisor: Dr Salma Samar Damluji
Project Coordinator: Mira Kfoury
Master Builders: Salem Saleh Brayyik (consolidation), Saleh Awad BaRamada (Building & Plastering)
The (Old) British Administration Governor’s Headquarters (Phase 2), Mukalla, Yemen 2022-2024
Located near the city gateway, the building represents
a distinguished landmark for Mukalla and is among its best constructed buildings. When al Qaeda operatives seized the coastal city in April 2015, the building was subjected to destruction and looting and set on fire. The first and second floor ceilings collapsed completely, and the building has been in a precarious state ever since.
The first phase of the rehabilitation, consolidation and mitigating against any further collapse, was implemented by Daw‘an Architecture Foundation in partnership with the Cultural Emergency Response Network of the Prince Claus Fund in the Netherlands and the Office of the Governor of Hadramut (2020-21).
The second phase (Nov 2023 - Dec 2024) consisted of the rehabilitation of the building, entailing reconstruction of damaged areas, electrical and mechanical work, exterior and interior proofing and plastering, floor plastering and tiling, woodwork in addition to landscaping of the surrounding gardens, funded by
the British Council's Cultural Protection Fund in partnership with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Implementation Team
Chief Architect & Advisor: Dr Salma Samar Damluji
Engineer Consultant: Dr Abdullah BaGhumyan
Project Coordinator: Mira Kfoury
Architects, Assistant Project coordinator: Marguerita Alhayek and Gaelle Tawk
Site Architect: Umar El Bayti
Training and Site Assistant: Fatma Hazzaa
Master Builder consultant: Salem Hadri, Ahmad BaṢabiḥ (Abu Ayyub)
Master Builders (Contractors): Abdul Malek Muhammad Ahmad AlRashidi (Electricity), Umar Saleh Abid Mousay'ed (Roof reconstruction), Ahmad Abid BaSabih (Construction), Ahmad Abid BaSabih (Plastering), Muhamad Ramadan Muslim (Sanitary), Karamah Saleh BaHashwan (Woodwork)
Photographer: Rashid Bin Shibraq
Qu‘aiti Palace, Al Qatin, Yemen
2022-2024
The Palace, comprising 5 floors of sun-dried mud brick, suffered considerably from seasonal flooding that caused the gradual destruction and collapse of the ceilings. During the most recent conflict in Hadramut (2015-7) it was subjected to looting and damage during al Qaeda’s occupation of al Qatin.
The immediate and initial phase was the emergency consolidation and reconstruction completed in December 2023. This project was in partnership with ALIPH, who funded the project, and the Governor of Hadramut’s Office.
Implementation Team
Chief Architect & Advisor: Dr Salma Samar Damluji
Project Coordinator: Mira Kfoury
Master Builders: Salem Saleh Brayyik (consolidation), Saleh Awad BaRamada (Building & Plastering) test
Implementation Team
Chief Architect & Advisor: Dr Salma Samar Damluji
Project Coordinator: Mira Kfoury
Master Builders: Salem Saleh Brayyik (consolidation), Saleh Awad BaRamada (Building & Plastering)
People
People
Prof Salma Damluji
Trustee
Professor of Architecture in the Islamic World at the American University of Beirut (2013-2024), Founder and Chief Architect Daw‘an Mud Brick Architecture Foundation (2007-2024) and founder of Earth Architecture Lab. She worked with the Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy in Cairo, in 1975-6 and in 1984–5.
Graham Modlen
Trustee
Architect and academic. Architecture Design Tutor at Greenwich University, Trustee Daw’an Eco Arch Ltd, Design Director Atelier SET Architecture, worked with Zaha Hadid Architects for 17 years. Consultant architect for James Burrell and team in London and with Tomas Amat studio in Alicante.
Peter Murray OBE
Trustee
Co Founder New London Architecture, Chair Temple Bar Trust, Founder of the London Festival of Architecture, Adjunct Professor IE University, Madrid, Member of King Salman Charter of Architecture and Urbanism Advisory Committee.
Sanne Letschert
Advisor
Sanne Letschert is director of Cultural Emergency Response (CER) – Combining art history, cultural diplomacy and memory studies, her interest in the relationship between heritage and communities drives her in this work. One of her main goals is to inspire and promote a more locally-led and inclusive approach to cultural- and humanitarian relief.
Viola Bertini
Collaborators
Viola Bertini is a Researcher at Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Architecture and Design. She obtained her PhD with a thesis on Hassan Fathy. Her research spans from heritage landscapes to the relationship between tradition and modernity in the work of several 20th-century architects.
Jacopo Galli
Collaborators
Jacopo Galli (Crema, 1985) is currently an associate researcher at FEEM Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei and project manager for the Venezia Sustainability Foundation-VSF. Since 2014 he has been dealing with the topic of urbicides and reconstructions and organising the “Urbicide Syria” conference.
Alejandro Garcia Hermida
Collaborators
Alejandro Garcia Hermida, Executive Director of the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation and Associate Professor at the School of Architecture, Polytechnic University of Madrid, his professional practice has been focused on traditional architecture and the restoration of historic buildings, mainly in Spain and Morocco.
Rui Leão
Collaborators
Rui Leão is Secretary-General of the International Union of Architects (UIA), and immediate past President of CIALP, the International Council of Portuguese Speaking Architects. He is Chair of Docomomo Macau. His practice is based in Macau, advocating socially responsible architecture and urban planning.
Events
Events
Workshops
Workshops
W.A.Ve. Workshop 2017 The Future of Syria
Università di Venezia, Italy
Reinventing Ma'Lula.
Construction of life size dome for Ma‘lula, models
of the destroyed convents, and city…
W.A.Ve. Workshop 2017 The Future of Syria
Università di Venezia, Italy
Reinventing Ma'Lula.
Construction of life size dome for Ma‘lula, models of the destroyed convents, and city…
W.A.Ve. Workshop 2017
The Future of Syria
Università di Venezia, Italy
Reinventing Ma'Lula.
Construction of life size dome for
Ma‘lula, models of the destroyed convents, and city…
Masna‘at ‘Urah in Daw‘an 2008-2012
Daw’an Architecture Foundation (DAF) established a significant trajectory and status in recovering architectural landmarks in the public and private domain, with adaptable reuse for many of the private projects (e.g. Masna‘at ‘Urah in Daw‘an 2008-2012), and reinstating the functions of buildings including those that were destroyed. This has attracted the attention of funders who have approached the foundation to seek and support these initiatives.
Image: Masna‘at ‘Urah in Wadi Daw‘an, Ha,dramut, ©Salma Samar Damluji, 2011
Masna‘at ‘Urah in Daw‘an 2008-2012
Daw’an Architecture Foundation (DAF) established a significant trajectory and status in recovering architectural landmarks in the public and private domain, with adaptable reuse for many of the private projects (e.g. Masna‘at ‘Urah in Daw‘an 2008-2012), and reinstating the functions of buildings including those that were destroyed. This has attracted the attention of funders who have approached the foundation to seek and support these initiatives.
Image: Masna‘at ‘Urah in Wadi Daw‘an, Ha,dramut, ©Salma Samar Damluji, 2011
Masna‘at ‘Urah in Daw‘an 2008-2012
Daw’an Architecture Foundation (DAF) established a significant trajectory and status in recovering architectural landmarks in the public and private domain, with adaptable reuse for many of the private projects (e.g. Masna‘at ‘Urah in Daw‘an 2008-2012), and reinstating the functions of buildings including those that were destroyed. This has attracted the attention of funders who have approached the foundation to seek and support these initiatives.
Image: Masna‘at ‘Urah in Wadi Daw‘an, Ha,dramut, ©Salma Samar Damluji, 2011
The work with DAF was critical in propagating earth architecture and developing ecological prototypes.
Through research into Earth materials, crafts, and building, DAF investigates sustainable systems for scientific analysis and dissemination addressing the balance of the ecology, including farming, water and irrigation systems, reviving the traditional crafts, and building that served self-sufficient societies. The research into Earth materials, crafts, and building addresses the ‘low tech’ zero carbon solutions.
Image: Al Habib Abu Bakr Domes, al Shihr, Hadramut ©Salma Samar Damluji, 2019
The work with DAF was critical in propagating earth architecture and developing ecological prototypes.
Through research into Earth materials, crafts, and building, DAF investigates sustainable systems for scientific analysis and dissemination addressing the balance of the ecology, including farming, water and irrigation systems, reviving the traditional crafts, and building that served self-sufficient societies. The research into Earth materials, crafts, and building addresses the ‘low tech’ zero carbon solutions.
Image: Al Habib Abu Bakr Domes, al Shihr, Hadramut ©Salma Samar Damluji, 2019
The work with DAF was critical in propagating earth architecture and developing ecological prototypes.
Through research into Earth materials, crafts, and building, DAF investigates sustainable systems for scientific analysis and dissemination addressing the balance of the ecology, including farming, water and irrigation systems, reviving the traditional crafts, and building that served self-sufficient societies. The research into Earth materials, crafts, and building addresses the ‘low tech’ zero carbon solutions.
Image: Al Habib Abu Bakr Domes, al Shihr, Hadramut ©Salma Samar Damluji, 2019
Egypt
SIWA Oasis Workshop
Synergies between vernacular constructions & cutting-edge technologies, Siwa workshops and studio in 2018 and 2020.
Siwa Oasis as a case study offered to the architecture students at the American University of Beirut the opportunity to interact with the local community and the local traditional vernacular construction technics.
Synergies between vernacular constructions & cutting-edge technologies, Siwa workshops and studio in 2018 and 2020.
Siwa Oasis as a case study offered to the architecture students at the American University of Beirut the opportunity to interact with the local community and the local traditional vernacular construction technics.
Synergies between vernacular constructions & cutting-edge technologies, Siwa workshops and studio in 2018 and 2020.
Siwa Oasis as a case study offered to the architecture students at the American University of Beirut the opportunity to interact with the local community and the local traditional vernacular construction technics.
On-site sketch by Meriam Soltan, AUB 2018
Urban Degeneration, Siwa, 2018
Students workshop, Siwa, Egypt, 2018
On-site sketch by Meriam Soltan , AUB 2018
On-site sketch by Meriam Soltan, AUB 2018
Urban Degeneration, Siwa, 2018
Students workshop, Siwa, Egypt, 2018
Morocco
Morocco
AUB FES workshop
2014 – 2019
The FES Workshop is conducted in Morocco as part of the course Architecture & Culture taught by Salma Samar Damluji at the American University of Beirut. The workshop focuses on Islamic Architecture, Geometry, and Zilij, emphasizing the need for instilling the theoretical and empirical discourse accompanied by research and instruction pertinent to the discipline of design, construction and building throughout the region.
AUB FES workshop
2014 – 2019
The FES Workshop is conducted in Morocco as part of the course Architecture & Culture taught by Salma Samar Damluji at the American University of Beirut. The workshop focuses on Islamic Architecture, Geometry, and Zilij, emphasizing the need for instilling the theoretical and empirical discourse accompanied by research and instruction pertinent to the discipline of design, construction and building throughout
the region.
Mural Detail of the Bouanania Madrasa, Fes, 2018
Mural Detail of the Bouanania Madrasa, Fes, 2018
Mural Detail of the Bouanania Madrasa, Fes, 2018
AUB FES workshop
2014 – 2019
The FES Workshop is conducted in Morocco as part of the course Architecture & Culture taught by Salma Samar Damluji at the American University of Beirut. The workshop focuses on Islamic Architecture, Geometry, and Zilij, emphasizing the need for instilling the theoretical and empirical discourse accompanied by research and instruction pertinent to the discipline of design, construction and building throughout the region.
Volunteers Training Programme 2019 – 2024
Volunteers, Shaykhan Dome, Yemen, 2020
Capacity Building
Training on the building sites, with the aim of raising awareness to the importance of architectural skills and extant natural resources in their region.
Education, accompanied by training and qualified research, forms a major catalyst for rebuilding and restoring the livelihood and sustainable environments in post-crisis and conflict communities of Yemen.
Volunteers, Shaykhan Dome, Yemen, 2020
Capacity Building
Training on the building sites, with the aim of raising awareness to the importance of architectural skills and extant natural resources in their region. Education, accompanied by training and qualified research, forms a major catalyst for rebuilding and restoring the livelihood and sustainable environments in post-crisis and conflict communities of Yemen.
Volunteers, Shaykhan Dome, Yemen, 2020
Capacity Building
Training on the building sites, with the aim of raising awareness to the importance of architectural skills and extant natural resources in their region.
Education, accompanied by training and qualified research, forms a major catalyst for rebuilding and restoring the livelihood and sustainable environments in post-crisis and conflict communities of Yemen.
Volunteers, Governor’s HQ, Yemen, 2020
Volunteers, Governor’s HQ, Yemen, 2020
Volunteers, Shaklanza Mosque, Yemen, 2019
Volunteers, Shaklanza Mosque, Yemen, 2019
Volunteers, Shaykhan Dome, Yemen, 2020
Volunteers, Shaykhan Dome, Yemen, 2020
Volunteers, Shaykhan Dome, Yemen, 2020
Volunteers, Shaykhan Dome, Yemen, 2020
W.A.Ve. Workshop 2017 –
The Future of Syria
Università di Venezia, Italy
Reinventing Ma'lula
W.A.Ve. Workshop 2017 – The Future of Syria
Università di Venezia, Italy
Reinventing Ma'lula
Conferences
Conferences
Earth Architecture Conference
Mud, Stone & Shale
Sayu’n Wadi Hadramut, Yemen
February-March 2011
The conference was to provide a platform for discussion of the condition of historic and future cities, showcasing innovative and creative projects in construction and design drawn from Chile to India.
Image: Cover of the book Earth Architecture, 2011
Earth Architecture Conference
Mud, Stone & Shale
Sayu’n Wadi Hadramut, Yemen
February-March 2011
The conference was to provide a platform for discussion of the condition of historic and future cities, showcasing innovative and creative projects in construction and design drawn from Chile to India.
Image: Cover of the book Earth Architecture, 2011
Iuav, Venice 2013
Publications
Publications
Oman
The Architecture of Oman records and examines in detail both the modern and vernacular architecture of the Sultanate of Oman.
Cover, The Architecture of Oman, Garnet Publishing, 1998
The Architecture of Oman records and examines in detail both the modern and vernacular architecture of the Sultanate of Oman.
Cover, The Architecture of Oman, Garnet Publishing, 1998
The Architecture of Oman 1998 RIBA exhibition, designed by Wordsearch, London.
The Architecture of Oman 1998 RIBA exhibition, designed by Wordsearch, London.
Yemen
First published in 2007, The Architecture of Yemen was the first book to offer an in-depth investigation into the characteristic architecture of country and the result of nearly two decades of research. This new, revised edition includes information on the building and reconstruction projects carried out from 2008 to 2014. Moving beyond the major cities, it explores the architecture of regions that could be said to be the last strongholds of traditional Arab architecture.
The Architecture of Yemen and its Reconstruction features a wealth of insights from both master builders and inhabitants in many locations that are now extremely difficult to visit. It also examines in detail building techniques and methods little known outside
of Yemen and includes well-known UNESCO World Heritage Sites as well as remarkable buildings from less-visited areas.
Cover, The Architecture of Yemen and its Reconstruction,
Laurence King Publishing, 2021
First published in 2007, The Architecture of Yemen was the first book to offer an in-depth investigation into the characteristic architecture of country and the result of nearly two decades of research. This new, revised edition includes information on the building and reconstruction projects carried out from 2008 to 2014. Moving beyond the major cities, it explores the architecture of regions that could be said to be the last strongholds of traditional Arab architecture.
The Architecture of Yemen and its Reconstruction features a wealth of insights from both master builders and inhabitants in many locations that are now extremely difficult to visit. It also examines in detail building techniques and methods little known outside
of Yemen and includes well-known UNESCO World Heritage Sites as well as remarkable buildings from less-visited areas.
Cover, The Architecture of Yemen and its Reconstruction,
Laurence King Publishing, 2021
India
Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
Dummy cover, The Architecture of Mehrangarh, Laurence King Publishing, 2013
Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur,
Rajasthan, India.
Dummy cover, The Architecture of Mehrangarh, Laurence King Publishing, 2013
Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
Dummy cover, The Architecture of Mehrangarh, Laurence King Publishing 2013
Inspiration
Hassan Fathy
—
"We need a revolution, a mud brick revolution – without one we won’t be able to do anything."
Hassan Fathy, 1984
Hassan Fathy
—
"We need a revolution, a mud brick revolution – without one we won’t be able to do anything."
Hassan Fathy, 1984
Cover, Hassan Fathy Earth & Utopia, Laurence King Publishing, 2018
Cover, Hassan Fathy Earth & Utopia, Laurence King Publishing, 2018
Hassan Fathy, New Bari, Egypt, 1962
Hassan Fathy, New Bari, Egypt, 1962
Construction, New Baris, al-Kharga Oasis, 1965
Construction, New Baris, al-Kharga Oasis, 1965
Vaulted Suq overlooking the courtyard, Bariz, 2010
Vaulted Suq overlooking the courtyard, Bariz, 2010
Hassan Fathy from the Nubian Survey portfolio, 1962
Hassan Fathy from the Nubian Survey portfolio, 1962
Partners
Earth Architecture Lab has developed successful partnerships with the following organisations and institutions worldwide:
ALIPH Alliance Internationale pour la protection du patrimoine dans les zones en conflit Switzerland
Cultural Emergency Response (CER) The Netherlands
Academie d'Architecture Paris, France
Global Award for Sustainable Architecture/ IUAV Venice, Italy
Cite d'Architecture et du Patrimoine Paris, France
Dawn Architectural Foundation, Hadramut, Yemen 2007-2024
Partners
Earth Architecture Lab has developed successful partnerships with the following organisations and institutions worldwide:
ALIPH Alliance Internationale pour la protection du patrimoine dans les zones en conflit Switzerland
Cultural Emergency Response (CER) The Netherlands
Academie d'Architecture Paris, France
Global Award for Sustainable Architecture/ IUAV Venice, Italy
Cite d'Architecture et du Patrimoine Paris, France
Dawn Architectural Foundation, Hadramut, Yemen 2007-2024
Partners
Earth Architecture Lab has developed successful partnerships with the following organisations and institutions worldwide:
ALIPH Alliance Internationale pour la protection du patrimoine dans les zones en conflit Switzerland
Cultural Emergency Response (CER) The Netherlands
Academie d'Architecture Paris, France
Global Award for Sustainable Architecture/ IUAV
Venice, Italy
Cite d'Architecture et du Patrimoine Paris, France
Dawn Architectural Foundation, Hadramut, Yemen 2007-2024