Modern Malian architecture rooted in ancient earth techniques
In the heart of Bamako, architect Mariam Sy is leading a quiet revolution – one handful of earth at a time. Her vision merges Mali's ancient building wisdom with contemporary design, creating structures that seem to rise organically from the Sahelian soil.
"At 15, I told my parents I wanted to be an architect. They thought it was a good idea, and I had to leave my girls' school to attend a technical college in Bamako," Sy tells RFI.
That decision set her on a path from Mali to Belgium, where she earned her architecture degree, and then to France's prestigious Craterre research centre in Grenoble.
It was there she mastered the art of building with the earth, a material at the core of her sustainable designs. Today, Sy's firm Architerre is at the forefront of eco-friendly architecture in West Africa.
Building with nature
Through projects ranging from homes and medical centres to mosque renovations in Timbuktu, Sy demonstrates how traditional materials can meet modern needs while respecting the environment.
"Whether it's soil, stone or whatever we can find locally, the idea is really to use as little energy as possible in construction and to use materials suited to the local temperature," she says.
"As it happens, in Mali, soil is one of the most widespread and well-known local materials, and for us Sahelians, the advantage is that these materials truly adapt to our climate."
Read more on RFI English
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