Low Carbon winner of the Green Solutions Awards 2017: Maison des Yvelines (Senegal)
Nadège Rigaudeau
The Maison des Yvelines, an administrative building coupled with some housings, aims to disseminate an ancestral technique perfectly adapted to the Sahel region: the Nubian Vault. This 3500-year old construction technique was resurrected and reinvented by the Association La Voûte Nubienne. It only uses mud bricks and earth-based mortars. These natural materials provide thermal inertia, acoustic comfort and durable protection against the weather. In addition, the exclusive use of local resources drastically curbs the carbon footprint of the building.
The Nubian Vault technique also offers two more benefits: low cost and great replicability. It is very easily taught, as it was done for this building, with the training of local workers on site.
Last but not least, the Nubian Vault technique presents a large range of architectural possibilities and extended modularity. It can be used for housings, offices, healthcare centers, in various styles. Also, extensions can be easily added to the building.
The Maison des Yvelines presents a simple, replicable and economical solution to tackle the challenges of global warming under hot climates, while giving one of the best examples of frugal resources management.
- Contractor: Conseil Général des Yvelines
- Designer: AL-MIZAN Architecture
- Construction Manager: ONG Le Partenariat
- Technical expertise: Association La Voûte Nubienne
- Structure: Habitat Moderne
Browse the case study linked to this video.
