Inspired by the stone architecture of the Argobba people, this one-storey, rectangular structure built of stone and clay- mortar masonry walls within a reinforced concrete frame seeks to provide an alternative to high-cost construction with imported materials. The interior walls are made of manually-dried, air-pressed clay stones while the roof is constructed of concrete slabs and zinc sheeting, adding to the structure’s earthquake-resistance. Constructed as a research project in cooperation with a school of architecture, the project provided capacity-building for unskilled labour using local, environmentally-friendly construction materials and technologies to demonstrate a modern application of traditional techniques.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture