Earth construction techniques in the northern High Atlas, Morocco

Abstract

When we use the term "earth construction", meaning all the buildings by different cultures and countries, we are grouping together a plurality of subjects. Thus, we cannot ignore the relevance of studying the specific technical features adopted in each region. The common characteristics of all the primitive construction are the complying with the geographical environment, the functionality and the traditional legacy of specific typology. These features should be kept in consideration also when studying earthen architecture which is a complex product of a specific culture that through it expresses a remarkable sign of its cultural identity. In this paper we anticipate some first results of the "I+D Arquitectura habitacional de tierra en el Alto Atlas septentrional. Midelt (Marruecos) (Cód-20110499- ADSIDEO-2011,1926-PAID-06-11-2011, Universitat Politècnica de València), showing the technology developed by the inhabitants of the northern part of the High Atlas, which has been used for hundreds of years and as we shall see, is still used today. © 2012 Taylor & Francis Group, London.