Other notable mud structures in the wider Muslim world include the Bob Dioulasso Grand Mosque in Burkina Faso, and the Khiva Wall in Uzbekistan, which is built around a collection of Islamic schools and mosques. The Siwa Oasis in Egypt (which we visited and posted about here) and the Eastern Castle in Syria have also employed mud bricks in their construction, and research shows that the famous walls of Jericho were built using sun-dried mud bricks.
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Given the likelihood of a buffer zone along Gaza’s border, an innovative approach could be to transform this space into a greenbelt. Many cities worldwide have successfully implemented green zones that serve as ecological buffers while also benefiting urban populations. A well-planned greenbelt could provide environmental benefits, support agriculture, and even serve as a shared space between Gazans and Israelis—turning a divisive border into an area of mutual sustainability.
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Cities around the world are encouraged to enter their greening initiatives to showcase their achievement and commitment to nature-orientated solutions to address major challenges facing urban environments.
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Modern society owes much of its progress and functionality to the way we have approached building and construction. From ancient times when the first settlements began to take shape, to today’s skyscraper-laden skylines, buildings have not only mirrored our progress but have been fundamental catalysts in shaping human civilization.
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At the base of Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains. We visited this kasbah a decade ago. And it has taken some damage from the earthquake but all residents and guests were safe.
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In today's world, where environmental concerns are growing exponentially, businesses have a crucial role to play in reducing their ecological footprint. One effective way to achieve this is by carefully selecting the materials used in manufacturing processes and product development
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Travel and sustainability by default don’t go hand in hand. If you have to fly somewhere or drive long distances you are contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. That’s why staycations have been a priority for ecologically-minded people.
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The SuperAdobe technique for sustainable building with the most basic materials is in use around the world.
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Going green doesn’t come naturally to wealthy villa owners in the Gulf. An online real estate company listed a seven bedroom villa in Dubai’s neighboring Emirate Abu Dhabi for $95,300 a year, which amounts to nearly $8,000 a month. Anyone who can afford to spend that much money on rent probably has little incentive to […]
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A former flight attendant has grounded himself in Thailand in a masonry dome-home he built in just six weeks. The 500 square foot structure is simply constructed much like a tropical igloo, with cement blocks stepping in for ice bricks. The best part? It cost under $10,000!
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Saudi Arabian investment in 76 new environmentally savvy construction projects is estimated to exceed $26 billion, according to Faisal Al-Fadl, Secretary General of the Saudi Green Building Forum (SGB Forum). Over half of those projects are based in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
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The nominees for the 2013 Aga Khan Award for Architecture were recently announced: 20 candidates – half hailing from the Middle East – all vying for a million dollar prize.
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Although the Sahara desert used to be a green retreat for giraffes and hippos 5,000 years ago, it is now a giant, sometimes rolling landscape of sand. A lot of sand. In fact, roughly two thirds of Algeria is made up of sand, according to the authors of a study published in the Arabian Journal […]
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The award to design Masdar‘s new super-green headquarters in Abu Dhabi has been given to Brookfield Multiplex, the group announced recently. The Australian firm was awarded the contract to design and construct the seven story building in the Gulf nation, which will feature a whopping 344,445 square feet of interior space and a massive rooftop […]
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Chemists bring one of the oldest materials in building history back to its green roots. Cement is one of the oldest building materials cooked up by humans, but it’s so misunderstood. It’s not what paves your cement sidewalk, that’s concrete. And it’s not concrete, although cement is a main ingredient. Modern advances in production and […]
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