Learning from traditional building cultures

The aim of this study is to demonstrate that the building systems and traditional types – formed spontaneously over time in response to the climate and natural environment of various countries, especially in rural areas - are still a social incentive and technical as-sistance to the sustainable project in developing countries, particularly in Africa. This line of thinking and design practice, anticipated by Hassan Fathy, is now shared by sever-al architects, among which Kéré in Burkina Faso, Carin Smuts in South Africa , Fabrizio Carola in Mali, all convinced that: “Culture is the product of a people’s histo-ry” (Wa Thiong’O Nogugi). Historically - despite the claim of ideological and practical materials and techniques of modern (reinforced concrete, steel and glass) - the building systems and rural housing typologies assumed a paradigmatic value in the minds of designers.