Embracing Earthen Architecture in Formal Construction in Uganda

Abstract

In Uganda, earthen architecture is looked down upon in the construction industry as even the common Ugandan doesn’t consider it as an option for a residential or formal building mostly because of a lack of awareness or exposure to its potential under the new earthen architecture but rather its associated with its older more crude version that had been developed in the past traditional societies which is considered backward or rural with the only scenarios it’s used for being the rural household, tourism and recreation. In the rural household it’s used for its cheap and easy nature as materials can be locally sourced from one’s surroundings, in the tourism sector it’s applied through preservation of old heritage sites then for recreation its used to set up safari lodges or resorts for its rustic aesthetic (Moles, 2005). Earthen architecture is being held back due to these misconceptions about it whereby it is only seen as an aesthetic or tourism option if its ever taken seriously despite its great potential of sustainability, energy efficiency and cultural preservation which shows a problem of lack of information and awareness of its existence as it has faded over the years hence a need for deeper study into it to get information useful for it to enable it spread and get embraced in Uganda.