Eco-dome: Concrete-free, energy-efficient home designs are proving weather resilient

Eco-dome, zero concrete houses
Image: Energy Observer productions

Dome-shaped earth-based constructions in Morocco use unique methods that don't harm local resources and prove resilient in the face of earthquakes and strong winds. Plus they're economical and ecological!

Traditional construction methods combined with modern techniques are the key to building low-tech, less expensive homes, which generate much less greenhouse gas than concrete houses.

A low-carbon habitat

In the village of Agouim, midway between Marrakech and Ouarzazate, on the southern slopes of the High Atlas mountains, Younes Ouarzi, a young engineer, has taken inspiration from the work of the late Iranian-American architect Nader Khalili: the Eco-Dome concept, a healthy, low-carbon habitat. Morocco suffers from an issue with rather unwholesome living conditions in rural areas, which unfortunately are often detrimental to the inhabitants' health. Ouarzi's undertaking is offering them the opportunity to reside in a healthy, low-cost habitat.

Ancestral techniques

Eco-dome might well resemble the homes of the inhabitants of Tatooine of Star Wars fame. In reality though, they are habitats made up of sacks of earth arranged in concentric circles. Their architecture provides access to both natural light and ventilation. Studies made on these buildings have shown an average difference in temperature inside and out of 15 degrees Celsius. These habitats are also designed to withstand very bad weather and earthquakes. Crucially, they can be reproduced on a large scale, potentially making them a serious solution for the future of the habitat.

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