NEWS24

At the congress, we aim to broaden the horizons of architecture and design topics by exploring unusual approaches from around the world.

We have separate sessions on housing in extreme conditions. And today we're going to tell you about troglodyte dwellings.

In Tunisia, a Congress country, particularly in Matmata, they are pit houses carved into the bedrock. Not only are these structures still home to more than two thousand people, but they also attract tourists with their beauty and uniqueness. These structures were originally built to avoid massacres by invading Roman and Egyptian troops. They are functional - cool in the summer and provide comfortable living conditions, combining modern conveniences with old world charm.

There are various examples of troglodyte architecture around the world that demonstrate how this traditional life form can teach us lessons about sustainable design. The same:

- Troglodyte village in Rochementier. Loire Valley. France

- Kandovan Troglodyte Village, Iran

- Troglodyte village Ortahisar, Turkey

- Troglodyte Village of Mesa Verde (USA)

These buildings were often made through what we now recognize as vernacular modes of design. Utilizing local topography and materials to create troglodyte dwellings, improving individual well-being and establishing a symbiotic relationship with the environment.

The use of earth's thermal masses as natural insulators makes heating and cooling virtually unnecessary in temperate climates, and the maintenance of such buildings is minimal compared to modern construction processes

For architects and designers interested in creating more sustainable and environmentally integrated housing solutions, studying troglodyte buildings can offer unique ideas and approaches. Such buildings demonstrate how natural structures can be utilized much more effectively than creating them from scratch. This also shows the importance of vernacular design and its ability to improve individual wellbeing and establish a symbiotic relationship with the environment.

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