Raw-earth construction techniques are “very resistant” to earthquakes, Japanese architecture professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong Edward Ng Yan-Yung said in an interview with French outlet “Le Monde” published on Tuesday. This comes in the midst of a hot debate over what the appropriate construction method for housing in zones affected by Morocco’s Sept 8 earthquake should be.
The lecturer developed his “raw-earth construction technique” in Guangming village in China in 2014, and it has shown great resistance to quakes.
It was difficult at first to convince villagers that the idea would work, he said, even though 90% of them had lost confidence in the traditional methods of construction. However, Yan-Yung’s technique, based on cement and steel beams that support the walls and prevent cracking, he claims is not only efficient, but also 40% cheaper than traditional construction.
The technique has the added benefit that it not only protects homes and lives from earthquakes, but it also preserves the traditional architecture of these areas.
Yan-Yung has taught his method to over 100 villagers, including women, in Guangming, and they are currently engaged in adobe construction projects.
This authentic and sustainable style of construction, not only provides earthquake protection, but it also honors tradition and allows communities to preserve cohesion and a sense of connection to their region.