A presentation given at the Global Bamboo and Rattan Congress (BARC 2018), 25-27 June 2018.

1. Ethiopian Vernacular Bamboo Architecture and its Potentials
for Adaptation in Modern Urban Housing: A case study
Alemayehu Darge
Ethiopian Institute of Architecture Building Construction and City Development (EiABC) ,
Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia;
alemayehu.darge@eiabc.edu.et, cengalex99@gmail.com

2. Outline
1. Vernacular architecture
2. General About Ethiopia
3. Case study on Sidama House
4. Adaptation potential

3. 1 Vernacular/traditional Architecture
‘The range of constructions derived from the rooting of a community
within its territory, revealing in its diversity and evolution a process of
ecological adaptation both to natural resources and factors and to
the historical processes and socio-economic models which have
developed in each location’
(ICOMOS Conference, Morelia, Mexico, 1999)

4. 2 EthiopiaGeneral
• Second most populous country in Africa with close
to 100 million population
• Only 20% of the total population lives in urban
areas
• Has high rate of urbanization (about 4.1%) and
high growth rate of urban population (about 5%)
• Serious challenge in terms of provision of basic
infrastructure and services such as housing,
schools, medical facilities and jobs creation

5. Has two indigenous bamboo species covering
about 1,000,000 ha of land namely:
Bamboo Map of Ethiopia
3 Bamboo Resource of Ethiopia
Figure. Distribution of bamboo resources
in Ethiopia (Tsefaye Hunde, 2006).
ü 20% - Yushania alpina (Highland Bamboo)
and
ü 80% - Oxytenanthera Abyssinica (Lowland
Bamboo)
In total they cover about 67% of African bamboo
resource

6. 4 Location Map
• The case study was focused on Sidama
society, located in Southern Ethiopia
whose capital city is Hawassa
Area 7672 km2
population of 2,954,136 (CSA, 2007)
• Altitude range: 1500 to 3500 m asl
• The areas above 2000m asl are generally
suitable for growing bamboo
• Sidama region is also known worldwide
for its coffee plantation
The Sidama People

7. 5 The Sidama House
• The building of these houses requires a
specific skill, which only few people still master.
• The knowledge is based on trial & error, then
passed by local traditions

8. 6 Construction Process

9. 7 Internal Space

10. 8 Tools

11. 9 Table. Lessons from vernacular Architecture of Sidama People (Source; Author)
Aspects Parameters Particulars
S o c i o -
Cultural
Family Structure Nuclear family structure
Community Participation A group of men from the ‘Chinacho’ which are a crew of skilled weavers, are called on for the construction of the homes
with the help of the other members of the community.
Belief and rituals The vernacular buildings reflect the environmental and climatic circumstances, which are well integrated into religious or
spiritual convictions, and strongly tied to the ancestors and the social community, ritual and symbolism
Ecological
Building with nature The form and the structure of the Sidama house is mainly the result of the topography, climate, culture and material used.
Architectural
Site selection The houses are built on plateau surrounded by the hills, site is usually close to the source of water. The construction is
done on non-fertile land.
Climate responsive The house form is evolved as per the climatic condition. Less openings are provided due to extreme temperature. The
bamboo material gives an optimum indoor thermal qualities in all seasons
Settlement pattern It has circular settlement pattern with the community space at the center
Dwelling Formed by the bare minimum requirements and has multiple usage of spaces
Materials Almost entirely built from bamboo
Construction Method A simple construction method with minimalist use of tools
Aesthetics The interior of the walls and doors are decorated with bamboo matts
Economic Livelihood Contribution to the household income from bamboo harvesting
Resource management Judicial use of materials
Waste management Bamboo materials used do not generate waste while in use or after use because they are organic in nature

12. 10 Factors influencing the Adoption of Vernacular Architecture in the Urban Context
i. Actors involved in the building process (architect,
client, building developer, consultant)
ii. Education and values
iii. Knowledge on how to contextualize VA in the urban
context
iv. Policy

13. 11 Examples of Transitional Houses

14. 12 Challenges
• Bamboo is not recognized as a standard construction material in the Ethiopian
building code
• There exists very limited local market for bamboo housing and only a few local
artisans working on bamboo house construction
• Lack of awareness of stakeholders about the socioeconomic importance of bamboo
resource
• Absence of linkage among policy makers, Academia/Research Governmental/ Non-
Governmental Organizations, Framers, Industries are among the problems

15. 13 Concluding
• Traditional vernacular architecture accounts for local climate, uses local
resources and caters to changing social and cultural needs of a building
• In its application to the current-day context, it has potential to reduce the
construction industry’s footprint

16. 13 Concluding

17. Alemayehu Darge Dalbiso, MSc, PE
Addis Ababa University
Ethiopian Institute of Architecture Building Construction and City Development (EiABC)
Email : alemayehu.darge@eiabc.edu.et / cengalex99@gmail.com