HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN AFRICAN CITIES

Adequate shelter, which functions as needed for the climate and other conditions it is built in, is a basic factor for general health and wellbeing. In the tropical climate of sub-Saharan Africa, traditional construction design is being challenged by the introduction of foreign-style glazed buildings. A situation which is creating unexpected problems.

Traditional building techniques in tropical regions

Buildings in tropical regions have long-been designed to provide protection against local climatic extremes. At the same time, they reflect an area’s artistic and practical utilisation of locally available materials, such as mud, stone, thatch, bamboo, palm fronds and wood saplings. These building materials have inherent properties that are beneficial to health and wellbeing. Bamboo, for example, tolerates drought and its adaptive beauty and strength meet sheltering requirements for rich and poor alike.