Uploaded on 2016-04-04 by Martarq

I took this photo in Morocco three years ago, from a bus traveling to Ouarzazate. It surprised me very much to see that concrete and brick structures were being massively introduced in these developing areas, whereas the rural hinterland still preserves the traditional techniques, based on earthen architecture. It was shocking because these new buildings seemed so structurally weak, permanently unfinished, maybe because they didn't have money to finish them, maybe because they didn't know how to (it was remarkable for example that the steel bars reinforcing concrete were left exposed, extending over the columns). It is evident that all this is done by unskilled labour, by people who are unconsciously risking their lives, trying to manipulate materials that are new for them with no security measures. At the same time, the absence of experience with these techniques leads to unsafe constructions that might not be durable or comfortable at all. In fact, inside these houses it's so much hotter than inside traditional earthen ones; it is obvious that this newly imported materials are not suitable for the local climate. Despite these evidences, local people still overestimate and tend to imitate western constructions, as seen in the video lectures. [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14596790964832991.jpg