Sustainable low-cost adobe construction material in high-rise buildings in Hadhramout valley, Yemen

Abstract EN

This paper emphasises on preservation and sustainable development of mud construction technology used in building and traditional houses in Hadhramout region.

Most houses in this region are made of adobe, which have good thermal storage compared to modern building materials like concrete and cement brick.

Adobe is the oldest building material.

It is a natural material and the most appropriate construction material in Hadhramout due to the regional dry and hot climate, and this material is abundance in this region.

This paper attempts to illustrate the construction process of clay adobe houses.

This adobe material mixed with clay straw as reinforcing agent is used to build the magnificent high-rise buildings, ranged from three to eight storeys with load bearing mud adobe walls construction system.

The aim of this paper is to search for the possibility of making use of this traditional construction technology to build low-cost houses.

The uses of the material are able to sustain the traditional life style, and thermal comforts.

A number of studies and researches are issued previously about mud brick in Hadhramout valley including clay adobe buildings, heritage, techniques and settlements.