Author(s)

A. A. Abufayed

Abstract

The adobe-constructed historic city of Ghadames, Libya, a UNESCO registered world heritage site, is an outstanding example of a sustainable human settlement. The objective of this paper is to document traditional adobe building practices employed in Ghadames and, ultimately, to expose practitioners to the valuable experiences accumulated over a period of 1400 years. To achieve this objective, a survey of local knowledge on materials, preparations and building techniques was conducted. This survey was complimented with field investigations of existing structures undergoing several levels of deterioration and visual observation and monitoring of ongoing repair and reconstruction works employing traditional materials and techniques. Finally, the environmental merits of these practices and the challenges to the city’s sustainability are presented. 1 Introduction The adobe-constructed historic city of Ghadames (HCG), Libya, a UNESCO registered world heritage site, is an outstanding example of a sustainable human settlement thanks to its highly developed urban planning, architecture and adobe construction which were perfect adaptations to human needs, cultural and physical environments and remote location. The objective of this paper is to document traditional adobe building practices employed in Ghadames and, ultimately, to expose practitioners to the valuable experiences accumulated over a period of 1400 years. To achieve this objective, a survey of local knowledge on materials, preparations and building techniques was conducted [1]. This survey

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