In the face of an increasingly urgent global climate crisis, a few architects from around the world are taking up the challenge to create new generation, sustainable, and eco-friendly solutions for the built environment. In Senegal, architect Fatiya Diene Mazza, a distinguished graduate from Northeastern University in Boston, USA, is leading the charge to redefine architectural practices and usher in a new era of environmentally conscious designs. Her innovative approach is not just reshaping the skyline of Senegal but also contributing to the global fight against climate change.
As the world grapples with the impacts of global warming and climate change, the role of architects has become pivotal. It is important to note that the built environment, both globally and closer home in Africa, significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, making sustainable architecture a crucial component in the battle against environmental degradation. Fatiya Diene Mazza’s commitment to eco-friendly practices is a beacon of hope in this challenging landscape.
In her experimental project on new generation and eco-friendly architecture, Ms. Mazza has built a unique house at the heart of Mbour, the UBIKIWITI House – an architecturally expressive house built using raw and local materials – mainly rammed earth.
According to this new generation architect, the vision of this experimental project is to marry the aesthetic prowess and functionality of modern architecture with the time-honoured techniques of traditional African construction, consequently bridging the divide between the old and the new, the indigenous and the global.
From the eco-friendly front, the natural raw materials used to produce rammed earth are used in building the UBIKIWITI House, contributing to an extremely low carbon footprint. The heavy thermal mass of these walls insulates the interior from the often harsh extremes of the Senegalese climate, helping regulate temperature and create a comfortable living environment year-round. The house’s interior, a classic example of how modern architectural designs meet and influence the traditional, is constantly some degrees cooler than the typical house.
Fatiya Diene Mazza’s educational journey at Northeastern University in Boston, USA, played a pivotal role in shaping her eco-centric architectural philosophy. Northeastern’s emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and cutting-edge research empowered Mazza to explore innovative solutions to address the environmental challenges faced worldwide, but more widely in Africa and the global south in general.
Her designs integrate the latest eco-friendly technologies and draw inspiration from Senegal’s rich cultural heritage. The result is a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, such as the UBIKIWITI House, a testament to Mazza’s dedication to creating environmentally responsible and culturally resonant spaces.
Mazza’s projects in Senegal prioritize passive design principles, harnessing natural elements such as sunlight and wind to create energy-efficient buildings. Additionally, she advocates for using locally sourced materials, minimizing environmental impact and fostering a connection between the built environment and the communities it serves.
At a time when collaboration is crucial, Fatiya Diene Mazza’s projects go beyond mere structures; they engage local communities in the design and implementation processes. By involving the locals in tailoring and implementing her new-generation designs, Ms. Mazza ensures that her creations contribute positively to the social fabric while remaining environmentally sustainable. Her move to involve the locals also serves as a platform to pass this critical knowledge and techniques to them as part of the human development of the project.
In a continent and country where energy accessibility is still a big challenge to many people, Mazza’s designs prioritize renewable energy solutions and offer a blueprint for reducing dependence on non-renewable energy sources.
In conclusion, Architect Fatiya Diene Mazza’s work in Senegal comes at a critical juncture when the world grapples with the consequences of climate change. Her dedication to eco-friendly architecture, informed by her education at Northeastern University and inspired by her roots in Africa and her love for traditional African architectural designs and, of course, her love to explore new and modern designs in architecture, sets a precedent for her peers not only in Africa but from around the world. As Mazza continues to pioneer environmentally sustainable design in Senegal, her legacy – as witnessed in her experimental project, becomes a testament to her ingenuity and inspiration for architects worldwide, illustrating the transformative power of sustainable architecture in the face of climate challenges.
You can visit Dakar based architecture firm ID+EA https://www.id-ea.pro for more about The UBIKIWITI House.
Photo credits: ID+EA office
