Clay bricks house

Overview

In the Bekaa, clay brick house architecture was the standard until the 1950s. Over time, clay houses were largely abandoned. Although recently, a museum emerged in the Bekaa (Terbol) and the Ecolodge was built in Tanaïl on arcenciel grounds to offer tourists and curious parties the opportunity to experience this traditional lifestyle. An important movement to revalue these houses and this local culture started to take place, and arcenciel hopes that the advantages of such houses become apparent and cause a resurgence of this culture in years to come.

The benifits of clay brick architecture

Aesthetic advantage

The beauty in this type of construction is undeniable; materials, amounts and shapes used reveal a way of life where Man seemed to be in harmony with the environment and his surroundings. 

Environmental advantage

Materials such as straw, wood and earth are used for the construction of these clay houses and all are renewable, they also have the advantage of being available in the surrounding environment. 

Economic advantage

Building a clay house costs a third of the price of a similar house made ​​of concrete. Easy to carry, it can be built by the future inhabitant with the contribution of a few other craftsmen.

Soundproofing

In Arabic the clay house is named "Beit akhras" which means mute house because sound waves are absorbed by this type of construction. The quality of sleep and silence within are clearly superior to the quality of sleep and silence in a concrete house of the same dimensions and volume. 

Olfactory advantage

The clay-brick houses made of natural materials absorb many odors.

Construction Manual of a clay house

In order to increase awareness regarding the construction of clay houses and protecting the environment, arcenciel has published a pamphlet which explores the many benefits of an architecture that respects natural resources and the environment. This replication tool is designed to facilitate the work of all those who are interested in the assimilation of this type of habitat. Through this logic, The association hopes to induce a construction franchise in all the Bekaa area to aid this region, which is sought after for its archeological sites and monuments, to re-identify its default geographical landscape which has been gravely altered due to lack of planning and years of savage urbanization.

For more information regarding this traditional architecture, you can buy the clay house construction manual which was developed by arcenciel – in the khan.     

« Men of progress respect their past »

Montesquieu