Thierry Joffroy is architect, researcher and President of the International Centre for Earth Construction, Laboratory of Excellence, Architecture, Environment & Constructive Cultures, National Superior School of Architecture in Grenoble (CRAterre-Labex AE &CC/ENSAG) at the Université Grenoble-Alpes, France.
Learning from Local Building Cultures to Improve Housing Project Sustainability
The history of construction shows that builders have always been creative in adapting and upgrading housing structures by making the best use of locally available resources to meet their needs, while taking into account local economic, social and climatic constraints. Societies worldwide have developed building cultures that result in 'contextual' architecture, corresponding to unique construction methods and specific ways of life.