Sustainable Construction for Affordable Housing Program in Kabul

Afghanistan has suffered from four decades of war, causing a massive
migration of the rural population to the cities. Kabul was originally designed
for 1,5 million people, whereas there are now 5 million in the city. The
importation of modern western styles housing for rapid reconstruction reveals
apparent cultural conflict and a significant environmental footprint. The new
drive for sustainable reconstruction should consider the use of local materials
combined with modern technologies. Earthen architecture underlies the
embodiment of Afghan architecture. This research aims to revisit traditional
Afghan earthen construction with the tools of industrial modernity. The three
soils of the Kabul region are first characterized. Sun-dried mud brick and
compressive earth block, with and without stabilization have been prepared
and tested in the laboratory to develop the most suitable earth construction
element which is cost-effective and easily available compared to imported
modern products.

 JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY URBAN AFFAIRS (2022),6(1), 23-35.

https://doi.org/10.25034/ijcua.2022.v6n1-3