14 DAY TRIAL // Sometimes, poverty challenges creativity, favoring unconventional projects that come along with several benefits, both for the environment and financially-challenged people.
This appears to be the case of Tipu Sultan Merkez, an eco-friendly school, recently built in Punjab, one of the most populous cities in Pakistan.
It was constructed by local workers using only low-cost, sustainable materials, like bamboo, mud, and cob, a traditional mixture of water, clay and sand.
In order to make the school truly energy-efficient, workers have insulated the walls and have designed big windows, to exploit the advantages of clean green solar power. The floors were made of bricks and cob and the flat odd-looking roof was manufactured using different layers of bamboo mixed with mud.
Since their construction is both unusual, easy to implement, useful and iconic for the region, making a strong statement, it has attracted financial support after winning a Holcim Award for its eco-friendly design improvements.