What is Domus and why is it important?
Ait Benhaddou, Morocco
This lecture focused on the idea of Domus and how different people dwell in different areas of the world. Domus can be defined as 'to dwell' from the Latin translation. Some people choose to be stationary and some people want to be nomadic: don't want to stay in one place.
'The dwelling is the theatre of our lives' - Paul Oliver, 2003
Nomadic settlements
Different groups of people and communities decide to move around from place to place therefore structures need to be constructed and deconstructed quickly e.g. tents of the Bedouin peoples where skins and blankets are held up by bamboo posts and can be decamped at any time.
Ait Benhaddou in Morocco uses natural materials from the surrounding area to create a cultural and spiritual connection to the rest of the community. The main square in Marrakech as been listed by UNESCO.
Tents of the Bedouin people
VIDEO:
Different locations need different structures to adapt to the climates. Some may be more successful than others as some can collapse easily and some may not be as reliable as originally thought. It is interesting to consider the culture of the people as that would influence the style and quality of the structure.
Maison de Terre, Normandy, France: 'houses of the earth'
In this instance, one example is the Maison de Terre in Normandy, France that are considered 'houses of the earth' built from stone and mud from the surrounding area to make use of the natural resources and to create shade and shelter from the intense heat.
Overall, this lecture was particularly interesting as it allows you to understand more about the importance of using natural materials from the local community. Without local materials, structures wouldn't have as much character as they do now.
References:
Discover The Bedouin People of Jordan. (2019). [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4HBDoR_gmE.
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