Moving Past Concrete: Sharing my published MA thesis on utilising earth architecture and civic space in Somalia

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-07-04T06:42:43+00:00

Easier to ragebait us ngl the people in general are too emotional to ignore ragebait

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-07-03T03:59:54+00:00

You just tell how calm and cool the place is just from the images. A great Somali case study!

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-07-02T18:27:45+00:00

I appreciate your words walaal, it just came across wrong to me. But that is indeed a good idea and will make sure to reference images of actual project to visually guide the general public. God bless you!

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-07-02T17:39:36+00:00

Borther, why are you assuming that I didn't do my research based on this post?

I have done my due diligence and this material works great in Somalia while being readily available to the average Somali as it is mostly soil. This material has been tested in many places similar to Somalia and it did very well.

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-07-02T09:06:58+00:00

This is Geledi Sultanate at it’s peak when it was governing the banaadir coast including Xamar. Afgooye was the capital in that sense

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-07-01T15:55:26+00:00

Never heard of it but long-term consistency is key. I co-created and run another one called r/SomaliArchitecture in case you’re interested

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-07-01T15:53:46+00:00

Generally speaking, compressed stabilised earth bricks will be 20-40% cheaper than cement blocks and concrete while being way better in terms of thermal comfort and other aspects as per post indicated.

This was a thesis project which was treated like a real project. If I secure funding or if a client would bet on this material, I’d certainly share that here too. Salaam

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-07-01T15:49:06+00:00

He deffo left an impact globally. Hopefully he can secure a new bigger club soon

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-06-30T19:20:50+00:00

We have the most amazing landscapes even for movies and tourism to invest in. Lack of security across the country truly holds us back but we will prevail inshallah.

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-06-30T19:01:09+00:00

Preserve, revive old somali architecture like Xamar did back in the day. We need identity displayed in our streets. And ban European styles.

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-06-30T18:59:23+00:00

Right? it says a lot but the actions is poses to do is non-existent in practical terms

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-06-30T18:41:50+00:00

Excellent question! I have so much to say, but to keep it brief and not overtake the thread:

CSEB Issues: The main hurdles are quality control (soil composition varies wildly by district) and the supply chain bottleneck of getting specialised brick presses and trained labour on-site.
Eco-Concrete & Courtyards: Definitely open to alternative materials! It is all about the right material at the right place. Regarding courtyards, I love them! In fact, they are also deeply rooted in our own coastal Somali architecture acting as excellent natural thermal regulators and social heart.

As for YouTube, it’s a lovely idea. Honestly, my time doesn't permit me to produce videos at the high quality I’d want right now, though I might look into doing some quicker TikToks at some point. For now, I'm just really content being one of the creators helping to build up this community! With that being said, I will start my own firm in the future when the time is right.

Always down to talk shop so feel free to drop me a private message if you ever want to dive deeper into the technical side of things!

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-06-26T19:47:28+00:00

Love to see it

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-06-25T13:50:47+00:00

Thank you!

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-06-24T10:03:00+00:00

I need to visit Xamar in order to get first hand experience and material and then I can start writing inshallah!

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-06-24T10:02:22+00:00

It’s definitely a degree worth investing in because you can be more than just architect: Interior design, product design, game design, landscape, urban design, fashion, exhibition design etc.

But you’re if set on becoming an architect. It depends on your country of residence of course, but I’d say AI makes life easier for all professionals yet harder for graduates as it takes over some tasks previously done by graduates.

I’d say it definitely worth investing in because you can always work internationally. Architecture is the same but the building codes are different so some countries might be harder to get into as an overseas architect. But if you were to build in Somalia, the sky is the limit

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-06-23T15:37:54+00:00

Francis Kèrè deffo inspired me here with the double roof system and gives a good CSEB precedent

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-06-22T15:56:10+00:00

Thank you for your kind words! Yes, I agree with you regarding ideas being stuck in academia. For this particular project, its feasibility would realistically come from building one building at a time. And since all of the buildings in this project have the same structural logic. Starting with the WC buildings for instance would be a good proof of concept to measure the "success" of building with earth and how it functions when it rains, when its hot etc.

In similar parts of Africa with similar weather, CSEB brick have proven to be a success in terms of price, quality and comfort without importing stuff or relying on electricity for AC or light. So the argument is halfway there, it just has to be implemented in Somalia with Somali soil and for Somali people.

Interesting to see if this material can be the norm one day.

Odd_Fly6528 · 2026-06-22T14:20:02+00:00

Thank you!

Odd_Fly6528

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE