RR 7 - Feb 28

     It is a very common phenomenon in ancient architecture that the materials used in any building are clearly found in a close vicinity to said building.  Nowhere is this idea more pronounced and accurate than in the Mosques of Mali.  Mali is a landlocked country edging into Sahara Desert from the south.  Based on this information, it is logical that early architects would have to make do with what is immediately available: ferey, or sun-baked mud bricks.  A type of mud plaster held the bricks together and was even coated on top of the finished building for an organic, smooth look.  Despite its simple design, this is an example of architecture that absolutely belongs where it stands.  In a perfect world, it would have risen from the sands in that form.

 

     Originally built in 1327, the Djinguereber Mosque is the oldest of these mosques.  It features two minarets, three inner courts, and hall with over 20 rows of pillars.  This massive space can contain up to two thousands people.  A very unique aspect must be addressed about this type of building.  Upon the surface, there are rows and rows of wooden logs protruding from the otherwise smooth mud surface.  At one point, they served as scaffolding during construction but now, they are integrated into its very design.  Clearly, Malians had this process figured out, unlike European architects.  For example, Gothic cathedrals were essentially built twice, once as wooden scaffolding, then again, as stone structure.

European scaffolding

Malian scaffolding

A drawback of this type of construction, however, is the wind erosion constantly cutting away at the surfaces.  It becomes necessity to counter this with constant maintenance.