How the City of Djenné Was Built
The town still adheres to a traditional mud-brick building technique that goes back thousands of years
Although modern building materials like cement have been trickling into Djenné, the town still adheres to a traditional mud-brick ('adobe') building technique that goes back thousands of years.
The Architecture The Heart of the City4d Heritage
The Mosque is the centre of the city, dominating the skyline, the largest adobe structure in the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Architecture Mud-plastered Houses4d Heritage
Mud plaster provides the outer coating of houses. Mud from the river is mixed together with rice husks and shea butter until it reaches a thick, glutinous consistency, before being spread onto the walls.
The Architecture Mud Brick Production4d Heritage
Brick production occurs near the river - river mud is mixed with sand and clay before being left in moulds to dry and harden in the sun.
The Architecture Crepissage4d Heritage
The rainy season gradually erodes the mud plaster (as you can see on the right!), which has to be recoated each year in a process known as the crépissage, which is undertaken by designated individuals known as the 'Masons'. Usually a day-to-day activity, it becomes an elaborate community ceremony when the Great Mosque needs re-plastering...
The Architecture Collecting Mud from the River4d Heritage
Mud is collected from the river...
The Architecture Carrying Mud to the Masons4d Heritage
...there is a race to get the mud to the Mosque...
The Architecture Plastering the Mosque4d Heritage
...where designated Masons plaster the Mosque, also in a race of their own. They can be finished as early as 10am!
The Architecture Balancing4d Heritage
These nubs of wood are called torons, which have multiple purposes, including reinforcing the structure, decoration, and permanent scaffolding for the crépissage!
Photos: Sophie Sarin
Curation: Alex Colville
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