
After centuries of Portuguese colonization and recent conquest of independence, Mozambique has undergone a difficult period with new challenges, such as the combat against poverty, the infrastructure deficit, and uncontrolled urban expansion. On the architecture field, it is possible to notice the impact of these challenges on the evolution of the Mozambican projects. Some examples are: the prediction of the need to expand the building in the future, the adoption of climate control passive measures and the utilization of vernacular constructive techniques adapted to the local context (as a way to minimize energy consumption in the different phases of building construction and its respective costs).
On this point, we have selected four projects already published in ArchDaily and completed over the last years in different cities of Mozambique that, by choice of materials, constructive techniques or other project decisions, reflect not only Mozambican contemporaneous challenges, but are also part of the expression of the local architectural identity.
Manica Community Center / Architecture For Humanity + Alina Jerónimo + Paulo Carneiro
