Green Architecture - a Maldivian perspective

by ali sahil

(written for a building magazine)

1a Knowing Green

What Is Green? and the first thought is a tree. Some might say there are tree houses (buildings on trees) but where is a tree in a building? Imagine how trees have survived through centuries. Growing and re growing from own seed or cuttings. That is sustainability.

The “green” in a building process is the overall efficiency which combines human settlements and the built environment by means of efficient use of natural resources with less impact on society and environment.

Why Green? when we can paint yellow on a building. But obviously it’s not the colour that is of issue in this fast race of development. The increase in usage of resources during the past decades has shown that anything other than “green” is wasting more than what can be “re grown”. Being “green” is the natural alternative which nature has and is always teaching us though we tend to neglect sometimes.

Green Facts

How many of us use a toilet with reduced water consumption? How many of us live in a space which is flooded with sunlight throughout the day? How many of us live in an environment where a natural breeze passes through the room?

Going Green & How We Live

We are used to some old habits of wasting natural resources. By going green we are adopting a new way of lifestyle. And educating ourselves is the best way to develop a nation of concerned societies. How we live is important in building the environment we live in. We develop our own surroundings. And making our minds “greener” is the best solution in a process that has begun to shape our communities.

1b Architecture – a Maldivian context

Early Years

Maldivians lived a simpler life then. Simpler indeed but sustainable and efficient were their built environments. They built only out of necessity. They lived sparsely spread in many islands. Urban centers were never heard of then. Each island had few communal buildings mainly for annual or occasional feasts or ceremonies. Most islands had only one main road running the length or width of the island depending on the orientation. The sun, moon and stars count the time, monsoons or events.

Each island is a self sustained community. Having all the necessary skills passed from generation to generation needed for a community to sustain for centuries. Buildings were made from what is available within the islands. The first building materials were natural round timber structures built from cut branches of the trees grown within the islands. The timber structures were enclosed with woven coconut thatch, woven grass mats or woven screw pine leaf mats. Coconut thatch was used to cover the roof of the buildings from sun & rain. Buildings were small and confines to usage and spread at distances. A precision cut coral masonry building system without the use of mortar were among the very early ceremonial style buildings, ruins of which are still visible on some islands similar to the styles of earlier central American and some south Asian architecture.

800 years of influence – 12^th to 19^th centuries

Carved timber panel walled buildings were built on cut coral stone masonry foundations similar to south Indian buildings. The Dutch colonial style spread in the 17^th century with their occupation. This style had coral masonry buildings with lime plaster and lime white wash. They also had large verandahs and a very simple timber furniture style which is still in use. Roofs were covered with imported baked clay tiles. Walls had natural cool air inlet openings at bottom and hot air releasing vents above doors & windows. Verandah roofs were lower than main halls, thus having a breathing space in between. But what is interesting is the style in which the main hall branches into sleeping and bathing rooms respectively like the Creole building styles of immigrant African Americans. Since Creole is a mix of Portuguese African origins, it is no doubt rooted from this origin.

In all settlements of the past centuries, water was used mainly from wells. Ground water was used for drinking, cooking and bathing. Laundry was done mostly by the sea and or from ground wells. Cooking was done with burnt firewood stoves. Most of the day activities were out of doors. Sunlight and ventilation were adequate indoors for lesser day use activities. Verandahs were used for most domestic activities. Ironing was mainly done with burnt wood charcoal. Nights light were from oil burners. All other activities were done mechanically and manually.

Past 100 Years

Past century brought in the lesser technological advances into the country via means of trade routes to and from neighbouring countries. The most prominent was the metal roofing sheets and glass for the use of doors and windows. The adverse effect from the use of these two materials was heat gain. (Although heat gain reducing glass and roofing sheets are produced now with advanced technology) In a humid and warm tropical country like Maldives, proper shading and ventilation was effectively used in the buildings of the past century. (Though past few decades saw the worst of this due to the increase in density of population in the centralized capital and some outer islands) Cement was the recent material that was introduced in the latter half of this century with the rise of the building industry. Still until recently timber was a favourite of all Maldivians, for the use of doors and windows and furniture. But the last two decades brought in aluminium prefabricated or assembled doors and windows and chipboard knock down furniture catering for the increased demand. Multi storey has added a new perspective to the once quiet building industry.

New thoughts – greener future

Awareness in the field and proper education with global technology is leading the Maldivian building industry into a greener future. New ideas, materials and building techniques with a global understanding are preparing a changing and once less aware building industry of the country.

More daylight use, low-E glass, natural breathing walls and energy efficient services systems are a greener option for a fast developing nation like Maldives.

With the growing hospitality industry, “green” systems and eco lodging are a better future with increasing annual building projects around the country.

Low cost housing and simpler building materials and techniques can be a better adaptation for the larger and ever increasing housing needs of the nation.

1c Maldives & Sustainable Development Solutions

Human Settlements & Maldives

For thousands of years our ancestors tried to sustain a livelihood and succeeded in delivering this island nation to us. And we are here now trying to sustain through a fragile timeline to pass this eco concerned nation to the generations to come. Throughout history travelers, traders and even outcasts have been fascinated with this island nation of ours. This visible fact that we are a mix of peoples came only as a good advantage. We were able to maintain a nation with highly skilled and creative people.

Built Environment, Us & the Space in between

Throughout history we were a very concerned community. How we live, how we build and the space in between came in no surprise to us. Rather than a closed, hiding indoor communities like the increasing present day living habits, we used to be a highly community based out of doors settlers. Maldivians were very concerned about the space that knit our communities together. The morning works, the afternoon stories and the evening songs were all part of the living out of doors and in the spaces in between where we live. Present day urbanism lacks this spirit of living which we held so close to our hearts.

Sustainability of a Nation in Growth

We have always been a nation in continuous move and a spreading growth. To sustain this growth of development we need once again to spread out rather than to concentrate on fewer urban densities. As we lay footprints of details on individual projects we must not forget the big picture of a communal spread of the whole nation. Keeping this big picture alive is as important as creating detailed dots which need to be connected creating a larger net at the end which is the big picture.

One must stop to think by now that to keep on growing for future generations, we have to be “re growing” like the “green” trees that surround us?

Green Building and Our Future

Cost effective and affordable “green” is what we need right now. Not everyone can afford a greener future unless the building systems and materials are available and affordable. Designers must re think and focus on design rather than only the economic growth the profession makes. Awareness and incentive programs are necessary both from public and private sector alike.

Building “yellow” and falling apart from the “tree” is necessary to keep “re growing” into the “green” when we live in harmony with nature.