The Paradox around the Social Representations of Compressed Earth Block Building Material in Burkina Faso: The Material for the Poor or the Luxury Material?

Abstract

Compressed earth brick (CEB) is a masonry material which has the thermal properties that are better adapted to the hot and dry climate of tropical and Sahelian context like in Burkina Faso. Despite these advantages, CEB are still not largely used in the construction sector in the city of Ouagadougou. In order to better understand the obstacles linked to this low diffusion of CEB, the present empirical study proposes a deep analysis of the social representations of construction using CEB in the urban place. The results show that four main categories of social representations coexist in the construction sector using CEB: 1) the perception of CEB as the "material for the poor", 2) the perception of CEB as "improved or precarious adobe" inherited from successive public policies to rehabilitate the material, 3) the symbolic perceptions linked to the red color of the brick and the durability of the material, and 4) the contemporary post-materialist perception (luxury materials), according to a minority of wealthy elites who have built their houses using CEB. These social representations are essential to take into consideration for the implementation of new public housing policies in general and promotion for the usage of CEB in particular. This could accompany the studies which aim at improving the technical performances of CEB and lead towards the socio-economic acceptance of the materials.

An Empirical Formula for Assessing the Characteristic Strength of Unreinforced Laterite Stone Masonry

“…In developing countries such as Burkina Faso, construction with earthen materials should represent a suitable solution for the problem of sustainable housing for the population since it is cheap and so-called sustainable. The socioeconomic impact of constructions based on earthen materials in the context of Burkina Faso has been studied by authors such as Zoungrana, and it confirms the eco-friendly status of raw earth construction materials [7][8][9]. Furthermore, earthen materials such as LS present very good comfort properties for Sahelian cities, villages, and hot environments due to their hygrothermal properties [10][11][12][13].…”

Durability Performances of Compressed Earth Blocks Exposed to Wetting–drying Cycles and High Temperature

“…The improvement of the durability performances of earthen materials, and more specifically compressed earth blocks (CEBs) is essential for their widespread adoption in the building construction [1], [2]. Numbers of studies have reported that the different stabilisation using chemical industrial binders: cement and lime or alternative/by-product binders: geopolymer, lime residue or riche husk ash improve various engineering and durability indicators of CEBs [3]- [7].…”