The Use of Locally Available Materials Towards Urban Planning for Sustainable Construction: The Case of Gondar-Ethiopia

Abstract

The city of Gondar in northern Ethiopia has a rich history that is connected to urban planning and construction. From the era of the Fasiledes that built masonry castles, Italian colonialism that zoned the city on racial boundaries and the post-colonial planning that wanted a more global standard, Gondar has been subjected to different planning and construction methods. This evolution however, has brought about challenges related to the sustainability of the construction industry and the communities within the city. This paper analyses the relationship between urban planning and use of local construction materials to attain sustainable development of the city. The results show that the current urban planning policies as well as the rules and regulations governing the construction industry in Gondar do not support the use of locally available construction materials but instead focus on the use of cementitious materials for construction. Apart from marginalizing the lower-income communities, these policies are also against the tenets of Sustainable Development Goals. As a solution, systemically integration of locally available materials into urban planning policies and strategies as well as developing construction standards and guidelines for their use is recommend.