Reengineering of building cultures : the contribution of frugal innovation to local and global development goals

International audienceBuilding with earth and vegetal fibres is an illustration of frugal innovation core principle: do better with less. These building techniques are used in Europe, and in different parts of the world, both in vernacular productions and at industrial scale and have also applications for contemporary architecture. To do better with less, is a relevant and efficient approach that consists to innovate in learning from the observation of the environement and from cultural heritage. Vernacular architecture is often an illustration of frugal innovation three principles: do better with less, seek opportunity in adversity, keep it simple. For many centuries, builders and inhabitants had to deal mainly with locally available resources, as well as environmental potentials and physical constraints, to erect structures and house themselves. Furthermore, social and cultural dynamics have contributed to shape cities. Altogether, this has resulted into great varieties of cultural and vernacular heritage (from simple houses to the most impressive building and complex structures), evidence of the ingenuity of local builders and non-engineered practices. Furthermore the development of related specific knowledge and contextualised architecture has yielded to the establishment of specific building cultures. Nowadays, there is still about a quarter to a third of the world population living in earth construction. Traditional techniques have been re-engineered to meet the needs of sustainable housing, rediscovering frugal innovations to the benefit of people. Particular projects illustrating this approach can be found in Mayotte where more than 25,000 buildings have been built these last 30 years, or more recently in Haiti where traditional timber-framed structure in-fill with local stones or earth is successfully used in large reconstruction projects after the earthquake of 2010. A way to disseminate “Jugaad” spirit in European university is to set up innovative training platforms. An example is the initiative of excellence in innovative training “amaco”, funded by French government at the Grands Ateliers in Villefontain