Ghadames: Lessons from the History

In a harsh and arid Saharan climate, where the temperature some times exceeds 47 during the daytime and drops to -10°C during the night, certainly you need to have a way to survive. The people of Ghadams designed their city in a way to accommodate such difficult situation.

Ghadamas (ancient Cydamae) is one of the oldest pre-Saharan cities located in the Grand Sahara 600 Km southwest of Tripoli, Libya next to the border with Algeria and Tunisia. In November, 1986 the city was declared as a world heritage landmark by UNESCO. One of the reasons this city was listed as a world heritage landmark is because of it's unique city planning and architecture, which are well-suited to the climate.There are many aspects of the city but, in this article I will try to cover the aspect of the city planning and architect in relation to the environment protection. The city had been designed to offer its inhabitants "suitable solar control, natural illumination, ventilation, and insulation from the desert climate".(A M Shawesh, 'Traditional settlement in the oasis of Ghadames in the Libya", Libyan Studies 26 (1995), pp 35-47).  It was built with natural materials and by the available local resources; mud brick, limestone, palm wood and lime. These environment friendly materials not only have zero harmful chemicals but also work as a temperature and humidity regulator. With its thick walls and many covered streets, the city simulates the function of mud jar where it "retains heat in the winter and keeps the interiors cool in the summer." This type of ventilation works without the need for electric energy to operate the heating or air conditioning systems and contributes to the friendly environmental design of the city.

Ghadames streets.

Sources Bader 2007

While other desert settlements have already disappeared or under the threat of desertification, the old city of Ghadames still stands and struggles for thousands of years. The old city of Ghadames is surrounded by a wall and a forest of palm trees which protected it from the sand dunes and prevents the city from been covered by sand.

Another important aspect of the city is how the people of Ghadames manages the most important and limited resource in the life of desert inhabitants, the water. The irrigation system of the farms around the city is unique. The main portable water source in the city is Ayn Al Faras spring. Five main tunnels carry the water to surrounding small farms around the city. Each farmer has a share depends on the size of his farm. The amount of water for a share is determined by a "water meter" or Qadous, which is a cylindrical can with a hole in the bottom. The water guard in each tunnel fills the water meter with water and fixes it on wall, when the cylinder runs out of water, which is equivalent to one share; he sends a message to the farmer, by inserting a palm leaf into the water canal and the framer responded by closing his canal and turning the water to his neighbor farmer. The system was very efficient and no water was waste.

Did we learn from the past?  Unfortunately the answer is no. In 1970's The Government decided to build a new city next to the old one and evacuate the old city for tourist purposes. The only similarity between the two cities was the painting. Every where you go in the new city you will notes the air conditions hanging on the walls. However, some Ghadames families, who are still having their houses in the old city, spend their summer in these houses.

The city teaches us how old people have been adapted to the harsh environmental conditions with the local available resources and without destroying or polluting their environment.