Traditional architecture appears from survival strategies that utilize available resources, developed over generations by ethnic communities worldwide without the need for expert guidance. It encompasses buildings constructed using local knowledge, technology, and craftsmanship, utilizing materials readily available in the area while also ensuring comfort for the inhabitants. As such, traditional architecture is closely linked to the geography, climate, terrain, and the cultural and socio-economic contexts of various regions within a country. Ethiopia, with its diverse climate and socio-cultural landscape, showcases unique characteristics in traditional building designs that reflect climate-responsive vernacular architecture in each region. This paper depicts a vast knowledge on traditional houses of Ethiopia. The purpose of this paper is to compile and highlight the construction of various vernacular housing practices found across Ethiopia at different regions.

Keywords:Tradition,traditional architecture, climate responsiveness, Ethiopia traditional architecture, sustainability

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1. Shelter Cluster.org. Detailed Shelter Response Ethiopia, Local Building Cultures for sustainable and resilient habitats; 2018.
2. Van Brunt H. When and What is Vernacular Architecture; 1886.
3. Gruber P, Datta KD Kinshuk. Construction Aspects in Ethiopia’s Architectural Tradition: A Comparative View; 2021.
4. Harris R. Traditional Architecture of the Arabian Gulf: Building on Desert Tide; 1885.
5. NRMRD-MoA. Agro-ecological zones of Ethiopia. Natural resources management and regulation department of MOA. Addis Ababa: 1998.
6. Oliver P. Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World. Vol 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1997.
7. Oliver P. Dwellings: The Vernacular House Worldwide; 16 January 2003.
8. Sthapatya Veda. Architecture in Harmony with Natural Law.
9. Kawathekar V. Vernacular Architecture in India: Architecture of the Kutchi; 2004.
10. Sojkowski J. African Vernacular Architecture Data Base; 2017.
11. Gupta MS. Climate responsive Vernacular architecture of Kutch; 2024.
12. Sarkar Kaninika D. Indian Vernacular Planning. Civil Eng Urban Planng: Intl J. 2015;2(1).
13. Brunskill RW. Illustrated Handbook of Vernacular Architecture; 1988.
14. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org
15. Abose Y. Sidama Traditional Bamboo Architecture; 2021.
16. Eight Golden Elements of Traditional Indian Architecture; 2024.
17. Rieger-Landl A. Between Nomadism and Sedentarism; From mobile structures to earth architecture? 2013.
18. Gebremedhin N. Some Traditional Types of Housing in Ethiopia. In: Oliver P, editor. Shelter in Africa. New York: Praeger Publishers; 1971.
19. Oliver P. Built to Meet Needs: Cultural Issues in Vernacular Architecture; 2006.
20. Nobihiro S, Ephrem TW, Alila TA, Riichi M. Fundamentals of Hidmo in Inderta: A Traditional House Type in Tigray Region, Ethiopia; 2019.
21. Berhanu K B, Seleshi Y, Melesse AM. Surface Water and Groundwater Resources of Ethiopia: Potentials and Challenges of Water Resource Development; 2014.
22. Gebremedhin N, Huntingford GWB. Central Highlands of Ethiopia: Oromo Houses of Shoa Province around Addis Ababa and Wollega Province in the West; 1976.
23. Rieger-Jandl A. Tradition in Transition. Reflections on the Architecture of Ethiopia; 2016.
24. Backup N. Ethiopian Vernacular Architecture; 2022.
25. Gebremedhin N. Plan of a Tigré farmer’s house built into the steep side of a mountain, Tigray Region/ትግራይ ክልል; 1976.
26. Traditional House-Tigray; 2023.
27. Rudofsky B. Architecture without Architects: An Introduction to Non-Pedigreed Architecture; 1987.
28. Oromia Region Information Brochure; 2021.
29. Tsegaye D, Vedeld P. Pastoralists and livelihoods: A case study from northern Afar, Ethiopia; 2013.
30. Jetie SB. Appraisal of Vernacular Stone Housing Typology of Tigray, Ethiopia; 2019.
31. Kume A, Berhane Y. Crowding in a traditional rural housing (“Tukul”) in Ethiopia; 2003.
32. Piguet F, Hadg K. Afar and Kereyu pastoralists in and around Awash National Park struggle with deteriorating livelihood conditions; 2022.
33. Gebremedhin N. Traditional House in Ethiopia; 1976.
34. Okazaki R. A study on the formation of an imperial city in Tigray, Ethiopia, at the turn of the 20th Century: Mekelle during and after the region of Yohannes IV. 2014;1–7.
35. Traditional House-Oromo House; 2021.
36. Hjort B, Widen K. Introduction of sustainable low-cost housing in Ethiopia–an innovation diffusion perspective; 2015.
37. Abdulahi M. Resource Deprivation and Socio-economic changes among pastoral households: The case of Karayu and Itu pastoralists in the Middle Awash Valley of Ethiopia. MSc Thesis, Agricultural University of Norway; 1998.

Traditional architecture appears from survival strategies that utilize available resources, developed over generations by ethnic communities worldwide without the need for expert guidance. It encompasses buildings constructed using local knowledge, technology, and craftsmanship, utilizing materials readily available in the area while also ensuring comfort for the inhabitants. As such, traditional architecture is closely linked to the geography, climate, terrain, and the cultural and socio-economic contexts of various regions within a country. Ethiopia, with its diverse climate and socio-cultural landscape, showcases unique characteristics in traditional building designs that reflect climate-responsive vernacular architecture in each region. This paper depicts a vast knowledge on traditional houses of Ethiopia. The purpose of this paper is to compile and highlight the construction of various vernacular housing practices found across Ethiopia at different regions.

Keywords:Tradition,traditional architecture, climate responsiveness, Ethiopia traditional architecture, sustainability

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Shelter Cluster.org. Detailed Shelter Response Ethiopia, Local Building Cultures for sustainable and resilient habitats; 2018.
2. Van Brunt H. When and What is Vernacular Architecture; 1886.
3. Gruber P, Datta KD Kinshuk. Construction Aspects in Ethiopia’s Architectural Tradition: A Comparative View; 2021.
4. Harris R. Traditional Architecture of the Arabian Gulf: Building on Desert Tide; 1885.
5. NRMRD-MoA. Agro-ecological zones of Ethiopia. Natural resources management and regulation department of MOA. Addis Ababa: 1998.
6. Oliver P. Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World. Vol 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1997.
7. Oliver P. Dwellings: The Vernacular House Worldwide; 16 January 2003.
8. Sthapatya Veda. Architecture in Harmony with Natural Law.
9. Kawathekar V. Vernacular Architecture in India: Architecture of the Kutchi; 2004.
10. Sojkowski J. African Vernacular Architecture Data Base; 2017.
11. Gupta MS. Climate responsive Vernacular architecture of Kutch; 2024.
12. Sarkar Kaninika D. Indian Vernacular Planning. Civil Eng Urban Planng: Intl J. 2015;2(1).
13. Brunskill RW. Illustrated Handbook of Vernacular Architecture; 1988.
14. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org
15. Abose Y. Sidama Traditional Bamboo Architecture; 2021.
16. Eight Golden Elements of Traditional Indian Architecture; 2024.
17. Rieger-Landl A. Between Nomadism and Sedentarism; From mobile structures to earth architecture? 2013.
18. Gebremedhin N. Some Traditional Types of Housing in Ethiopia. In: Oliver P, editor. Shelter in Africa. New York: Praeger Publishers; 1971.
19. Oliver P. Built to Meet Needs: Cultural Issues in Vernacular Architecture; 2006.
20. Nobihiro S, Ephrem TW, Alila TA, Riichi M. Fundamentals of Hidmo in Inderta: A Traditional House Type in Tigray Region, Ethiopia; 2019.
21. Berhanu K B, Seleshi Y, Melesse AM. Surface Water and Groundwater Resources of Ethiopia: Potentials and Challenges of Water Resource Development; 2014.
22. Gebremedhin N, Huntingford GWB. Central Highlands of Ethiopia: Oromo Houses of Shoa Province around Addis Ababa and Wollega Province in the West; 1976.
23. Rieger-Jandl A. Tradition in Transition. Reflections on the Architecture of Ethiopia; 2016.
24. Backup N. Ethiopian Vernacular Architecture; 2022.
25. Gebremedhin N. Plan of a Tigré farmer’s house built into the steep side of a mountain, Tigray Region/ትግራይ ክልል; 1976.
26. Traditional House-Tigray; 2023.
27. Rudofsky B. Architecture without Architects: An Introduction to Non-Pedigreed Architecture; 1987.
28. Oromia Region Information Brochure; 2021.
29. Tsegaye D, Vedeld P. Pastoralists and livelihoods: A case study from northern Afar, Ethiopia; 2013.
30. Jetie SB. Appraisal of Vernacular Stone Housing Typology of Tigray, Ethiopia; 2019.
31. Kume A, Berhane Y. Crowding in a traditional rural housing (“Tukul”) in Ethiopia; 2003.
32. Piguet F, Hadg K. Afar and Kereyu pastoralists in and around Awash National Park struggle with deteriorating livelihood conditions; 2022.
33. Gebremedhin N. Traditional House in Ethiopia; 1976.
34. Okazaki R. A study on the formation of an imperial city in Tigray, Ethiopia, at the turn of the 20th Century: Mekelle during and after the region of Yohannes IV. 2014;1–7.
35. Traditional House-Oromo House; 2021.
36. Hjort B, Widen K. Introduction of sustainable low-cost housing in Ethiopia–an innovation diffusion perspective; 2015.
37. Abdulahi M. Resource Deprivation and Socio-economic changes among pastoral households: The case of Karayu and Itu pastoralists in the Middle Awash Valley of Ethiopia. MSc Thesis, Agricultural University of Norway; 1998.