AFRICA ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN HERITAGE
The village of Matmama – Tunisia:
Matmata is a village located in southern Tunisia famous for its troglodyte houses; dwellings dug into the sides of the mountain around a vast circular well, which depth does not exceed nine
meters.
Since the Phoenician period, this particular arrangement has made it possible to protect against severe heat waves, while maintaining freshness. And thanks to its organization around a central space of square, rectangular or circular shape, the rooms benefit from natural daylight.
These houses are often composed on the lower level of a kitchen, a living room, and bedrooms, which number depends on the family members. And on the upper floor, we find the attic. In some houses, we find a succession of interior courtyards accessible by underground corridors starting from the lodgings or the main courtyard. And often the rooms of the house are linked through tunnels.
It’s important to know that each house in the village was created by scraping the rock, little by little, first digging the central courtyard vertically, then horizontally the tunnels and rooms, until the houses were formed.
The defensive function of these dwellings was proven during World War II, as it served as a refuge to escape bombs thrown by the armed forces. In addition to its exceptional architectural charm, this village has become a known tourist attraction as it served as the location for the famous “Star Wars” saga.
