DECOMPOSITION

The buildings in the mountain villages of the Dizi and Dorse are exposed to heavy loads due to the intense rainy season, to which the inhabitants respond with various strategies. The walls of the mud huts of the Dizi, who live as arable farmers in southern Ethiopia near the border with South Sudan, show signs of weathering such as gaps in the material and cracks, which are constantly being repaired.
The huts built from reeds by the Dorse in southern Ethiopia are up to six meters high. They disintegrate at their base due to the rainy climate and lose a few centimeters in height every year. They are designed to last for three generations; older huts are lower than younger ones due to the process of decay. The size of the buildings enables the inhabitants to combine living space with a fireplace and stable under one roof, from which the smoke can escape.