Building Zambian culture into sustainable architecture

Architectural student Tusankine Salasini was immersed in art at an early age. Her family home in Lusaka, Zambia, features a gallery of wood sculptures, paintings, and pottery, each piece reflecting her country’s rich culture.

She found inspiration in every corner, developing a passion for handicrafts and design.

Now, as a student in the MSc Sustainable Construction programme at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), she is working to combine Zambian arts with sustainable architecture.

Tusankine Salasini 

Rediscovering tradition

Salasini obtained a bachelor’s degree in architecture from China’s Ningbo University in 2022 before returning to Zambia to join an architectural firm. Travelling between cities for work, she would often pass rural areas with scattered mud houses. Before studying architecture, she thought little about these traditional dwellings, but now she saw them in a new light.

“Many people view them as outdated and inferior compared with modern concrete structures,” she says. “But studying architecture taught me about construction materials, like mud and its ability to retain heat, and I began to appreciate the ingenuity of these traditional buildings.”

Mud walls keep indoor temperatures stable, essential in extreme climates. Zambia is known for its savannah climate, with year-round arid conditions and high daytime temperatures.

“The mud structures stay cool in hot weather and retain warmth on cooler nights,” explains Salasini. “They provide comfort without needing extensive renovations and are more environmentally friendly compared with concrete, as materials don’t need to be transported from elsewhere.”

Salasini became fascinated with conserving and updating this traditional architectural style, yet she felt she first needed more knowledge and experience. So, she returned to China to pursue a master’s degree.

Tusankine Salasini (second from right) with her family

Art plus architecture

Salasini describes being “completely enamoured” when she learned about the MSc Sustainable Construction programme offered by XJTLU’s Design School. “At that time, the word ‘sustainability’ wasn’t used enough for me to have a full understanding. But looking through the programme information, I felt that it was exactly what I needed to stand out in my field.”

Her mother was also supportive, saying that “sustainability is the future” and urging her daughter to bring back knowledge that can create positive change in Zambia.

Since starting her course, Salasini has been impressed by how sustainability not only involves the environment but also economic and social aspects. “This was when most things started making sense to me as a designer, deepening my thinking,” she says.

The programme also aligns with her goal to integrate Zambian culture into architectural design. For example, traditional Zambian homes are not generally considered aesthetically appealing, but Salasini believes this can change.

“Zambia has more than 7o tribes and languages, and each tribe is unique for its art, such as beadwork, weaving, wood carving, stone carving, and so on. Such elements can add a unique charm to a home,” she says. “These details not only make a house look beautiful but also connect it with culture. By including local artistry, we can create spaces that reflect our heritage and protect our environment.”

Heritage, past and future

For her thesis, Salasini is comparing the energy efficiency of a modern concrete home and a sustainable home in Zambia. The research aims to find out how sustainable architecture leads to cost savings, increased comfort, and reduced reliance on external energy sources.

As she has advanced in her studies, her vision has also expanded. She now plans to study for a PhD at XJTLU as well as share her knowledge and experience through workshops and guest lectures. “And I’ve had my eyes set on designing and building a community based on environmental protection and Zambian culture,” she adds.

Salasini also hopes to further build her family’s legacy.

“My parents started an art gallery encompassing the values of nature, culture, and art. I want to contribute to this legacy with the knowledge I’ve gained from XJTLU,” she says. “I’d like my work to inspire others so that young people think not just more sustainably but also locally and culturally.”

By XJTLU Global and Xinmin Han
Edited by staff editor and Catherine Diamond
Photos courtesy of Tusankine Salasini