Name: Turning dunes into architecture
Uploaded: 2009-11-25T09:26:00Z
Duration: 11 min 26 s
Description: Architecture student Magnus Larsson details his bold plan to transform the harsh Sahara desert using bacteria and a surprising construction material: the sand itself.

Architecture student Magnus Larsson details his bold plan to transform the harsh Sahara desert using bacteria and a surprising construction material: the sand itself.

Turning dunes into architecture

Desertification threatens millions as sand dunes swallow villages and fertile land at a rate of nearly two meters per day in some areas. A radical proposal imagines a 6,000-kilometer sandstone wall, created by harnessing bacteria to turn loose sand into solid, habitable structures. This living barrier would not only stop encroaching deserts but also foster new communities and green spaces within the dunes. By blending natural processes with bold design, the vision aims to protect arable land and unite regions under threat.