In Layabley and Moustiquaire, two neighborhoods in the municipality of Balbala, beneficiaries of the Integrated Urban Development Project II, the Djiboutian Agency for Social Development (ADDS) is transforming the way construction is carried out. Community, commercial, and institutional infrastructure is emerging according to innovative bioclimatic principles.

A report from a construction site where sustainable development has taken shape, block by block, under the Djiboutian sun.
The need to learn more about the environmental dimension of the Integrated Urban Development Project II, financed by the French Development Agency and implemented by the Djiboutian Agency for Social Development (ADDS), led us to Balbala. Approaching the Layabley and Moustiquaire neighborhoods, the first impression is of a completely transformed area.

The dusty sleepers between the corrugated iron sheets of the houses, once tightly packed together, have given way to paved roads, shaded bus stops, numerous areas dedicated to pétanque, playgrounds for children, commercial infrastructure, a Community Development Centre (CDC) as well as a gendarmerie brigade responsible for ensuring the security of the area.

The unique feature of these new public structures lies in their adaptation to the local climate. They appear to capture only the necessary rays and reject excess heat.

A true innovation in bioclimatic architecture, this initiative is part of the Integrated Urban Development Project II (PDUI 2), led by the Djiboutian Agency for Social Development (ADDS) in the Layabley and Moustiquaire districts in Balbala, supported by the AFD.

Three types, three different uses, but the same common thread: thermal efficiency and natural comfort.

The objective is to minimize energy needs through low-consumption LED lighting, and ventilation and solar radiation protection principles that limit the use of air conditioning.

A CDC adapted to the natural environment

Featuring a unique bioclimatic architecture, the Community Development Centre (CDC) stands in a pleasant living environment.

The space is organized around a green inner courtyard, bordered by two parallel buildings with facades punctuated by wooden shutters and pergolas covered with climbing vegetation.

Natural light flows freely, softened by the shade of the awnings, while natural ventilation ensures a constant coolness, thus reducing the need for air conditioning. Palm trees, local plants, and landscaped walkways create a peaceful setting where modernity and respect for the environment blend seamlessly. Every detail seems dictated by a meticulous observation of the country’s hot and arid climate. To prevent the buildings from overheating, several ingenious solutions have been implemented: natural ventilation, ventilated double-skin roofs, insulated terraces, and more. Around the buildings, the surrounding landscaping—through the installation of trellises and climbing plants—creates natural shade and moderates the temperature. And that’s not all. Double walls—fired bricks on the outside, earth-filled concrete blocks on the inside—separated by a service cavity also help regulate the temperature.

Everything is designed to make the structure an ecological and pleasant meeting and exchange place for the residents, children, and associations of this area of ​​Balbala.

An energy-efficient gendarmerie brigade

A little further on, another structure catches the eye. It is a gendarmerie brigade.

The site, located on the edge of a busy road, reveals a building with simple lines, in the shape of an “L”, with wide roof overhangs and vertical sunshades on the facade.

Here too, each orientation has been studied: the facades most exposed to the west and south are almost blind, while those facing north and east open wide, capturing the prevailing winds.

Walking onto the esplanade, one notices the relative coolness of the air despite the outside heat.

The secret lies in a series of features implemented within the security structure. These include open skylights, ventilated airlocks between the blocks, reinforced insulation under the concrete roofs, and a planted barrier of vegetation around the perimeter. This vegetation forms not only a protective green belt against the hot Khamsin wind, but also a shield against the sun’s rays.

The interior, organized around a high-ceilinged central hall, benefits from constant natural ventilation. The rest areas are oriented away from the harshest exposures, and the materials chosen – insulated concrete, cellular bricks and light-colored plaster – contribute to thermal efficiency.

Natural light floods in, filtered through screens and wooden slats, creating a soothing visual atmosphere. The Gendarmerie brigade in this area, both functional and understated, stands out for its integration into the urban landscape.

A market built according to the laws of nature

Nearby stands the project’s most unique structure: a bioclimatic commercial facility. This imposing public building is designed to house local businesses.

From afar, the eye is drawn to the succession of reinforced concrete domes that punctuate the roof. These rounded shapes, inspired by Sahelian-Saharan architecture, are not merely an aesthetic tribute: they fully contribute to the natural cooling of the space.

Beneath the vaulted ceilings, air circulates freely, and solar radiation on the roof is limited by a cool-roof coating. The central aisle, higher than the side spaces, creates a natural low-pressure area that draws warm air upwards and expels it through screened openings. The open facades allow for cross-ventilation, while the light color of the walls reflects light without accumulating heat.

The atmosphere there is unique. The building seems to sway with the wind. The stalls already benefit from a milder temperature than outside.

A performance achieved solely through constructive intelligence based on the laws of nature.

Architecture in symbiosis with the climate

Looking at these three projects, one notices that bioclimatic design is clearly essential. Indeed, far from being a luxury, it reflects the sound architectural sense that ADDS and AFD chose for this ambitious project. The materials used also reflect this pragmatic approach. The fired brick, lightweight and insulating, limits heat transfer.

Inexpensive and with high thermal mass, earth-filled concrete blocks stabilize the interior temperature. Reinforced concrete, ubiquitous throughout, provides structural strength, while local basalt is used as a landscaping material: benches, curbs, low walls, or street furniture.

These choices also made it possible to make extensive use of local labor, according to the HIMO (High Intensity of Labor) method, thus creating jobs and economic momentum in the very neighborhoods where the infrastructure is being built.

Vegetation to protect infrastructure from the heat

Around the buildings, the outdoor spaces have been designed with the same rigor as the built surfaces. Trees planted around the infrastructure not only protect them from the sun’s rays but also filter hot winds, ensuring a constant cooling of the area.

Relaxation areas and playgrounds are not neglected. They benefit from a strategic orientation that promotes air circulation. This landscape design creates genuine urban microclimates, reducing ambient heat and improving the comfort of using public spaces.

It is worth noting that water, a scarce resource in Djibouti, is used carefully. The roofs of these public buildings are equipped with rainwater harvesting systems that supply water to the plantings via irrigation tanks integrated into the patios and gardens. A simple yet crucial ecological measure for the project’s sustainability.

These achievements give the concept a model of integrated urban development, where infrastructure meets both socio-economic and climatic needs.

The PDUI2, with its bioclimatic architecture, responds to a logic of urban resilience. Indeed, in a context of climate change and rising energy costs, designing buildings capable of natural self-regulation is becoming a necessity. And the thermal results obtained in the field of energy efficiency argue for the widespread adoption of this model.

In any case, within the framework of this project to restructure the Layabley and Moustiquaire districts, ADDS has given substance to the first signs announcing that the urban architecture of tomorrow will be in perfect harmony with the climate.