The METI Handmade School in Rudrapur, Bangladesh, stands as a primary example of earthen construction, utilizing mud and bamboo to support 168 students. Designed by German architect Anna Heringer, the project emphasizes community engagement and the use of regional materials. Her work focuses on sustainable development and the integration of traditional crafts into contemporary architectural practice.
Early Career and Education
Born in 1977 in Rosenheim, Germany, Anna Heringer spent her early years in Laufen. She pursued formal architectural training at the University of Art and Design Linz, where she graduated in 2004, and the Technical University of Munich. Her introduction to international development began in 1997 through volunteer work with the NGO Dipshikha in Bangladesh. This experience solidified her interest in sustainable construction methods.
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Heringer implemented ideas from her diploma thesis to create the METI Handmade School, completed in 2006. The structure utilized brick foundations to prevent moisture damage to earthen walls and featured improved bamboo lashing techniques to support a second story. She later designed the DESI school, a vocational center for electricians that incorporated solar power and the first indoor plumbing system in a mud-built structure in the region. These projects relied on local craftsmen and raw materials like rice straw and earth. She also designed the Anandaloy Building, which functions as both a textile studio and a center for people with disabilities.
International Recognition and Practice
Beyond South Asia, Heringer completed the Training Centre for Sustainability in Marrakesh, Morocco, in 2010, which utilized local earth, wood, and ceramics. Her work has been showcased at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Venice Biennale of Architecture, and the Cité d'architecture et du patrimoine in Paris. Beyond her design practice, she serves as a university teacher and consultant. Her contributions have been recognized with the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture, and the Obel Award. In 2022, she received the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Fast facts
- Born: 1977, Rosenheim, Germany
- Education: University of Art and Design Linz; Technical University of Munich
- Notable Works: METI Handmade School, DESI, Anandaloy Building
- Key Awards: Aga Khan Award for Architecture (2007), Obel Award (2020)
- German Decoration: Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2022)
- Fields: Sustainable architecture; earthen construction
- Languages: German, English
Questions readers ask
What materials does Anna Heringer typically use?
She primarily uses regional, traditional building materials such as mud, bamboo, wood, and ceramics.
Where is Anna Heringer currently based?
She is based in Salzburg, Austria.
Achievements
- Notable work: METI Handmade School
- Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Obel award
- Trained at University of Art and Design Linz and Technical University of Munich
