Part 3: Spreading “green materials” to the community

The use of this new building material in schools in the highlands has quickly created a positive ripple effect within the community. Many households, once living in temporary and dilapidated homes, have now placed their trust in compressed earth bricks to build sturdy, sustainable homes in the mountainous areas of the Northwest.

From earth bricks to community-building models

The small, charming schools nestled in the mountains of the Northwest have become places that foster knowledge and stand as living proof of an environmentally friendly building model. The collaboration between the Tuần Giáo Department of Education and Training and the 1+1>2 International Architecture and Construction Joint Stock Company has created “green” schools, opening a new path for both architecture in educational institutions and widespread application within the community.

One early summer afternoon, we, along with officials from the Tuần Giáo district’s Sub-department of Education and Training, visited the family of Lò Văn Túi in Chiềng Chung village - one of the households supported by the program to replace dilapidated homes in 2025. After nearly two months of construction, Túi’s stilt house stood out in the village with the characteristic brown color of compressed earth bricks. A solid structure, with a modern and clean design, gradually blended with the surrounding mountainous landscape.

Looking at his nearly finished home, Túi shared: “I am the first in the village to use compressed earth bricks for building a house. Through the connection from the Sub-department of Education and Training, we learned about and used this building material.”

At first, Túi’s family hesitated because they had never seen anyone in the village build a stilt house with this material. However, after receiving detailed advice on the durability, ability to withstand the mountain weather, and the environmental friendliness of the bricks, he decided to give it a try.

“I find these bricks light, easy to work with, and they keep the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The new house is finished, and everyone praises it for being beautiful, clean, and solid,” he shared with pride. His new house provided his family with a solid place to live, becoming a living example of the effectiveness and high applicability of environmentally friendly materials in the highlands. The choice of green materials by households like Túi’s also signals a positive shift in construction habits, moving towards sustainable development in the local area.

Not merely replacing temporary classrooms, the buildings constructed with environmentally friendly materials, which utilize local resources, have fostered a deep connection between the community and the school. On the day of the new house’s inauguration, Thào Tuyết Mai, a 14-year-old 8th-grade student from Tỏa Tình commune (Tuần Giáo district), expressed both joy and emotion. Standing in front of her home, where the walls made of compressed earth bricks replaced the former leaky roof, she spoke with a choked voice: “I’m so happy because my house will no longer leak. I have my own room to sleep in, no more smoke in the kitchen, and a place to study in the morning. The house has become a shelter from the rain and sun, and more importantly, I can feel the love and care from the community.”

Mai’s house is the result of a collaboration between the 9497 construction architecture group, the 1+1>2 Company, and generous donors. With cobblestones, compressed earth bricks, and decorative patterns, the house not only blends with nature but also carries the distinctive features of the H’mong ethnic group. In this space, immersed in the cultural identity of her people, Mai’s dream of a brighter future seems empowered and more achievable.

Environmentally friendly materials to replace temporary homes

One of the highlights of this model is the use of environmentally friendly building materials, particularly compressed earth bricks, a type of non-fired brick produced in Quài Nưa commune (Tuần Giáo district). Unlike traditional fired bricks, which consume fuel and emit harmful gases, compressed earth bricks use polymerization technology without needing to be fired, utilizing hillside soil and solid waste. This approach saves energy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Based on the initial success of using compressed earth bricks to build school buildings in Tuần Giáo, this green material model has quickly spread and is considered a potential solution to address the problem of temporary housing in mountainous areas.

Recognizing the practical benefits, the provincial Department of Construction has actively conducted surveys and research, officially launching a program to transfer non-fired compressed earth brick production techniques. This program, signed in collaboration with the provincial Youth Union, aims to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses for the poor across the province by 2025.

Bùi Văn Luyện, Director of the Department of Construction, stated: “The application of non-fired compressed earth bricks has contributed to environmental protection, cost savings, and is a sustainable solution for the highlands. This product is durable, has excellent waterproofing, soundproofing, and insulation properties, and reduces construction costs by 30-40% compared to traditional fired bricks. Recently, we handed over two houses built with non-fired compressed earth bricks to two poor households in Mường Chà district.”

Each brick, each wall made from earth has helped build sturdy homes, contributing to a community that is gradually developing in harmony with nature and working towards a sustainable future. The model of schools built using environmentally friendly materials, such as those in Tuần Giáo, is being widely spread across the province. The results are not only beautiful schools but also a sense of unity and cooperation within the community to actively maintain sustainable values that protect the environment. With determination, creativity, and the right approach, this model is gradually expanding to many other regions.

Though challenges lie ahead, from the first bricks, the future in the highlands is becoming brighter. The journey of spreading “green materials” will become a symbol of a new development mindset that is full of humanity, creativity, and community spirit.