Meet the woman bringing adobe back to a Maya village

Debi Morrison, a woman with a passion for sustainable architecture, is revitalizing the use of adobe in the Maya village of Ek’ Balam. Morrison discovered the town during a trip to Valladolid, captivated by its warm community and vibrant people. She decided to give back to her beloved village by constructing a community center using adobe, a natural and eco-friendly building material known for its durability and thermal properties.

Adobe, a traditional building material, is composed of clay, sand, silt, a fibrous binder like straw or agave fibers, and water. The material is known for its thermal mass, which allows it to absorb heat during the day and release it at night, providing natural climate control. Morrison learned through trial and error that each plot of land in Ek’ Balam has unique soil composition, requiring adjustments to the adobe mixture.

Construction of the community center began with a wooden frame, followed by layers of adobe mixture applied using hands and feet. Between each layer, the structure is left to dry for two days. For added protection, the third layer incorporates horse manure, agave fibers, and baba de nopal, a fermented prickly pear cactus juice that waterproofs the exterior walls. This multi-layered construction process ensures the adobe retains its structural integrity and thermal efficiency.

The return of adobe construction in Ek’ Balam is a testament to the ancient Maya technique, which was lost over generations. Morrison's dedication to preserving this sustainable practice is helping revitalize the local heritage and offering a viable solution to rising temperatures in the Yucatán region.