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Airbnb’s rental categories can help travelers find off-the-grid options, highlighting more than 9,000 listings that rely on renewable energy sources or have no electricity, and Earth Homes, a set of accommodations built with organic materials such as mud or rammed earth.

Ms Oshinowo said the design team, who had been at the forefront of exploring the technology of rammed earth in West Africa, used rocks from the UAE to achieve the layering and strength required for the walls.

"Through material exploration they were able to transfer the skills of rammed earth," she said.

A technique known as rammed earth construction uses materials that are alternatives to cement and are often more readily available in the environment.

"Using local soil along with rammed earth products reduces sand exploitation. And just as importantly, this material is not affected by wildfires to the same extent as current wooden structures."