Ksar Ouled Soltane, Tataouine district in southern Tunisia

Ksar Ouled Soltane, Tataouine district in southern Tunisia

Today's image takes us to Ksar Ouled Soltane in Tunisia's Tataouine district, where stacked clay granaries rise like sand-coloured fortresses. Dating back to the 15th century, this storehouse complex was built by Berber communities to protect harvests from heat, theft and time. Function first. Beauty as a side effect.

Arranged around a central courtyard, the structure features rows of vaulted storage rooms known as 'ghorfas,' often stacked two or three storeys high. Their thick earthen walls help regulate temperature, keeping grain cool in the desert climate. Centuries later, filmmakers stumbled upon these structures and instantly recognised the world they were looking for. The architecture slid straight into Star Wars mythology, helping shape Tatooine, a planet whose name echoes Tataouine.

Though no longer used for storage, Ksar Ouled Soltane remains one of the best-preserved examples of this architectural tradition. Its geometric symmetry and sunbaked textures speak to a way of life shaped by arid landscapes and shared resilience—where necessity and design became inseparable.