Co-founder
The Nubian Vault Association
Thomas Granier, a French mason passionate about vernacular architecture, tested an adaptation of the ancient Nubian Vault eco-construction technique in Burkina Faso in 1998.
Cofounding the Nubian Vault Association in 2000 with Burkinabe farmer Seri Youlou, Thomas personally financed the program's inception.
In 2009, after nine years of voluntary work, he assumed a salaried position as director. Thomas remains engaged, contributing to strategic thinking and sharing Nubian Vault technique expertise.
He earned distinctions, including being a "Social Entrepreneur of the Year" by the Schwab Foundation in 2012 and receiving the French medal "Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite" in 2014.