Abstract

GUERRERO BACA, Luís Fernando. Earthen architecture: Towards the recovery of a constructional culture. Apuntes [online]. 2007, vol.20, n.2, pp.182-201. ISSN 1657-9763.

The use of earth as a constructive material has had a wide diffusion in the world since very old times. Nevertheless, in spite of the ecological and cultural qualities of the earthen architecture, contemporary society rejects it because they consider it obsolete or insecure. This perception has as one of its origins the loss of the traditional constructive knowledge that sustained it and the lack of modern studies that can replace it. The information referring to the constructive technologies usually is dispersed in specialized publications that are not widely spread. In order to manage to revalue the patrimonial earthen construction and to generate new buildings, it is necessary to understand its qualities and limitations. The present article exposes a series of data about the earth characterization, designing criteria and constructive processes of the three most known systems: adobe, rammed earth and bahareque.

Keywords : Adobe; bahareque; rammed earth; clay; building tradition.

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