Cob Construction in Italy: Some Lessons from the Past

Enrico Quagliarini, Alessandro Stazi, Erio Pasqualini and Evelina Fratalocchi
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Enrico Quagliarini: Department of Architecture, Building and Structures, Polytechnic University of Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy
Alessandro Stazi: Department of Architecture, Building and Structures, Polytechnic University of Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy
Erio Pasqualini: Department of Physics, Materials and Soil Engineering, Polytechnic University of Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy
Evelina Fratalocchi: Department of Physics, Materials and Soil Engineering, Polytechnic University of Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy

Sustainability, 2010, vol. 2, issue 10, 1-18

Abstract: Raw earth is a construction material unknown to most people. Nowadays, raw-earth constructions are an area of growing interest, both for rescuing the heritage and for a rediscovered environmentally friendly building and eco-sustainability material. However, because raw-earth constructions are a forgotten technique, we find problems of a lack of skilled people at all levels in this area, from designers to masons, as well as problems of how to carry out compatible conservation works on earthen heritage. This paper tries to fill the gap for a peculiar historic earthen building technology, namely cob (or bauge), which is present in Macerata in the center of Italy. Results are presented on regaining possession of the material and constructional aspects and their initial structural resources, and guidelines are given on how to improve the manufacturing process to reuse the cob technique for construction and for how to accurately work on it for a compatible and sustainable conservation.

Keywords: raw-earth architecture; cob; bauge; earthen building technology; initial mechanical properties; reuse; conservation; workmanlike (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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