Raw Earth Construction Perspectives in Italy: An Overview Through the Rehabilitations of Casa Fenu in Villamassargia, Sardinia, and Casa di Teresa in Casalincontrada, Abruzzo

Abstract

A detailed analysis of the rehabilitation processes of two publicly owned buildings in Sardinia and Abruzzo is taken as a basis for describing the background, difficulties and possible future developments of raw earth as a building material in Italy. Earthen construction techniques, despite a rich tradition and extensive documentation, are still considered outdated, and their use today requires a fortunate confluence of contextual factors. Archival research, literature review and a study of manuals were coupled with an examination of urban plans and public policies, as well as interviews with experts and stakeholders. This multi-approach research shows that there is a strong need to appropriate traditional knowledge so as to translate local skills into viable solutions able to meet today’s needs. The key issue may be investment in training and dissemination. The mindset of the artisan, that of the homo faber (Sennet 2008), needs to be more widely associated with action toward sustainable local development.