Earth buildings in Romania. Tradition and perspectives

Abstract

Earth is one of the most commonly used traditional building materials. Recently its usage was reassessed, considering its qualities, with earth being viewed as environmentally friendly and sustainable. Extended research has been done to analyse material qualities and construction techniques. New buildings were developed, some of them with modern architecture and high aesthetic qualities. In this context, the paper proposes an interdisciplinary approach aiming to analyse earth buildings in Romania from an architectural and structural point of view. Furthermore, their potential use in contemporary architecture is evaluated. Currently, local regulations for the usage of earth as construction material are absent and there are only few examples of earth architecture in recent Romanian practice. We propose a necessary analysis for the process of retrieving a traditional building material, which has a high potential for contemporary architecture in our country. The study examines the historical usage of earth as a building material in Romania. The types of buildings and the construction techniques across various regions are identified. An analysis of the specific structural issues of earth buildings in Romania follows. Conclusions are drawn regarding the potential use of earth as a construction material in contemporary Romanian architecture.