Historical Earth Architecture in Terms of Climate Change in the Temperature Climate Area (Central Europe)

Abstract

The paper deals with the earth architecture and the assessment of the impact of climatic change on its external constructions. The concept of earth architecture represents construction that uses unfired, raw soil as a building material. This material, which forms the structure of the oldest building structures, was also widely used throughout Europe until World War II. The preserved, historic earth architecture, which represents a wealth of technical solutions, creates a European cultural heritage that should be protected. Unfortunately, in modern times, structures classified as earth architecture are subject to intense interference as a result of the need to adjust their structure to thermal parameters increased as a result of climate change. According to conservation rules, the only correct action in the case of thermal upgrading in this type of structures is the introduction of insulating material from the inside of the wall. However, the thermal upgrade carried out in this way is incompatible with the principles of building physics. In addition, incompetent implementation of work or incorrect application of insulating material, ignoring the risk of inter-layer and surface condensation, can lead to the introduction of moisture in the structure, the appearance of moisture that promotes the development of mould, fungi or biological damage to the structure. The aim of the conducted research was to determine the optimal solution in the field of thermal insulation of external partitions for the two most popular earth architecture technologies found in Europe, namely: a structure made of compacted earth (French: pisé, Polish: ściany bite, ziemnościany, glinobitka) and a half-timbered structure filled with trusses or braids and then covered with ground with chaff (French: torchis, colombage), or filled with raw or burnt bricks (bolt construction).The first part of the paper defines materials for inside thermal insulation of external construction partitions, from traditional (cork boards, sheep wool, wood wool) have been collected and described by the latest, such as aerogels made of silica with nanoporous structure and vacuum insulation - VIP (Vacuum Insulated Panels). The second part presents, theoretical, exemplary calculations for selected types of walls of earth architecture from the walls made of compacted soil with a thickness of 40 cm and a half-timbered construction with 14 cm thick filled or plaited braids were carried out. The computer program WUFI Light was used to carry out the calculations. The conducted research suggests that in the case of walls made of compacted soil, the use of any insulation technology does not effect on its durability and efficiency, while for walls with a wooden structure filled with unexploded soil, available insulation materials are unsatisfactory.