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Heritage
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Earth Architecture: Culture, Issues, and Solution for Its Conservation
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Earth Architecture: Culture, Issues, and Solution for Its Conservation

A special issue of Heritage (ISSN 2571-9408). This special issue belongs to the section "Architectural Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 7834

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Maria Laura Santarelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Materials Environmental Engineering, University of Rome Sapienza, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, Italy
Interests: characterization techniques; polymer science; cement and concrete; photocatalytic materials; nanomaterials; protective coatings
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The proposed special issue concerns the possibility of creating a specific series dedicated to the materials of cultural heritage, considering their origin, their use and applications over time, their degradation and the solutions for their conservation and restoration.

The approach will allow to address the proposed topic in a multidisciplinary way considering archaeological, artistic and conservation studies involving different researchers and experts such as architects, archaeologists, conservation scientists and restorers. The proposed special issue will thus become a reference for a wide audience and reach a wide diffusion.

As regards the first special issue proposed, considering the widespread diffusion of different countries and the great problems of chemical, physical and mechanical conservation, the material examined is raw earth (mud).

The following research subjects are indicated here as possible topics of interest:

  • Nature of the raw materials used in Earth Architecture
  • Historical, Architectural and Archeological approaches
  • Structural and mechanical studies
  • Chemical, physical, biological, geological issues
  • Conservation and restoration approaches and studies
  • New materials for the conservation of Earth Architecture
  • Engineering solution for the conservation of Earth Architecture

This Special Issue will also be open to contributions dealing with other subjects related to the major research themes mentioned above.

Dr. Maria Laura Santarelli
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Heritage is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Earth Architecture
  • Mud Architecture
  • Clay
  • Multidisciplinary Approaches
  • Pisè
  • Adobe
  • Torchis
  • Cobe
  • Mechanical issues
  • Conservation issues
  • Conservation approaches and solution
  • Restoration solution
  • New materials for the conservation

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 25892 KiB  
Article
An Analysis Procedure for the Surviving Rural Architecture, Built with Raw Earth Mortars, in the Amatrice Area (Italy) as a Starting Point for the Development of Conservation Strategies
by Chiara Porrovecchio
Heritage 2023, 6(3), 2333-2354; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/heritage6030123 - 21 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1221
Abstract
The contribution of this article is that it provides indications for the conservation of the surviving architecture in the Amatrice area, which was severely affected by the long seismic sequence between 2016 and 2017. The traditional construction technique was carefully studied during the [...] Read more.
The contribution of this article is that it provides indications for the conservation of the surviving architecture in the Amatrice area, which was severely affected by the long seismic sequence between 2016 and 2017. The traditional construction technique was carefully studied during the safety works that were carried out in the villages from 2018 to 2020. From the studies conducted, it emerged that most of the historical building fabrics date to a post-seismic reconstruction phase of the seventeenth–eighteenth century. The masonry construction technique found on the site is homogeneous throughout the area and is based on the use of local sandstone and raw earth mortars. The mineralogical nature of the materials used for building was identified by means of specific diagnostic analyses as well as the production processes of the materials. An interpretation of the use of different materials and processes was provided by cross-referencing the analytical results with the existing data on the seismic history and on the geographical and geological characteristics of the territory; additionally, an interpretation of the development of the local historical construction techniques was provided as well. Defining conservation strategies for buildings that are still recoverable is an important objective that is aimed at safeguarding the material evidence of the local construction tradition. The same conservation strategies could be pre-emptively adopted in similar rural contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earth Architecture: Culture, Issues, and Solution for Its Conservation)
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15 pages, 12399 KiB  
Article
How to Deal with Adobe Architecture in the Ancient Near East: The Case of Ebla in Syria
by Davide Nadali
Heritage 2023, 6(2), 1856-1870; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/heritage6020099 - 10 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1542
Abstract
The paper presents the restoration activities carried out at Tell Mardikh-Ebla (Syria) by the Italian Archaeological Expedition to Syria of the Sapienza University of Rome. In particular, the study focuses on the operations to preserve the mudbrick structures that have specifically suffered from [...] Read more.
The paper presents the restoration activities carried out at Tell Mardikh-Ebla (Syria) by the Italian Archaeological Expedition to Syria of the Sapienza University of Rome. In particular, the study focuses on the operations to preserve the mudbrick structures that have specifically suffered from erosion by rain wind which has caused the collapse of sections of walls. The programme of restoration at Ebla sought to clarify and outline a plan of excavated structures with swift, non-invasive, and reversible interventions and reconstructions. The protection of mudbrick buildings is indeed a challenge for archaeologists working in the Near East: mudbricks are extremely fragile both during the excavation and even more so after they have been excavated. Starting from the results at Ebla, the issue of preserving mudbrick structures is far from being completely solved; the lack of any archaeological research at Ebla, because of the political crisis in Syria, heavily affected the site and the restored buildings that have been seriously damaged by illicit digging and the occupation of the archaeological areas. New techniques and solutions are needed to improve the quality of maintenance and the protection of such a fragile heritage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earth Architecture: Culture, Issues, and Solution for Its Conservation)
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26 pages, 9214 KiB  
Article
Conservation of Earthen Bricks in Architecture: An Experimental Campaign to Test Different Treatments on Vernacular Built Heritage
by Silvia Rescic, Manuela Mattone, Fabio Fratini and Loredana Luvidi
Heritage 2023, 6(2), 1541-1566; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/heritage6020083 - 01 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1254
Abstract
Earthen architecture, by its nature, is a fragile because it has a poor resistance toward the action of weathering, which has also increased in recent years through the effects of climate change. The presence of interesting examples of earthen brick buildings, for example, [...] Read more.
Earthen architecture, by its nature, is a fragile because it has a poor resistance toward the action of weathering, which has also increased in recent years through the effects of climate change. The presence of interesting examples of earthen brick buildings, for example, in the Piedmont Region of Italy, is characterised by the absence of rendering, which reveals the need to test treatments for the protection and/or strengthening of the walls of these buildings. This action is of fundamental importance to improve its resistance to the aggressive action of atmospheric agents and avoid their disappearance. A testing campaign adopting protective products with sustainability characteristics and low environmental impact was carried out on earthen brick walls. Different products belonging to various categories (synthetic polymers, natural resins, nano-structured materials) and selected based on previous experiments or tested for the first time on earthen surfaces were selected. The performance assessment of the products was carried out by taking into account the standardised procedures in the field of cultural heritage conservation through the following tests: water absorption, water vapour permeability, drilling resistance, water erosion tests (Geelong and spray), contact angle measurements, colorimetric measurements, and ageing tests. Although the choice of the optimal protective product should be made on a case-by-case basis, where it is not sustainable to proceed in this way, the results of this experimental campaign—in the presence of materials and weathering conditions similar to those of the case study analysed—will provide indications in identifying of the most appropriate product. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earth Architecture: Culture, Issues, and Solution for Its Conservation)
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17 pages, 7803 KiB  
Article
Roman Wall Paintings: Characterisation of Plaster Coats Made of Clay Mud
by Roberto Bugini, Cristina Corti, Luisa Folli and Laura Rampazzi
Heritage 2021, 4(2), 889-905; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/heritage4020048 - 20 May 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2473
Abstract
This paper reports on the mineralogical characterisation of samples of wall paintings from various Roman sites in Lombardy (Italy), revealing recurrent types of stratigraphy. One of the stratigraphic samples analysed was found to be a particular kind of plaster: a three-coat work featuring [...] Read more.
This paper reports on the mineralogical characterisation of samples of wall paintings from various Roman sites in Lombardy (Italy), revealing recurrent types of stratigraphy. One of the stratigraphic samples analysed was found to be a particular kind of plaster: a three-coat work featuring two coats made of clay mud, found in the site of Santa Maria alla Porta (area of the Imperial Palace of Milan—first century CE). The fragments were analysed using optical microscopy on thin sections, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with an energy-dispersive spectrometer and infrared spectroscopy, also in non-invasive external reflection mode (7500–375 cm−1). The most interesting feature found was the finish coat made of clay mud (illite, chlorite, kaolinite and fine quartz) with a few coarse clasts and linear cavities. This clay coat was the first example ever detected in Roman Lombardy and was used in combination with a thin painted coat made of clay mud with coarse clasts together with a blue pigment (Egyptian blue) and a render coat made of lime associated with lithic clasts (sand). Our findings brought to light a particular construction technique, since in the historical sources clay is only recommended for daubing on reeds and as a render coat. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earth Architecture: Culture, Issues, and Solution for Its Conservation)
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