SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND NEW “ANCIENT OPPORTUNITIES”: THE RAW EARTH

The researches concerning “raw earth” started (1979) thanks to recent surveys related to the knowledge of local technologies for the establishment of an archive of the techniques, fundamental for each recovery and maintenance intervention of the “rediscovered” existing heritage. A subsequent aspect of the research, related to the construction in raw earth, has been dedicated to the insights about the “quality”, with the purpose of pressing on a new “request”. The current debate on sustainability, referring also to the planning and construction of the artifacts, has identified a topic able to connect studies concerning raw heritage to researches related to more sustainable materials and structural-constructive models. Therefore the first step is to recognize – and to demonstrate – the sustainability level of the buildings in raw earth, i.e. through an LCA of a building (Patrizia Milano), in relation to the performances of other everyday products. This aspect is strictly related to the one of the “production” of materials and elements used to realize constructions in a sustainability field (Luciana Mastrolonardo). The reflection of the type of industry to refer to is fundamental; in fact, the introduction of an industrial ecology model is desirable, together with its widespread dissemination to pull down the heavy “environmental load” deriving from transportation, both in terms of energy consumption and pollution. The first proper step would be the promotion of the inclusion of “raw lines” by industries producing bricks in their productive chain. The third topic taken into account introduces a local policy of the materials; this is a matter considered at national level since the beginning of the early ’70s*, but this is not of interest and it is still not developed in the consideration of the parameters, even then very clear, that improve the quality of the environment, preserve the natural and landscaping resources, as well as to develop more efficient technologies for their use and establish their supply, use, recovery and waste.