SESSION II
SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
April 16, 2025 – 5:00 pm / 5:20 pm
RAW EARTH IN CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE: SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION
ABSTRACT:
Raw earth, a material used for millennia, is experiencing a resurgence in modern architecture due to its sustainable and innovative qualities. Recent technological advancements have enabled raw earth to match the performance of contemporary materials, offering improved compressive resistance while retaining its non-toxic and eco-friendly nature. It enhances indoor microclimates, providing excellent mechanical performance and thermal insulation, making it ideal for sustainable construction. Raw earth consumes only 15% of the energy needed by traditional bricks, ensuring a sustainable lifecycle from production to disposal, resulting in excellent ecological and economic performance. Notably, its long-standing use guarantees absolute non-toxicity for humans, unlike new materials and composite panels, which are tested for short periods and have uncertain long-term effects.
This ecological and economic performance, combined with new technical solutions for improved mechanical resistance, has led to notable projects in Europe as part of town like near Paris, industrial buildings, representative factory, Multilevel Shopping center, Cinema, Restaurants and Churchs, sometime with high baring walls, showcasing its versatility. Our presentation will highlight our projects and realizations in Italy, France, Greece, Belgium and Senegal, including an Environmental Education Center, privat Villas, a Wine Cellar, a Museum, a School, an Hotel and a Restaurant, all featuring raw earth as the primary material used in different local technics (rammed earth, cob, lightclay with straw, wattle and daub, adobe, clayfloor and special plasters). With over 35 years of experience, our work demonstrates raw earth’s relevance in contemporary sustainable design.
BARBARA NARICI – BIOGRAPHY
Barbara Narici is a architect specializing in bio-building and natural materials, with a career centered on raw earth construction. A graduate of the Politecnico di Milano, she has focused on designing and consulting for raw earth buildings in Italy and internationally. Notably, she directed the Documentation Center for Earth Houses in Abruzzo, promoting the knowledge and application of this sustainable technique. Recently, she collaborated with the Venice Biennale on several raw earth projects, highlighting the material’s eco-friendly value in the global artistic and architectural scene. Her expertise extends to co-founding Geologika with Andrea Facchi in 1997, focusing on architecture, art, design, and policies related to raw earth.