Search

Browse

• Communities
• Authors
• Year
• Titles
• Subjects

My Space

• Login

Time’ s echo in Earthen Architecture of Greece: contemporary developments and future prospects.

Kaltsa Myrsini, Pappa Angeliki

Full record

---

Summary

This research paper focuses on the role of earth in construction, specifically emphasizing on architectural heritage and the position of earthen architecture in Greece. It examines the potential, benefits, drawbacks and the challenges of using soil as a building material, including parameters such as sustainability, mechanical strength, and flexibility. The paper further examines the history of using earth from the Paleolithic era to the present, identifying different building techniques that have emerged based on local conditions. Also, the historical evolution of earthen architecture in Greece is analyzed, as well as its contribution to architectural developments in the 19th and 20th century, and its abandonment in the post-war period. Factors such as industrialization, new materials arising, the lack of legislative framework, combined with social beliefs and stigmas, are examined. The study focuses on the contemporary significance of earthen architecture and compares Greek practices with those of other European countries. Additionally, practices such as the industrial prefabrication of raw clay products, the revival of techniques, and prospects for solving problems with modern construction proposals, are analyzed. The aim is to highlight a comprehensive picture of earth as a “resonant” material with multifaceted applications in contemporary architecture, emphasizing the need for its integration into today's architectural practice to create more sustainable, human and environmentally friendly buildings. The revival of earthen constructions in the contemporary architectural scene is of particular interest.

Available Files

Services