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Abstract: Down through the ages, people have been using raw earth for building their living spaces. Earth as a building material comes in a thousand different compositions, and can be variously processed. Loam or clayey soil, as it is referred to scientifically, has different names when used in various applications, for instance rammed earth, soil blocks, mud bricks or adobe.
In the present paper we will try to highlight the great variety of forms that clothe lifting technique as the foundation of traditional houses with land, material of construction primoldial and most durable shelters. Thus, according to the ecological buildings literature, we analyse the most important aspects concerning the earthen architecture, focusing, in particular, on the soil suitability according to the techniques imvolved.
Key words: earth building, traditional architecture, sustainable development
1.INTRODUCTION
Probably, the first houses created by the humanity were made of earth. Down through the ages, people have been using raw earth for building their living spaces. Using their particular geographical conditions, every continent, and nearly every country, possesses a rich heritage of earthen buildings [14].
For millennia men proved that could live in a sustainable way, in harmony with nature. People used earth as a raw material with sensitivity. The "modern" fashion of the 20th century created a break with the millennia old developments. So, nowadays we observe that our Mother Earth has been spoilt and abused. The 21st century should find again the harmonious link between man, nature and spirit [1, 12].
In this context, earthen architecture is widespread all over the world and demonstrates a significant richness of varieties both in application and in materials used. The nature can offer an amazing lesson that can be learned from earthen architecture to create sustainable architecture, both for the conservation of traditional existing buildings and the design and construction of new ones [2, 6].
2.BUILDING WITH EARTH: HISTORICAL ASPECTS AND BACKGROUND
The Earth is the support of our life, but it is also one of the most important and oldest building material. It has been used in very different ways around the world for thousands of years. The human history presents us that the Earth construction techniques have been known for over 9000 years [7, 10]. Also, the Earth was used...
