Papers by Keyword: Earthen Architecture

Abstract: In the restoration field and the cultural heritage, the treatment of colour is very important, being an important factor for the decisions and interventions in historic buildings. However, some of these have not the same recognition and protection by authorities, being really vulnerable, especially against natural phenomena like the earthquakes. After the 2017 Puebla Earthquake, the remainders of the earthen architecture of Jojutla de Juarez were collected to be analysed. Natural clays of the quarries near the town were compared by colorimetry tests with the traditional adobe samples which were collected in the locality. There also were conducted particle size analysis and the Unified Soil Classification System, USCS, to obtain the composition and properties of the soils and the adobe bricks, as well as the additives used, mainly straw as fibre reinforcements of the adobe masonry. One of the factors observed which contributed to change the colorimetric values of the clays was the use of stabilizers like lime, on the other hand, these stabilizers also helped to change the USCS classification of the soils and their cohesive properties.

Abstract: Developing earthen architecture conservation in Chile is a widespread challenge present in different organizations in our country, although a clear legislation has not been defined in order to preserve this important legacy. An extended look throughout the country allows us to understand the state of the art of restoration in Chile. In this respect, the recommendations in this paper are strategic to earthen architecture conservation in the Altiplano and in the Central Valley in the sense that they promote ideas for discussion of a national legislation on conservation and restoration. We believe that understanding how earthen architecture in Chile has been preserved until now enables stakeholders to make better decisions in the long-term; we have focussed this paper on the generation of an emergency strategy that can make it possible for our scarce remaining heritage to resist the next earthquake.

Abstract: The Pisco earthquake of August 15, 2007 resulted in 519 deaths and 1366 injured, with a total of 650,000 people affected and 80,000 dwellings damaged. Preliminary reports indicated that significant earthen sites were damaged. A few months after the earthquake a rapid assessment to better understand the failure of the affected sites was performed by a multidisciplinary team convened by the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) in response to a request from the Instituto Nacional de Cultura del Perú (INC). This paper presents the highlights of that evaluation and its implications for the future design and retrofit of earthen buildings.