Ecological materials and technologies in low cost building systems - New techniques for clay applied to the types of buildings for housing

Due to the awareness of the exhaustion of energy resources, some studies on construction techniques, linked to local traditions, to readily available materials, to low load energy and to self-building are been carried out. The high recyclability of natural materials that can be used in low-cost buildings (such as clay, straw, bamboo, wood) associated with construction techniques capable of exploiting the principles of bioclimatic architecture for energy needs, allow us to create building environmentally conscious and responsible. This study was developed according to the following steps: at first, we proceeded to collect information on the state of art. In particular, we analyzed different types of construction based on clay solutions (rammed earth - pisè, hand-formed bricks - adobe, lightened earth, weight-reduced blocks-massoni, cob, extruded blocks, compressed blocks) and different types of materials and/or compositions of clay/sand/straw mixture (clay and straw, clay and wood, clay and minerals aggregates). A series of earthen construction projects has been investigated, in order to identify their technology choices and design, in relation to operational, manufacturing, and constructive aspects. These data were then compared in terms of energy performance, maintainability, flexibility, comfort. The next step involved the design of a habitation module of transitory residencies with wooden framework and outside walls in lighter earth hand-formed blocks. At the same time the project of a special block (made of clay and fibers derived from foliage of common reed - Arundo Donax) was developed, to meet the needs of sustainability and ease of construction. An experimental test on this block was carried out, aimed at the identification of mechanical performance in relation to the different compositions of the mixtures.