A building characterization-based method for the advancement of knowledge on external architectural features of traditional rural buildings

The significant role that traditional rural buildings have with regard to environmental conservation and rural development is widely acknowledged by the scientific community. These buildings must be protected from inappropriate building interventions that may stem from their rather superficial knowledge. Therefore, this study was directed towards overcoming such a limitation by developing a method based on traditional rural buildings' characterization. In particular, the study aimed at the characterization of building materials and techniques used for the construction of a number of building components that make up the external envelope of traditional rural buildings. The application of the method to a homogeneous area of the Etna Regional Park (Italy) highlighted the need to improve the technical norms of the park's Territorial Coordination Plan to respect the building characteristics of the traditional rural buildings located in the protected area.