New paradigms for earth construction

Clay building, a traditional technique employed by humans for millennia, has left its imprint on numerous architectural sites that exhibit its unique characteristics. Although often regarded as a method relegated to low-resource settings, it is, in fact, widespread on our planet. Recent technological advancements have only now elevated it to a competitive construction technique. With an increasing focus on sustainable practices in architecture, soil-based construction is once again emerging as one of the most promising techniques for the future. This is due to the incorporation of waste materials as inert components in new mixes and the utilization of natural binding materials, such as geopolymers, enhancing resistance to both mechanical stress and weathering agents. Despite these advancements, architectural designs often remain unchanged, lacking real formal innovations. This paper unveils the outcomes of an applied research project conducted by the research group at FabLab POLIBA, the technological center of Bari Polytechnic University. The objective is to catalyze significant innovation in architectural design through the utilization of raw clay. The process involves a combination of elements, including architectural composition through spatial tessellation, integrated conceptual and practical advancements in the ‘torchis’ and ‘adobe’ systems, design through generative and parametric systems and software, the development of new mixtures, and the application of digital fabrication to modernize construction techniques. The culmination is a groundbreaking construction system, allowing for a fresh approach to architectural design using raw clay. The work details the conceptual philosophy, technical implementation phases, associated design visions, and documents the construction of an effectively built demonstrator