Rural Settlements in the Territory of Alessandria (Italy): Types and Construction Techniques

This paper aims to identify the various architectural types most widespread in the Alexandrian area and,at the same time, to identify the construction techniques that best represent this territory, now lost, namelythe use of raw earth. On this vast territory, mostly flat, with extensive areas of agricultural use, with largeintensive arable crops, characterised by a dense network of canals for irrigation, farmsteads, in theirtypological and formal complexity, have played a fundamental role. Such architectures are examples of aclose relationship between building typology and productive organisation. A survey of them would allowa clear reading of their evolution over time, from the most elementary form to a more articulatedarchitecture, but always in harmony with the agricultural landscape in which they are included. However,crucial will also be the investigation of construction techniques, which will allow us to understand howthe territory has been built up over time, defining its character and identity. Therefore, this study will allowfor a clear reading of the evolution of the rural architectural heritage of the Alessandria plain, both underthe typological and constructive aspects.