Characterization of an erudite construction in Adobe

Adobe construction is a very old type of earth construction, due to the simplicity of its manufacture and the subsequent construction. The oldest examples of adobe blocks date back more than 10,000 BC, some of which were discovered in the Tigris River basin. They are thought to have been introduced to the Iberian Peninsula during the Arab occupation. Several examples of adobe constructions are well known in Portuguese popular architecture, particularly in the south of the country, in Ribatejo and in the lower Vouga River valley. However, not much is known about the adobe construction of classical buildings, such as palaces and others, as well the pathologies that exist in these buildings and the possible solutions for their rehabilitation. The erudite construction of adobe in Portugal is often associated with the Art Nouveau period. During this period, at the turning of the century, with the perfect use of steam traction and the good production of cast and rolled iron, new possibilities were created for the manufacture of manual adobe presses, as well for machines to manufacturing tiles, a covering material that was an effective protection of the adobe walls against the weather. This paper describes and illustrates a seigniorial house - Casal Francisco José -located in Valada, in the municipality of Cartaxo, which belongs to the Ribatejo region. The architectural characterization of the building is presented, highlighting aspects related to the Art Nouveau aesthetic and identifying the main construction features of this type of building.