Dwellings built from rammed earth in historical contexts represent not only a heritage to be preserved but also buildings with a long service life that are still in use by the local population. Changes in urban dynamics and the revitalization of historic downtown areas have led to an increase in renovations of these buildings. However, in many cases, these projects are carried out using materials and techniques that are structurally incompatible and detrimental to sustainability. The aim of this study is to examine earthen residential architecture in the historical context of the Region of Northwest Murcia (Spain), the resources used in their construction, their building systems and their current condition. To this end, an analysis is proposed based on historical documentation, including an assessment of the costs and energy required for their construction, a visual inspection of the current condition of these buildings, and a study of the relevant building regulations. The study of their cladding, eaves, floor structures and partitions in their current state allows for an assessment of the extent of transformation they have undergone and their state of conservation, whilst the study of the regulations provides insight into recent interventions on these buildings. The results point to rammed earth as a technique that, in historic dwellings of various kinds, combined low economic and energy costs with acceptable durability, allowing them to remain in use several centuries later, albeit under the recent threat of interventions using incompatible materials that are shortening their lifespan.
Sandoval-Gómez et al. (Thu,) studied this question.