Earth architecture in perspective: building materials and political economy in America

Abstract

The wide diversity of vernacular constructive methodologies that occur in the most adverse climatic and geographical situations have led to the propagation of earth-based architectural buildings in vast locations, thus meeting a varied range of structural and cultural requests throughout history. However, this millennial construction knowledge, despite the secular character of this constructive practice, its practicality, economy and durability, the knowledge of construction with earth has been put in the background since the process of urbanization and industrialization began, although this is a little-discussed and documented process. This work will use current and historical interdisciplinary academic sources to elaborate a comprehensive contextualization that can help clarify this transformation in the American and more specifically Brazilian context. Through the historical contextualization of economic, social, political and cultural mediations that made possible this contradiction between the current conception of earth construction methodology and its history of widespread adoption, it was possible to understand more clearly the obstacles that perpetuate this condition of abandonment in which its praxis is found. The evaluation of the correlation of historical forces that enable the current insertion of earth construction in society can help elucidate the reasons that led to the abandonment of a millennial technology, as well as contribute to a greater clarification of the current situation, enabling the formation of a renewed perspective regarding architecture with earth and a greater dissemination of its knowledge.