From Earth to Architecture
Between Historical Knowledge and Contemporary practice
G. Carneiro Pedote (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Birgitte Hansen – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / A)
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Abstract
This thesis examines the historical development and contemporary revival of earth construction in architecture, investigating how vernacular building techniques are being reinterpreted in response to today’s environmental and social challenges. Through a comparative and historically grounded analysis, the study explores how earthen architecture—once rooted in collective, site-based knowledge—has evolved across regions and continues to shape sustainable design practices.
By combining historical research, visual analysis, and case study methodology, the thesis demonstrates that many so-called innovations in earth architecture are grounded in long-standing traditions. It highlights the shift from communal building methods to industrialized systems, raising questions about authorship, access, and the role of the architect in mediating between inherited knowledge and contemporary demands.
The findings argue that understanding the cultural and technical history of earth construction is essential to reimagining architectural practice in more ecological, inclusive, and context-sensitive ways.
Keywords: Earth construction, building techniques, sustainable architecture, vernacular architecture, building history.