EARTH & FIBERS. Local Technologies Earthen Composites (LoTEC). Local reuse of by-products for zero-waste building materials. Appropriate building solutions in vernacular and contemporary architecture.
type: CreativeWork
description: This doctoral research addresses the environmental and cultural challenges of the construction sector by re-examining local materials and traditional knowledge, through scientific experimentation. Entitled EARTH & FIBERS Local Technologies Earthen Composites (LoTEC), the thesis investigates earth and vegetal-fiber composites derived from agricultural and excavation by-products as low-impact, circular, and regenerative materials for the decarbonization of the built environment. The study integrates comparative analyses of vernacular construction, experimental material testing, and architectural applications. Case studies from Europe and Latin America document the hygrothermal logic and cultural intelligence of traditional earth-and-fiber systems. Laboratory analyses characterize local raw materials (soils and vegetal residues), leading to the formulation and testing of new earthen composites. Their physical, chemical, and hygrothermal properties—including thermal conductivity, vapor permeability, acoustic absorption, and fire response—have been systematically evaluated. Medium-scale prototypes constructed and monitored under real conditions confirm their technical feasibility and architectural applicability. Results indicate that LoTEC composites display versatile hygrothermal behavior, ranging from thermal insulation to heat storage depending on mixture density and fiber composition. Produced without chemical alteration of the raw materials —only sieved soils and cut vegetal fibers—they require minimal energy for transformation from raw matter to building element. At the end of their service life, they can be rehydrated and reused without performance loss or safely reintegrated into the environment. Their permeability and moisture-buffering capacity make them particularly compatible with the vapor-open nature of historical materials, enabling effective retrofitting and improved indoor comfort while preserving architectural heritage. They also perform efficiently in …
abstract: This doctoral research addresses the environmental and cultural challenges of the construction sector by re-examining local materials and traditional knowledge, through scientific experimentation. Entitled EARTH & FIBERS Local Technologies Earthen Composites (LoTEC), the thesis investigates earth and vegetal-fiber composites derived from agricultural and excavation by-products as low-impact, circular, and regenerative materials for the decarbonization of the built environment. The study integrates comparative analyses of vernacular construction, experimental material testing, and architectural applications. Case studies from Europe and Latin America document the hygrothermal logic and cultural intelligence of traditional earth-and-fiber systems. Laboratory analyses characterize local raw materials (soils and vegetal residues), leading to the formulation and testing of new earthen composites. Their physical, chemical, and hygrothermal properties—including thermal conductivity, vapor permeability, acoustic absorption, and fire response—have been systematically evaluated. Medium-scale prototypes constructed and monitored under real conditions confirm their technical feasibility and architectural applicability. Results indicate that LoTEC composites display versatile hygrothermal behavior, ranging from thermal insulation to heat storage depending on mixture density and fiber composition. Produced without chemical alteration of the raw materials —only sieved soils and cut vegetal fibers—they require minimal energy for transformation from raw matter to building element. At the end of their service life, they can be rehydrated and reused without performance loss or safely reintegrated into the environment. Their permeability and moisture-buffering capacity make them particularly compatible with the vapor-open nature of historical materials, enabling effective retrofitting and improved indoor comfort while preserving architectural heritage. They also perform efficiently in …
author: RIVERA VIDAL, AMANDA CATALINA
language: eng
keywords: Settore CEAR-08/A - Architettura tecnica
date published: 2026-02-03T00:00:00+01:00
date modified: 2026-07-24T01:29:57Z
provider: Università di Cagliari
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Università degli Studi di Cagliari

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/11584/474585