Past and Present of the Earthen Architectures in China and Italy

This book is the fourth volume of the series "Italy and China - Joint Initiatives for Cultural Heritage", whose purpose is to disseminate the research outputs arising from the CNR-CACH Bilateral Agreement of Scientific and Technological Cooperation, promoting cultural heritage conservation and valorization projects, signed in 2014 between the National Research Council of Italy - CNR and the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage - CACH. In particular, the research undertaken in the research project "Assessment of innovative methods for the conservation of earthen surface" was aimed at promoting a better knowledge of the earthen architecture in China and Italy, exchange and sharing of experiences about methods, tools, protocols and best practices for the conservation of earthen materials. This fragile architecture, due to the poor durability of earthen materials against atmospheric agents, is in a situation of great risk considering also the problem of climate change. This book examines the historical use of this material for architecture, the different types of earthen construction in Italy and in China, the conservation techniques used in the respective countries and the researches that are being carried out to improve these interventions. New opportunities that the earthen architecture can have in future in the two countries are illustrated.