Drâa valley earthen architecture: Construction techniques,pathology and intervention criteria

The drâa valley is located in the south east of morocco,near the sahara desert,and houses one of the greatest earthen architecture heritage in the world. the present work shows the results of an investigation carried out on the earthen constructions in the drâa valley,with the aim to know and to document the local building culture and the traditional construction techniques. the built heritage of the drâa valley is worthy of study because it represents an excellent example of how local population was able to meet,in an excellent and sustainable way,the environmental challenges,starting from the environment and climatic features and from the availability of the construction materials. unfortunately,the change of life style and the race to progress is producing a gradual loss of the traditional constructive culture and the related technical know-how,developed over the centuries. such difficult situation is confirmed also by the lack of master masons and new skilled workers,jointly to the massive diffusion of the concrete construction. consequently,many of the earthen building of the drâa valley have been abandoned or lack the necessary maintenance. the present work tries also to investigate the main recurrent pathologies of traditional buildings and settlements in order to suggest some intervention guidelines (and related safeguarding criteria) for the conservation,preservation and enhancement of this rich heritage.