ABSTRACT
A principle characteristic of this type of vernacular architecture is the use of surrounding materials. Thus, the clay extracted while digging the foundations was later used to build walls (rammed earth technique). In some cases, the foundation work included digging out a fresquera, as this provided both a cold storage space and additional material for the construction of the walls. The clay soil is easy to excavate, although some authors consider that reddish clay not to be the most suitable materials for building rammed earth walls. One case specifies that if the excavated material was used for such walls, it should not comprise more than 25% of the mix (Doat, P & ET to. 1979). Despite this recommendation, the material was commonly used in house construction.
