ABSTRACT
One long chapter, as well as other short references, is dedicated to earth walls.
The booklet Dell’Economica costruzione delle case di terra published by the Georgofili Academy of Florence, is by an anonymous author, a member of the Academy, but from the preface it can be supposed that it is a non-literal translation of the French text by Francois Cointeraux of 1792. The small Italian manual is completely dedicated to the subject in question; besides giving explanations for the realization of works in earth, it very enthusiastically proposes the diffusion of the same, listing their considerable advantages. The third work examined is the Traité théorique et pratique de l’art de bâtir, by Jean-Baptiste Rondelet, which analyses in particular the construction of the ‘formed wall’, that is, ‘cast into a formwork’: this is undoubtedly economical, allows the construction of solid houses, safe from fires, ideal for rural buildings. The author stresses that, when the walls are well made, they constitute a single piece that can last for centuries, if covered with good plaster on the outside.
