Humus Umano Terra

The traditional use of raw earth in construction has a long history in various regions around the world, and its legacy can still be observed today in the remnants of ancient structures. In particular, the region of Campidano in southeastern Sardinia is known for its unique architecture made of ladiri, from Latin later, argilla, mixed with straw and dried in the sun. While ladiri were once a common building material, the increasing use of modern materials like cement and steel has led to a decline in the use of ladiri in construction. This shift towards modern materials has resulted in a cultural and material discontinuity within the urban landscape, highlighting the historical significance of raw earth architecture. Drawing on this history and tradition, this thesis explores the potential of using earth as a building material through the creation of three raw earth sculptures. The project argues that the use of earth as a building material is a testimony to the history and cultural identity of an area and the people connected to it.

“Humus Umano Terra” is a process oriented project into the use of earth as construction material. The interest in raw earth stems from my connection to the Sardinia region, which is where my family comes from. During my stay in Sardinia, I was able to observe how raw earth is embedded in the region’s urban landscape and has been gradually replaced by modern materials (i.e. cement, lime and other synthetic materials). As I observe those remnants of architecture, I imagined a phantom landscape that I documented through drawings, words and photographs, as travellers do in their diaries, to then produce rammed earth sculptures derived from my observation and impressions.