Conference article

A social housing project was carried out in a developing country (Benin; West Central Africa). A complex of twenty two-storey houses was designed in the city of Cotonou; in order to achieve the best architectural solution with the lowest cost. The project was carried out taking into account the bioclimatic and passive architectural devices in a hot-humid climate site. By using the software ECOTECT V 5.50 the hygrothermal behavior of the buildings was assessed. Every building was supposed with a reinforced concrete structure; and unfired brick walls. The raw earth was also used as a filler layer in the floor and roof slabs. None HVAC was assumed. The simulation has led the best results in terms of thermal performances and indoor comfort conditions. A partial do-it-yourself building was also supposed in the project; allowing to bring down; with use of the earthen materials; the cost of the whole project of almost 30%.

Further investigations on the earthen materials were started at the Laboratory of Thermophysics of Materials (LTM); University of Politecnico di Bari. The aim of the study is to obtain a low-cost high-energy performance building material suitable to achieve a better hygrothermal comfort in sustainable buildings.

Earth; Hygrothermal behavior; Social housing