Earth building sustainable potentials in the reconstruction scenery of central Chile. Reflexions after the earthquake on February 27th, 2010

One of architectures main concerns nowadays is the correct rationalization of natural resources; from the material selection, its optimal utilization in construction, up to its final discard. All of these concepts assure sustainability in terms of resources, internal comfort and waste disposal at the end of its useful life. The earthquake occurred in Chile of February 27th, 2010, brought to discussions a large quantity of issues related to the way constructions were made in central Chile. The collapse of the mayor part of the patrimony constructed on earth, brought to light the high seismic vulnerability of the techniques (mainly adobe). Earth building has shown to have a very low embodied energy in its extraction, transportation, manufacture, installation, disassembly, deconstruction or decomposition. Besides this, earth has important benefits in providing a healthy balanced indoor climate during the buildings use. Depending on which construction technique is used, if structurally improved using it as the filling of the wall, earth could still provide dwellings their wide benefits. This article reviews the mayor benefits and virtues of the use of earth in construction, as well as the opportunities that represent the need of reconstruction in the vast area of central Chile where earth building has provided its benefits throughout the years and represents part of their cultural identity.