Experimental Raw Earth Building for Passive Cooling: A Case Study for Agricultural Application in a Mediterranean Climate
Residential and agricultural buildings must prioritize environmental sustainability, employing locally sourced, bio/geologically sustainable materials, and reversible construction methods. Hence, adobe construction and earth-based building methods are experiencing a comeback. This article describes...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2603 |
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| author | Antoine Grosjean Karim Touati Gaël Alonzo Homan Cheikh Ravat Thomas Houot Yassine El Mendili Brigitte Nougarèdes Nicolas Camara |
| author_facet | Antoine Grosjean Karim Touati Gaël Alonzo Homan Cheikh Ravat Thomas Houot Yassine El Mendili Brigitte Nougarèdes Nicolas Camara |
| author_sort | Antoine Grosjean |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Residential and agricultural buildings must prioritize environmental sustainability, employing locally sourced, bio/geologically sustainable materials, and reversible construction methods. Hence, adobe construction and earth-based building methods are experiencing a comeback. This article describes the hygrothermal performances of a real scale agricultural building prototype, in real field conditions, built and designed to be energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and well-suited for the hot, dry climates typical of the Mediterranean region during summer. The building prototype is a small modular two room construction, one room based on wood (for control purpose) and the other one on raw earth. The experimental set up highlights the passive cooling and humidity regulation potential provided by raw earth and adobe brick technology in agricultural buildings used for fruit and vegetable storage. Such passive cooling alternatives in the Mediterranean climate could reduce the need for energy-intensive and environmentally impactful cold storage rooms. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c52f4c0ebb5b4b63b18016d41f0ca830 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-c52f4c0ebb5b4b63b18016d41f0ca8302025-08-20T04:00:53ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-07-011515260310.3390/buildings15152603Experimental Raw Earth Building for Passive Cooling: A Case Study for Agricultural Application in a Mediterranean ClimateAntoine Grosjean0Karim Touati1Gaël Alonzo2Homan Cheikh Ravat3Thomas Houot4Yassine El Mendili5Brigitte Nougarèdes6Nicolas Camara7EPF-Graduate School of Engineering, 21 Boulevard Berthelot, 34000 Montpellier, FranceEPF-Graduate School of Engineering, 21 Boulevard Berthelot, 34000 Montpellier, FranceEPF-Graduate School of Engineering, 21 Boulevard Berthelot, 34000 Montpellier, FranceEPF-Graduate School of Engineering, 21 Boulevard Berthelot, 34000 Montpellier, FranceEPF-Graduate School of Engineering, 21 Boulevard Berthelot, 34000 Montpellier, FranceInstitut de Recherche de l’ESTP, École Spéciale des Travaux Publics, 28 Avenue du Président Wilson, 94230 Cachan, FranceUMR Innovation, INRAE, CIRAD, Institute Agro, University of Montpellier, 2 Place Pierre Viala Campus la Gaillarde, 34000 Montpellier, FranceEPF-Graduate School of Engineering, 21 Boulevard Berthelot, 34000 Montpellier, FranceResidential and agricultural buildings must prioritize environmental sustainability, employing locally sourced, bio/geologically sustainable materials, and reversible construction methods. Hence, adobe construction and earth-based building methods are experiencing a comeback. This article describes the hygrothermal performances of a real scale agricultural building prototype, in real field conditions, built and designed to be energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and well-suited for the hot, dry climates typical of the Mediterranean region during summer. The building prototype is a small modular two room construction, one room based on wood (for control purpose) and the other one on raw earth. The experimental set up highlights the passive cooling and humidity regulation potential provided by raw earth and adobe brick technology in agricultural buildings used for fruit and vegetable storage. Such passive cooling alternatives in the Mediterranean climate could reduce the need for energy-intensive and environmentally impactful cold storage rooms.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2603raw earthprototypingadobe constructionhygrothermal performance |
| spellingShingle | Antoine Grosjean Karim Touati Gaël Alonzo Homan Cheikh Ravat Thomas Houot Yassine El Mendili Brigitte Nougarèdes Nicolas Camara Experimental Raw Earth Building for Passive Cooling: A Case Study for Agricultural Application in a Mediterranean Climate Buildings raw earth prototyping adobe construction hygrothermal performance |
| title | Experimental Raw Earth Building for Passive Cooling: A Case Study for Agricultural Application in a Mediterranean Climate |
| title_full | Experimental Raw Earth Building for Passive Cooling: A Case Study for Agricultural Application in a Mediterranean Climate |
| title_fullStr | Experimental Raw Earth Building for Passive Cooling: A Case Study for Agricultural Application in a Mediterranean Climate |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental Raw Earth Building for Passive Cooling: A Case Study for Agricultural Application in a Mediterranean Climate |
| title_short | Experimental Raw Earth Building for Passive Cooling: A Case Study for Agricultural Application in a Mediterranean Climate |
| title_sort | experimental raw earth building for passive cooling a case study for agricultural application in a mediterranean climate |
| topic | raw earth prototyping adobe construction hygrothermal performance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2603 |
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