Dear Colleagues,

Earth has been used as a construction material for millennia, being one of the most versatile, resourceful, ecological, sustainable and widespread building materials around the world. At present, it is estimated that 15 to 17% of the world's population still live in earthen dwellings. However, this number is rapidly decreasing, due to the disappearance of earthen heritage in the different continents.

In recent decades, earthen heritage has been challenged due to climate change, natural catastrophes, man-made disasters, the degradation of the environment caused by man-made activities, a lack of heritage protection, and the pressures of modern living in a globalised world. Also due to a lack of knowledge, in several countries, earthen heritage has been exposed to incorrect interventions and even to gentrification. This is why this heritage is seriously threatened and urgently needs to be protected.

In the past, earthen heritage has greatly contributed to intelligent adaptations to context and environment, and to the exceptional survival of traditional living in diverse cultural regions around the world. Due to economic, energetic and social crises, new opportunities and interest have risen, with earthen architecture and construction contributing to reducing the building footprint, to a healthier and greener society, and to a more sustainable way of life.

With this new paradigm, questions arise regarding the need for earthen heritage to survive, the need to adapt to a changing world, and to enhance the opportunity for new earthen design. Therefore, some questions arise:  What are the chances for earthen architecture to survive in the 21st century? Is it possible to innovate without losing our ancestors’ legacies? Does earthen architecture have a place in the 21st century? Further studies are needed to improve earthen material, preserve earthen heritage, confront contemporary challenges, and rethink cities to become more sustainable societies.

This Special Issue intends to enhance the relevancy and value that earthen heritage has in this changing world, but also the potential that earthen architecture and construction can have for a more sustainable society and greener future.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Conservation of earthen heritage;
• Heritage at risk and solutions;
• Vulnerability, resilience and preparedness;
• Community engagement;
• Response for emergency situations;
• Ecological and sustainable architecture and construction;
• Material and building life cycle;
• Advances in research;
• Education and dissemination;
• Adaptation to climate change;
• Conservation and reuse of rural heritage;
• Technology as a source for protection and preservation;
• The value of earthen architecture and heritage in the 21st century.

Prof. Dr. Mariana Correia
Dr. Telma Ribeiro
Guest Editors

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• earthen architecture and construction
• earthen conservation
• sustainable development
• ecological construction
• climate change adaptation
• earthen architecture in the 21st century
• challenges and opportunities