Bubble vaults are a traditional construction technique of Southern and Central-Southern Italy. Bubbles, hollow terracotta elements derived from ancient Roman olle, were used to lighten structures and improve thermal insulation. Construction involved springing points made of tuff blocks, upon which staggered rows of bubbole were laid and bonded with a mortar composed of sieved earth, slaked lime, and gypsum; stone rubble was added in the upper part to increase stability. Also employed in fortified farms (rural farm estates), such as Villa Gattini in Matera, this technique testifies to the ingenuity of historic rural architecture. Its lightness, thermal efficiency, and use of natural materials make it an example of ante litteram bio-building (sustainable building).
University of Bologna, Italy
University of Bologna, Italy
University of Bologna, Italy
Titolo del capitolo
The bubbles construction technique: the case study of Villa Gattini in Matera
Autori
Donato Festa, Enrico Lamacchia, Annalisa Mancarella
Lingua
Inglese
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-1113-0.86
Opera sottoposta a peer review
Anno di pubblicazione
2026
Copyright
© 2026 Author(s)
Licenza d'uso
Licenza dei metadati
Titolo del libro
ReUso 2026 - New heritage and future strategies. Perspectives on conservation and promotion
Sottotitolo del libro
14th International Congress Barcelona-Girona, 4-7 November
Curatori
Alessandro Scarnato, Marisa García Vergara, Ángeles Layuno Rosas
Opera sottoposta a peer review
Anno di pubblicazione
2026
Copyright
© 2026 Author(s)
Licenza d'uso
Licenza dei metadati
Editore
Firenze University Press
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-1113-0
eISBN (pdf)
979-12-215-1113-0
eISBN (xml)
979-12-215-1112-3
Collana
ReUso