The DSA-earthen architecture: A tool to convey the lessons of vernacular architecture
Résumé
Construction skills associated with vernacular architecture, more particularly earthen architecture, have generally been passed down from generation to generation without formal education.
Now that heritage professionals are taking a growing interest in vernacular architecture and that the demand for the reinforcement of capacities in earth construction techniques is increasing, the question of formal education in this field is becoming ever more crucial.
The DSA-Terre, which was initiated in 1984, aims to compensate that shortcoming by offering an innovative educational alternative that has been strongly inspired by traditional methods of passing on of knowledge.
A selection of educational themes and methods typically representative of this approach is presented in this article, which endeavours to take a global view of more than 30 years of experience.