An Inventory for Massone: Abruzzo’s Rural Earthen Anti-Seismic House

Massone, a vernacular building technique also known as cob or bauge, has a long history in central Italy, particularly in the Abruzzo and Marche regions, areas deeply affected by severe earthquakes in the past that have irrevocably damaged their historical heritage. Massone houses (pl. massoni) are intimately connected to common know-how passed down through generations, and, because of historically destructive seismic activity, the region has deep generational memory related to the development of anti-seismic buildings. Abruzzo’s earthen houses suffer from a lack of maintenance and, whether from initial damages or long-term neglect, earthquakes have only increased the percentage of losses. Therefore, it is essential to understand both the art of traditional techniques and the current state of conservation for the fragile massone heritage through the execution of a well-planned survey. This paper proposes a scientific and up-to-date inventory of the remaining massoni in order to advance a maintenance plan shared among citizens and associations that would serve as a framework in defining future regeneration and restoration initiatives for this significant rural heritage. A survey, including 3D mapping, would be a useful tool in developing an atlas of the state of conservation of surviving massone houses in order to propose strategies for their protection and rehabilitation applicable to municipalities and professionals. Indeed, some of the houses have recently been identified as eligible for public funds for their restoration—a promise to pursue this approach of good practice in order to best address this valorization of local earthen heritage.