37º IAHS World Congress on Housing: - Universidad de Cantabria

XXXVII <strong>IAHS</strong><strong>World</strong> <strong>Congress</strong> on HousingOctober 26 – 29, 2010, Santander, SpainCODE: 1028REHABILITATION OF BUILDINGS IN RURAL AREAS AS ACONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONJoão Carlos Gonçalves Lanzinha, João Paulo de Castro GomesC-Made - Centre of Materials and Building Technologies,Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture,Engineering Faculty, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugale-mail: joao.lanzinha@ubi.pt, castro.gomes@ubi.ptKey words: Building Rehabilitation, Rural Architecture, Sustainable ConstructionAbstractRelevant data about Portuguese housing stock are presented in this paper, according to Census2001 and the 4 th General Housing Census, particularly in Beira Interior and Cova da Beiraregions. These data show that the percentage of single family housing in Portugal is veryhigh. In addition, the index of building ageing indicates the situation is worrying if there is noinvestment in maintenance and rehabilitation.The characteristics and materials of buildings situated in rural areas are described, as well asthe results obtained in some inspection studies, reflecting the need to further study the globalsituation of the rural type of houses. Besides natural degradation of the constructive elements,great deficiencies in the use of the houses were verified, above all for lack of the residents´information. It will be opportune to develop some activities that would complement thesimple actions of constructive rehabilitation.Some rehabilitation proposals for rural houses are presented, jointly with some ideas ofresearch, so that the interventions may aim the promotion of Sustainable Construction.37º <strong>IAHS</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>Congress</strong> On Housing Science 354