An evaluation of the main structural lacks and vulnerability aspects of unbaked earth constructions, along with a brief overview of related seismic damage configurations, are presented in this paper. The traditional and “modern” structural conception and detail guidelines formulated to overcome the highlighted vulnerabilities are then examined, with the aim of blending the needs of safeguard of historical building practices with the current new design and rehabilitation requirements in seismic zone. These evaluations are finally related to the dimensional scale and typological features of the Italian earth construction heritage.
