‘MATIERRA’

MATIERRA is an Architecture and Construction atelier with a strong focus on raw earth and ecological materials. The atelier aims to develop truly ecological, high-quality architecture and wants to make it accessible to everybody. MATIERRA believes that the process of choosing and testing the right construction materials together with the act of building are fundamental aspects of each project.

MATIERRA has been initiated by MSc Pietro Degli Esposti. 
Pietro completed his Master of Architecture at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment of Delft in The Netherlands. His graduation project 'The Inclusive Pattern, Tracing the city fabric of Addis Ababa' aims to combine vernacular architecture, the local culture and the use of natural materials such as raw earth and bamboo to improve the living conditions of an informal settlement in the historical centre of the capital of Ethiopia. 

In 2017, Pietro worked at SeARCH architecture and planning in Amsterdam where he was involved in the design phase of urban planning and public building projects.
From January 2018 until December 2019, Pietro was part of the team of LEVS architecten where he took part in a wide range of architectural and urban planning projects and activities focussed on African contexts and raw earth constructions. 

Besides working on construction projects, Pietro worked on several publications and construction manuals on compressed earth blocks.
Pietro regularly organises and joins practical workshops on earth construction in The Netherlands and Belgium and gave lectures and tutoring at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, at TU Delft Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, at the Academy of Architecture of Amsterdam and at the Jan des Bouvrie Academy in Deventer.

SERVICES

MATIERRA provides consultancy and education on building with raw earth and natural materials. MATIERRA is open to architects, contractors, communities representatives, educational organisations and anyone willing to learn, share, build.