The dammuso: constructive characters of the traditional stone buildings of the isle of Pantelleria (Sicily)

Pantelleria, a volcanic island between Tunisia and Sicily, is characterized by a highly windy territoryconstantly hit by the sun. This harsh environment forced the inhabitants to build in an extremelyeffective way against the natural elements. This paper investigates constructive technologies, localmaterials, and phases of construction of the traditional rural houses, the dammuso, a Sicilian wordmeaning “vaulted-building”. It is a traditional passive cooling building characterized by a cubical shapecovered by a vaulted-roof. This typology can be found almost everywhere in the isle, both old andpretty new, as the only one permitted. The minimum configuration unit is a cube made of bearing wallsand an extrados-shaped vault; a more articulate disposition is realized juxtaposing three-dimensionalcells. The different types of stones generate various typologies of masonry; the stone vault - finishedby a white lime mortar making an inner comfortable micro-climate – is traditionally constructed bymeans of a wooden centering light structure; systems of rainwater disposal and internal/externalfinishing are also investigated. Ultimately, the dammuso, as a typical Mediterranean typology ofvernacular house, is particularly interesting as it represents a simple passive cooling system whoseprinciples are still reproduced in a contemporary way in modern buildings intended for a valid andfunctional energetic control along with making a perfect harmony between natural and builtenvironment.