Geometric improvement of the existing bagacina (lapilli) concrete masonry base unit and development of a new masonry system composed by accessory units for the construction in the Azores islands

The Azores archipelago is a small and remote region with low population levels where the issues of sustainability and autonomy have a lways been important and present s ignif icant economic consequences. Currently, the construction industry uses many imported products; however, masonry products are almost exclusively provided by local industries. For its production, masonry uses a natural volcanic scoria –lapill i, locally known as bagacina– as an aggregate, though not in an optimized way. The goal of our study was to improve the existing masonry base unit through geometric changes and to design a new masonry system, comprising accessory units shaped to provide specific wall functions, the constraints of which derived from specific island features, from the traditional building process and from the more recent performance requirements in order to obtain an inclusive system. We conc luded that by adopt ing a different geometr ic shaping for the bagacina concrete base unit it would ensure greater sustainability. This sustainabil ity comes from the improved use of a local resource and from the potential consequences of this improvement, such as the possibility of reducing the use of imported products like wall thermal insulation materials. Further needs of development to improve the bagacina concrete masonry are also identified.