In May 2004, the GCI participated in Unfired Clay Construction in Italy: Toward a National Building Standard—a one-day event on earthen architecture held at the Camera dei Deputati at Palazzo Marini in Rome. Jeanne Marie Teutonico, associate director of the GCI, presented the work of the Institute's collaborative Terra project, which is designed to advance the conservation of earthen architecture and sites worldwide.

The seminar provided a forum for members of government, academic institutions, and the private sector to discuss issues surrounding earthen architecture, as well as the opportunity to advocate for a national building standard for earthen construction and conservation in Italy.

The event was organized by Città della Terra Cruda, with support from the Presidenza della Regione Autonoma della Sardegna; Regioni Sicilia, Molise, Abruzzo; Provincia de Pescara, Chieti, Teramo; UNESCO (Italian Commission); and other Italian institutions working toward development of a national standard for earthen architecture.

Terra is a joint project of the International Centre for Earth Construction—School of Architecture of Grenoble (CRATerre-EAG), ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property), and the GCI.