Preserving vernacular architecture in Andorra

[EN] Andorra is a small country nestled in the heart of the Pyrenees that has undergone a radical transformation over the past half century. From a centuries-old mountain culture based on subsistence agriculture, the country saw itself converted into a leading tourist destination in a very short per...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Author: Dilmé Bejarano, Enric
Format: article
Publication Date:2020
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)
Repository:RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia
Language:Spanish
English
OAI Identifier:oai:riunet.upv.es:10251/159660
Online Access:https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/159660
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Traditional architecture
Transformation
Identity
House
Agriculture
Arquitectura tradicional
Transformación
Identidad
Casa
Agropecuario
Description
Summary:[EN] Andorra is a small country nestled in the heart of the Pyrenees that has undergone a radical transformation over the past half century. From a centuries-old mountain culture based on subsistence agriculture, the country saw itself converted into a leading tourist destination in a very short period of time. This change has been accompanied by significantly high levels of immigration. The traditional society of the country, which had the family house at the centre of social life, soon found itself relegated along with much of its material evidence. In recent years, the country has started to look back at the past in an attempt to connect the new generations with their own history. With this end in mind, Andorra has been implementing a policy focussed on recovering its traditional legacy and encouraging the renovation of its vernacular architecture. The enactment of the Cultural Heritage Act in 2003 has played a fundamental role in these efforts. The interventions of recent years have given us a greater insight into traditional Andorran construction, the conservation problems associated with it as well as the merits of the solutions that have been adopted. In this article, we review the history of this legacy and the manner in which it is being restored.