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Architecture as cultural construction
Introduction
Popular architecture, like popular art, is the architecture of the popular classes, made by the users themselves or by artisans, who build various types of buildings such as accommodation in rural areas, as well as various types of auxiliary buildings intended for their own or secondary purposes, related to life and work, such as buildings for agricultural use, such as corrals, pallozas, granaries, huts "Borda (building)"), palapas, trojas, etc.
History
Vernacular architecture is architecture that has been developed in a specific region using local materials and techniques. In this way, vernacular buildings on the Asian continent are not the same as those on the African continent.
The importance of this architecture lies in the fact that they are a reflection of the culture and demographic context of each region, in addition to being able to use materials that are typical of the place and work them in an artisanal way, enriching the culture of the population.
Vernacular architecture is born from the human need to adapt to a specific environment. That is why local materials are used for its construction.
Many of the vernacular buildings are homes and common centers such as schools or others intended for the use of the people of the region.
Characteristics
The constructions and buildings of popular architecture are always adapted to the intended purpose and the materials available in their locality. They are characterized by an economy of means, volume and work, since their builders seek to save labor "Work (sociology)") and materials, and they are used with simple techniques that have been transmitted from one generation to another through oral tradition.
The study of architecture has traditionally been concerned with the study of monuments, the work of architects, understood as people with academic studies about architecture, and currents and styles of "cultured architecture", leaving aside the "architecture without architects" which represents 90% of the spaces where humanity lives and works. Archaeology, on the other hand, has revealed to us the interest that the socio-historical context of a monument has when investigating elements such as temples, palaces or tombs, which constitute the most expressive testimony of the civilization that created that culture.
Architecture as cultural construction
Introduction
Popular architecture, like popular art, is the architecture of the popular classes, made by the users themselves or by artisans, who build various types of buildings such as accommodation in rural areas, as well as various types of auxiliary buildings intended for their own or secondary purposes, related to life and work, such as buildings for agricultural use, such as corrals, pallozas, granaries, huts "Borda (building)"), palapas, trojas, etc.
History
Vernacular architecture is architecture that has been developed in a specific region using local materials and techniques. In this way, vernacular buildings on the Asian continent are not the same as those on the African continent.
The importance of this architecture lies in the fact that they are a reflection of the culture and demographic context of each region, in addition to being able to use materials that are typical of the place and work them in an artisanal way, enriching the culture of the population.
Vernacular architecture is born from the human need to adapt to a specific environment. That is why local materials are used for its construction.
Many of the vernacular buildings are homes and common centers such as schools or others intended for the use of the people of the region.
Characteristics
The constructions and buildings of popular architecture are always adapted to the intended purpose and the materials available in their locality. They are characterized by an economy of means, volume and work, since their builders seek to save labor "Work (sociology)") and materials, and they are used with simple techniques that have been transmitted from one generation to another through oral tradition.
The study of architecture has traditionally been concerned with the study of monuments, the work of architects, understood as people with academic studies about architecture, and currents and styles of "", leaving aside the "" which represents 90% of the spaces where humanity lives and works. Archaeology, on the other hand, has revealed to us the interest that the socio-historical context of a monument has when investigating elements such as temples, palaces or tombs, which constitute the most expressive testimony of the civilization that created that culture.
The historiography of modern architecture has presented the construction of traditional habitats as an element with high cultural significance, thus we have the following quote from the book Arquitectura in Nuce"), the work of the architect and historian of modern architecture Bruno Zevi:[1].
Amos Rapoport, in his book Housing and Culture, establishes three categories for architecture: the cultured, the primitive and the vernacular. Within the latter he establishes an additional division between pre-industrial and post-industrial vernacular architecture, even though Rapoport himself points out the somewhat arbitrary nature of this second division as well as the indisputable fact that the three categories do not constitute a closed division but rather a scheme referring to some fundamental aspects. The borders between one or the other are often imprecise and influences act, in fact, in all directions.
Popular architecture, which would be the equivalent of pre-industrial vernacular architecture, presupposes and is complementary to cultured architecture, since both evolved from primitive architecture. On the other hand, popular architecture reflects the models of cultured architecture, since the popular classes, historically subjected, reflect the behavior and modes of the dominant classes.
Popular architecture in Argentina
Popular architecture is divided throughout the country. Some of the typologies are found, mostly in the northwest of Argentina, or in the northeast of Mendoza. The vernacular housing of the northeast of Mendoza presents a set of juxtaposed constructions and spaces, attached or isolated, that combine different functions and activities and are made up of three irreducible spaces: the dwelling house, the corrals and the water access devices. On the other hand, in Tucumán, the typological configuration of the contemporary Tafí housing presents a similar pattern, that of the patio house. A patio whose functional and symbolic load makes it the main space of the home, hierarchized by the centrality of its location and prominence in the definition, organization and articulation of the spaces and functions of the housing complex.
Popular architecture in Mexico
Popular architecture in Mexico is diverse. Among its best-known typologies is the Mayan house, common in the Yucatan peninsula,[2] and the troje house, associated with the Purépecha culture of Michoacán.[3] Another less studied typology are the train houses, which are built in northern Mexico, specifically in the south of the state of Coahuila and the center of Nuevo León. In addition to houses, other notable typologies of popular architecture in Mexico are granaries, chicken coops "Gallinero (structure)"), corrals, pigsties and wood-fired ovens, among others.[4].
Popular architecture in Spain
Popular architecture is influenced by the shelter needs of the inhabitants of each area based on its climatic characteristics and conditioned by the materials that they could find and use in their surroundings. Thus, there is a zonal distribution of popular architecture, and typical popular constructions can be found in different areas of Spain. These constructions range from homes to public buildings, including buildings for agricultural and industrial purposes. Houses located in towns or villages built as simple homes are also considered. Some examples of characteristic constructions are:
References
[1] ↑ Bruno., Zevi, (1969). Architectura in nuce ; una definicion de arquitectura.. Aguilar. OCLC 819666875. Consultado el 11 de enero de 2022.: http://worldcat.org/oclc/819666875
[4] ↑ «Arquitectura Popular del Noreste | Inicio» (en inglés). Consultado el 11 de enero de 2022.: https://arquitecturapopular.mx/
cultured architecture
architecture without architects
The historiography of modern architecture has presented the construction of traditional habitats as an element with high cultural significance, thus we have the following quote from the book Arquitectura in Nuce"), the work of the architect and historian of modern architecture Bruno Zevi:[1].
Amos Rapoport, in his book Housing and Culture, establishes three categories for architecture: the cultured, the primitive and the vernacular. Within the latter he establishes an additional division between pre-industrial and post-industrial vernacular architecture, even though Rapoport himself points out the somewhat arbitrary nature of this second division as well as the indisputable fact that the three categories do not constitute a closed division but rather a scheme referring to some fundamental aspects. The borders between one or the other are often imprecise and influences act, in fact, in all directions.
Popular architecture, which would be the equivalent of pre-industrial vernacular architecture, presupposes and is complementary to cultured architecture, since both evolved from primitive architecture. On the other hand, popular architecture reflects the models of cultured architecture, since the popular classes, historically subjected, reflect the behavior and modes of the dominant classes.
Popular architecture in Argentina
Popular architecture is divided throughout the country. Some of the typologies are found, mostly in the northwest of Argentina, or in the northeast of Mendoza. The vernacular housing of the northeast of Mendoza presents a set of juxtaposed constructions and spaces, attached or isolated, that combine different functions and activities and are made up of three irreducible spaces: the dwelling house, the corrals and the water access devices. On the other hand, in Tucumán, the typological configuration of the contemporary Tafí housing presents a similar pattern, that of the patio house. A patio whose functional and symbolic load makes it the main space of the home, hierarchized by the centrality of its location and prominence in the definition, organization and articulation of the spaces and functions of the housing complex.
Popular architecture in Mexico
Popular architecture in Mexico is diverse. Among its best-known typologies is the Mayan house, common in the Yucatan peninsula,[2] and the troje house, associated with the Purépecha culture of Michoacán.[3] Another less studied typology are the train houses, which are built in northern Mexico, specifically in the south of the state of Coahuila and the center of Nuevo León. In addition to houses, other notable typologies of popular architecture in Mexico are granaries, chicken coops "Gallinero (structure)"), corrals, pigsties and wood-fired ovens, among others.[4].
Popular architecture in Spain
Popular architecture is influenced by the shelter needs of the inhabitants of each area based on its climatic characteristics and conditioned by the materials that they could find and use in their surroundings. Thus, there is a zonal distribution of popular architecture, and typical popular constructions can be found in different areas of Spain. These constructions range from homes to public buildings, including buildings for agricultural and industrial purposes. Houses located in towns or villages built as simple homes are also considered. Some examples of characteristic constructions are:
References
[1] ↑ Bruno., Zevi, (1969). Architectura in nuce ; una definicion de arquitectura.. Aguilar. OCLC 819666875. Consultado el 11 de enero de 2022.: http://worldcat.org/oclc/819666875