Adobe, puesta en valor y estrategias para la conservación de una cultura constructiva

Abstract

Cuenca is known by its important constructive tradition in adobe, being its heritage architecture the result of a constructive evolutionary process that has lasted more than five centuries. During this time, the adobe has had a fundamental role in the history, development and conformation of its architectural urban landscape. However, since the arrival of a modern movement to the city and the consequent increase in the use of cement and other "modern" materials in construction, a rupture occurred in the city in the normal process of transmission and conservation of this traditional constructive system. This research focuses on the determination of strategies for the valorization and conservation of adobe as an essential constructive system for the preservation and maintenance of heritage buildings, as a basic measure to avoid the loss of values and authenticity of the heritage architecture and to guarantee the transmission and permanence in time of this cultural legacy. To achieve this aim, there search has been developed in three phases: The first phase consists of the structuring of a conceptual framework and an analysis of the role of adobe during the historical development of Cuenca. Its significance is determined through a participative methodology of identification of values from the actors. The second phase is the determination of the situation that this technique is facing today as local/traditional practice and wisdom ,its challenges, problems and causes. They have been determined through a technical analysis based on information provided by the Dirección de Areas Históricas y Patrimoniales, municipal department, as well as the information gathered through surveys and interviews which were conducted to groups related to the conservation of this technique in the city. In the third and last phase, strategies are determined to achieve the conservation and valorization of adobe, framed in four axes of action: 1. knowledge and diffusion; 2. training and education; 3. intervention in the build heritage; and, 4. management and legislation.