Análisis de la pérdida del patrimonio rural en el periurbano de Cuenca. Caso de estudio: parroquia San Joaquín

Abstract

Vernacular architecture refers to informal architecture that arises from the human need for shelter (ICOMOS, 1999). However, it encompasses more than just the material aspect, as it possesses intangible characteristics that endow different communities with a special cultural value. Rural peri-urban areas, due to their distance from urban zones and close relationship with natural heritage, constitute an essential area of study within the field of vernacular architecture. Nowadays, buildings with vernacular features in peri-urban areas are at risk due to rapid population growth, which leads to invasive urban expansion into rural territories. Additionally, the lack of policies and regulations for the conservation and protection of vernacular buildings in rural areas, along with outdated inventories, result in alterations with different construction materials and systems. This devalues and compromises the integrity and authenticity of these buildings. This study aims to establish the current state of vernacular buildings in the peri-urban area of Cuenca, case study: San Joaquín. This will be achieved through a facade-level survey, for which an architectural survey form has been developed, specifying aspects such as materials, additions, pathologies, etc. Furthermore, the study seeks to diagnose the factors contributing to the transformation and loss of rural heritage over the past 9 years by employing comparative forms that compare the historical state of buildings in 2014 (the year of the last update of SIPCE by the INPC) with their present condition.