Local Cultures – Global Spaces
Abstract
Agriculture transcends a simply function in the economic productivity of a place, constituting a vital relationship between the individual and the land inhabited. In addition to the spaces dedicated to cultivation, agricultural activity is formalized in architectural typologies, cities and territory, forming complex multi-scale systems. These are our everyday landscapes. Examples of these are those agrarian-urban settlements whose origin is based on orchards, a widespread practice in the Mediterranean. This is the case of Nerja, in Malaga (Spain), a town whose history is closely linked to agriculture in which the orchard has generated a complex community system based on vernacular local knowledge. In these agrarian cities, the orchard and its architectural structure is historically closely linked to the city. However, since the last quarter of the 20th century, the accelerated urban transformation has led to the abandonment of the historical and morphological genealogy of growth. Although the dynamic nature intrinsic to these productive landscapes makes it difficult to enhance their value, the present study is committed to the recognition of this agrarian heritage. In order to do so, the research proposes to highlight the key role of agricultural activity in the built environment, that values the productive fabric of the orchard in terms of its urban dimension, resulting in an alignment with the objectives of sustainability and climate behaviour demanded by today’s society.
Celia Chacon-Carreton is an architect graduated from the Higher Technical School of Architecture, University of Seville. Chacon-Carreton began her research career with a research collaboration scholarship. She is currently a PhD Candidate under contract with the Ministry of Universities of the Government of Spain, obtained through competitive national regime, conducting research and teaching. Prize of Spanish XVI Bienal of Architecture and Urbanism to her bachelor’s thesis.
Mar Loren-Méndez is PhD Architect and Full Professor at the Higher Technical School of Architecture, University of Seville. She is Chairholder of Seville University UNESCO Chair on Built Urban Heritage in the digital era CREhAR (Creative research and education on heritage assessment and regeneration). She is the director of the Research Group Contemporary City, Architecture and Heritage, having directed projects on the subject, recognised with prizes and widely published. FAMA Prize of Seville University 2021 to the research trajectory Excellence. Medal of the City of Seville 2022.
Pablo Manuel Millán-Millán is PhD Architect at the Higher Technical School of Architecture, University of Seville. Master in Architecture and Historical Heritage, University of Seville, IAPH; Master in Urban Management of Latin American and Andalusian heritage by the University of Seville, postdoctoral Fondecyt by the Government of Chile, external professor at the School of Architecture and Design of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaíso and member of the research group IN-GENTES (Research in Generation of Territories).
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Wednesday 6th December, 2023