Denumirea Proiectului: International Conference on Vernacular Architecture 2013
Locație: Vila Nova Cerveira, Portugal
Descriere:
The region of Maramureş is a historical region in Romania, in the Northern Carpathian Mountains, known as The Land of Wood, a mixture of amazing landscapes, genuine people and the simple civilization of wood. An important proof of the uniqueness of Maramures architecture is the inclusion of eight wooden churches in UNESCO’s World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.
20 years ago Maramureş was a living museum in the core of Europe, with its well-preserved wooden villages and churches, its traditional lifestyle, and the local colourful dresses still in use. The entire area of Maramures has underwent dramatic alterations in the construction area during the last 20 years. Hundreds of wooden houses were demolished and replaced with modern buildings, often unsuitable because of their design, size, materials or lay-out, as proof of prosperity.
The aim of this Paper is to contribute to worldwide knowledge regarding the amazing building culture; that can help local people to improve self –respect based on traditional values and to change their perception upon cultural heritage still left. Also, this Paper can be a step in finding methods to preserve the built landscape in this region.
In order to get this aims it is important to identify the elements that are unique in this Wooden Land, the natural and historical facts that contribute to its accomplishment – these are the precious elements that must be preserved. Also, the radiography of today’s situation can help us identify the causes of the vernacular architecture melt down in new and impersonal built landscape, and can advance possibles ways of action against it.
This presentation will contribute to enrich the fiels of worldwide vernacular architecture by showing another side of it’s wood versions, and will join to the aims of CIAV, involving communities in preserving their cultural values, and studying conservation strategies.