Conservation of Mas de Burot (Spain)
Conservation of Mas de Burot (Spain) by the Municipality of Horta de Sant Joan (Europa Nostra Award 2021).
In the opinion of the jury this project is an example of sensitive conservation of a modest type of heritage, incorporating the restoration of rural architecture and related skills. The inhabitants’ own relationship with nature was reflected in the renovation, which was also fully integrated into the development and management of the natural park and landscape. The manual produced is considered an example of best practices which can be used to share information for similar projects. The restoration of Mas de Burot, a traditional rural building in Els Ports Natural Park, which was based on traditional bioconstruction techniques, has been said to emphasise the value of traditional architecture in this area. Beyond the intrinsic value of its 19th-century farmhouse, Mas de Burot is considered a witness to the social history of 20th-century Spain and is also an important source of architectural, historical and ethnological knowledge. For several years the house lay derelict, facing numerous structural issues, including a roof collapse, water ingress, and the deterioration of its typical wattle and plaster partition walls. Having completely lost the upper floor and stairs, the house’s fate could be considered a reflection of the progressive abandonment of traditional activities, rural life and the associated architecture in mountain areas. Extensive work had to be carried out to return the house to its original state, demolishing or consolidating unstable elements, while restoring others which had survived, and reconstructing the partition walls and other interior features. The construction process relied solely on natural materials sourced from local surroundings. The house still has no electricity, running water or other utilities. The construction company carried out practical demonstrations of the traditional techniques employed during the restoration works. The information gleaned from this experience is expected to be of great use to professionals working on similar projects in the future.
Brief analysis of the case:
It is a humble vernacular building built using traditional local techniques. The intervention carried out has mainly involved repairing the roof, conserving and structurally consolidating the masonry and recovering the traditional finishes. All of this has been carried out using the same traditional materials with which the building was constructed. The action, aimed at the museumization of the building and its public visit, has sought to maintain the authenticity of the building with a minimal intervention that has favoured material, structural and character compatibility, as well as the durability and sustainability of an intervention that has sought to recover the traditional materials and techniques as part of an action to enhance the value of the traditional architecture of the area. The small manual published after the intervention allows the experience acquired during the intervention to be transferred to other similar buildings and also to preserve the wisdom linked to traditional materials and techniques.