From Functional Architecture to Cultural Heritage: Unveiling the Significance, Evolution, and Present Challenges of the Catalan Masia

Abstract

A Masia is a traditional type of construction that originated for agricultural purposes in the early 10th century in the northern Mediterranean side of Spain. This type of construction, also known as Mediterranean or Catalan farmhouse is the main building type in the Mas, an agricultural site composed of the main house (Masia), the agricultural land that surrounds it, forests, and ranches. For many decades, Masies were the center of family life, with members working the fields from a young age. They also served as early navigational landmarks in towns, before named roads and streets existed. Each Masia represented the family that owned it, and its name was often linked to nearby landscape features or other local elements. This naming tradition is why the names of these houses were commonly preceded by the words Cal, Can, Mas, or Ca (shortened forms of the Catalan word casa, meaning house), followed by either the family’s last name or notable features of the surrounding environment. In other words, Masos and Masies are, and should be considered as, “Spatial Biographies”. Understanding Masies as spaces that hold historical and cultural narratives essential to understanding the past and informing future activism. In recent decades, the expansion of urban areas, together with the agricultural policies of the European Union, and the changes in agricultural production, have led to widespread abandonment of these lands, severing the traditional relationship between the farmhouses and their fields. As a result, many Masies have been repurposed into summer homes, secondary residences, rural tourist accommodations, or left abandoned. This thesis examines the current state of these farmhouses, focusing on the challenges they face today. The survey included in this research is centered on Santa Eulàlia de Ronçana, a small town in the central-southern area of Catalonia, Spain. The methodology combines physical and theoretical approaches, including a chronological analysis to trace the historical events that contributed to the decline of vernacular landscapes and Masies, an evaluation of existing heritage protection policies in Spain, and a survey to determine the current condition of these buildings. Additionally, geospatial mapping and data collection are employed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the present rural landscape in a specific region. The findings of this research will target improvements in local heritage conservation policies and procedures, addressing a gap in the protection of Masies which has thus far remained underdeveloped. Furthermore, the study offers a better understanding and interpretation of the significance of these farmhouses to improve their conservation efforts, as well as their incorporation in rural development plans.