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Papers by María Lidón de Miguel

Proceedings HERITAGE 2022 - International Conference on Vernacular Heritage: Culture, People and Sustainability, Sep 15, 2022

The study of vernacular architecture allows to know a culture through its domestic constructions.... more The study of vernacular architecture allows to know a culture through its domestic constructions. It also permits learning from its values to apply them in new architecture. In order to achieve both objectives, it seems pertinent to gain an in-depth knowledge of the reality, something which involves questioning what this traditional habitat means for each member of the community. Gender, as a category of analysis, is applied in a research on the vernacular architecture of the Mossi culture and its transformation, as an initial approach to the study of the role which women have played in relation to this traditional habitat. This analysis was based on a literature review which was subsequently contrasted with data collected during two stays in the village of Baasneere (Burkina Faso) in 2018. The study, which considers the relationship of women with the configuration, construction and use of dwellings, shows two opposing aspects of the house: its essence as a setting for tradition-based power relations and a flexible nature capable of easily accommodating change. Finally, the research raises the possibility of investigating how this relationship with inhabiting and building the house varies with the modernisation of architecture.

The study of traditional habitats aims to recognise their values and preserve them within the nec... more The study of traditional habitats aims to recognise their values and preserve them within the necessary transformations of societies. In the context of Burkina Faso, the great variety of issues related to habitat together with the cultural richness of the country, resulted in a complex nucleus of knowledge, the unity of which had not been fully considered. With the objective of providing an integrated overview and identifying thematic trends of current relevance, the literature review involved the collection, comparison, and synthesis of works of different origin, scale, discipline, theme, and intention. As well as offering an orderly compilation, the analysis traces the history of the existing literature, revealing how its evolution mirrored the progress in vernacular architecture studies in international terms and adopted an increasingly practical approach. Furthermore, the review demonstrates the widespread academic and institutional interest in linking the development of the country to its cultural heritage, and the valuable documentation work resulting from this interest. Finally, a reflection is raised on the evolution of knowledge, its aspirations, potential impact, and usefulness, which could be of use also in other contexts.

Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, 2022

PurposeThe common language behind vernacular architecture only seems to be maintained in societie... more PurposeThe common language behind vernacular architecture only seems to be maintained in societies that preserve a traditional way of life. Changes in these societies can threaten their cultural heritage, while research may be a tool for its conservation and enhancement. In this paper, the habitat of a Mossi community is therefore studied as a first stage in analysing the possibilities of its maintenance.Design/methodology/approachAfter a previous study, data collection from a stay in Baasneere (Burkina Faso) and the analysis of 32 traditional residential units were completed. The research showed some common features which, when compared against the bibliography reviewed, could be defined as characteristic of the traditional architecture of this culture.FindingsThe home for a family unit consisted in an enclosure formed by the grouping of adobe constructions around a courtyard. As the family grew so did the compound, in a relationship directly linking the scales of architecture and ...

ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 2020

In the age of globalization, it becomes necessary to assess the possibilities for the conservatio... more In the age of globalization, it becomes necessary to assess the possibilities for the conservation of the characteristic identity features of vernacular architectural heritage. The changes undergone in traditional dwellings appear to be on different scales in societies that are considered developed, and in those that are developing, while the idea of development itself can be the main precursor to change. A study underway aims to identify the nature of the transformations occurring both in traditional architecture and in the society that builds it through case studies and to determine the influence of the concept of "development" in these changes, spotting the potential role of cooperation in the conservation of vernacular architectural heritage and its capacity for sustainability. The analysis of the first case study, the village of Baasneere (Burkina Faso), has made it possible to implement a methodology based on the review of literature, quantitative and qualitative research techniques and the use of three types of cataloguing fiches on three aspects (urban, typological, constructive) of dwellings under study. Although it needs to be adapted to the specific characteristics of the new case studies, the methodology proposed has been proven valid in the study of vernacular settings and their transformations and is also expected to be of use in establishing comparisons between different contexts.

Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development

Sustainability, 2021

Learning from the sustainability of traditional architecture, as a solution to the current ecolog... more Learning from the sustainability of traditional architecture, as a solution to the current ecological crisis, seems more challenging in societies where a cultural imposition has occurred. In Burkina Faso, vernacular architecture has experienced a process of transformation, still in course, relying heavily on foreign resources and losing its adaptation to environmental conditions. As in other contexts, the dynamics of transformation are being examined. Joining this line of work, this research aims to explain the causes of the current local perception of traditional building techniques in Burkina Faso in order to consider how a sustainable development of its architecture would be possible. To this end, a historical analysis is conducted by reviewing the literature, consulting historical documents and collecting data during two stays in 2018. The study shows how earth has ceased to be appreciated by progressively becoming associated with “non-definitive constructions”; this perception ...

Sustainability 13(2):757, 2021