The Catalan Farmhouse: Evolution and Adaption

Abstract

The ‘masía’ or farmhouse is a type of traditional Catalan residence that has become a mainstay of the rural landscape. It has a significant relationship with its location, the genius loci: the natural characteristics, the topography, the climate and the materials are reflected in its architecture and they have not changed significantly over time. The orientation depends on the land where it is located, and the building materials are extracted from the surrounding area: stone, wood, brick, clay, etc. Its construction is therefore closely linked to its location. It should not be understood as a historical architectonic ‘style’, but rather a ‘cultural composite’ that has reflected a way of life for hundreds of years and has influenced later architectures. This traditional nature has been adapted to the new needs and uses, so this article starts with the analysis of restorations that opened up new channels of experimentation, bringing modernist elements to farmhouses, including such interesting work as Can Negre and Casa Bofarull by Jujol. These analyses establish a stimulating starting point to evaluate the rich Catalan patrimony that is the farmhouse. Our Department has carried out numerous surveys of farmhouses in Montseny and the Collsacabra, for possible subsequent restoration, through a collective agreement for collaboration with various entities.