Traditional Constructive Techniques and Their Relation to Geographical Conditioning Factors. The Case of Half-Timbered Walls in Spain

Traditional architecture is the result of collective experience in the optimum use of available materials in a given location and adapted to specific conditions and needs. Although forms and groups also depend on other cultural and social issues, the constructive techniques used depend mostly on geographical conditioning factors such as altitude, hydrography, lithology, climate, etc. This text aims to analyse the possible relationships among the multiple variants and specific geographical conditioning factors of each location; in turn, this should provide an understanding of the reasons motivating or reducing their use and the mechanisms adapting these techniques to these conditioning factors. The analysis cross-referenced GIS systems from a database compiling information on 1160 half-timbered walls with a series of themed maps containing information on geographical factors. The conclusions reached show that a single technique adapts to different geographical conditioning factors, giving rise to a wide range of solutions which can provide greater durability and improved habitability. This capacity to adapt to the location is a lesson in sustainability that can be applied at present and is above all part of the intrinsic wealth and value of traditional architecture.