Observações Rurais: A construção informal na Veiga Planáltica da Campeã

Abstract

This dissertation investigates informal construction in the Veiga Planáltica da Campeã region, a transitional area between urban and mountainous areas in Portugal. The research is motivated by the intersection of architectural culture and rural life, with a focus on the role of informal constructions, primarily associated with agriculture. Their impact on the rural landscape and the lack of development in this area serve as the main motivations for this study. The central objective is to characterize and analyze the evolution of informal constructions over time and understand their influence on the local landscape. The research seeks to understand how architecture evolved as society transitioned from a culture of communal construction to industrialization. To achieve these objectives, the study selected 33 representative constructions in the Veiga and conducted a detailed survey of these structures, addressing their relationship with the environment, uses, materiality, and form. The results highlight significant changes in material choices over time and the disconnect between the community and the builders. The study emphasizes the need to reintegrate and reinvent these constructions, emphasizing the importance of choosing materials that harmoniously blend with nature, valuing traditional knowledge, and adapting construction techniques suitable for current needs while respecting the environment. Furthermore, it underscores the need for collaboration between architects, builders, and the local community to revitalize rural areas and preserve their cultural identity. In this way, the dissertation analyzes the evolution of informal constructions in a rural region, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for promoting more appropriate construction practices and revitalizing rural areas, based on informal self-construction associated with the countryside.