Alqueria as Vacation Architecture
An alqueria is not exactly a type of building but a Spanish version of a rural housing cluster. This article studies the potential of the Alqueria as Vacation Architecture.
This article is part of my architecture research, presented in a friendly way.
You can order the book either as a collectible hardcover artbook or as an instant digital download.
Order the book here.
History
The subject of interest is not necessarily the houses themselves but the way they cluster together to form small citadels. The ones in mountainous regions are tightly packed and terraced, with narrow streets. In contrast, further away from the major cities, there are rural clusters that generate a small rural community made of a few isolated houses exploiting the surrounding lands for agricultural purposes such as farming or raising livestock.
These clusters are known as alquerias. They are present in both Southern Spain and Portugal – known as alcarias, a word which we can often find in the names of small villages.
Contemporary Adaptation
Alquerias are mostly obsolete. Over the past decade, they have been subject to renovations and repurposing, being adapted into restaurants or accommodations.
Alqueria (ES) / Alcaria (PT)
- Shape: several boxes, linked
- Spatial Typology: chambered
- Spatial Organisation: clustered
- Functionality: housing, close to zones of interest (monasteries, farmland), safety, community, production
- Location: Southern Spain (mainland), Portugal (mainland)
- Materials: plastered brick, limewash, Moorish tiles, small windows, pantile roof
If you’re confused about what some of these mean, please read the article on Spatial Typologies and Spatial Organisations.
Key Takeaways
- Not all rural estates belonged to nobility. In fact, most of them were just regular farmers providing for the nearby cities. As such, whatever anyone tells you, these are not castles.
- If you plan on building something on a steep hill, you might want to consider building a cluster of terraced boxes instead of one big thing. The resulting transitional spaces give the entire home complexity with many types of spaces to enjoy.
- Don’t be afraid to use ceramic tiles outside the bathroom or kitchen. If installed on a southern facing wall, they can reflect heat while at the same time adding luminosity to the space.
This article is part of a self-published book from The Vacation Architecture Series.
If you’d like, you can order the book either as a collectible hardcover artbook or as an instant digital download.
Order the book here.
