The inclusion of popular architecture within the national heritage: Origins of its valuation as historical and artistic sites of interest

Abstract

The circumstances are not clear in which popular architecture is considered in Spain, at
a cultured, intellectual level or at an everyday or, indeed, popular level are not clear. It would
seem to be essential to turn to a benchmark of unquestionable values, such as inclusion in its
most valuable and representative cases of sites belonging to the national heritage, in order to
obtain a more precise idea of the moment and contexts in which popular architecture begins to
be valued as it deserves among Spain’s most characteristic cultural assets as a whole. The period
when the Monumental and Artistic Catalogue began to be drawn up coincides exactly with the
beginning of the twentieth century (Decree of 1900); the first voices in favour of popular
architecture began to be heard a few years later, particularly from 1908 onwards, but it would
come to be fully accepted and even admired for its architectural virtues among intellectuals and
architects long before public officials, who delayed in consenting to its inclusion among listed
monuments in the administrative plane. This paper aims to provide a parallel reading of the
evolution of both processes in order better to understand the gradual acceptance of popular
architecture and its official recognition.