La tapia, fases de un proceso proyectual

The essay, aimed at a critical analysis of the work of Group 3 (“De la taipa al hogar”), offers a reflection on the deep connection between traditional earthen architecture and the context of southern Portugal, with a particular focus on the methodology of the workshop “Cultura Material no Alentejo” (Odemira, September 2024). This intensive seminar was designed to explore, analyze, and reinterpret the traditional architecture built in taipa (rammed earth) typical of the region.
The text highlights how the southern region of Portugal, characterized by a rich history and environmental diversity, has served as an “ideal laboratory” for understanding the intimate relationship between materials, construction techniques, building typologies, and settlement forms, all shaped by the surrounding geographical and cultural context.

The essay points to the emergence of a new generation of architects who not only focus on the restoration of the existing heritage but also on the renewal of taipa construction techniques as a means to express a fully contemporary architectural language.
The workshop provided an immersive educational experience centered on the balance between tradition and innovation in the use of taipa within a sparsely populated territory. The event combined theoretical lectures, field visits, and hands-on building experiences, offering an important opportunity to explore the deep relationship between historical heritage, landscape, and human settlement.

The text specifically describes the work of Group 3, composed of students from six different universities (Porto, Granada, Valencia, Venice, Pescara, and Bari). Their case study focused on a small rural taipa building—a typical monte alentejano—located in the municipality of Cavaleiro, near the coast of São Teotónio.