Rural Settlements and Habitat in Spain: Transformations
1.3. Rural Settlement and Habitat
The rural settlement and habitat in Spain have experienced significant changes. Rural municipalities are defined as those with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants, with semi-urban areas having 2,000 to 10,000 inhabitants and strictly rural areas having fewer than 2,000. However, this criterion is not definitive, as some rural settlements in southern Spain have larger populations.
The origin of rural settlements is influenced by physical factors like topography and water availability, economic factors such as resource availability, and historical factors like the Reconquista. Growth and decline have been shaped by historical circumstances.
Rural settlements can be categorized into two main models: dispersed and concentrated, with various intermediate situations.
Dispersed Settlement
In dispersed settlements, houses are separated and surrounded by fields or forests. This pattern is common in the Iberian Peninsula, Balearic Islands, and Canary Islands, with variations:
- Scattered: Houses are isolated from each other. This is rare and limited to areas like the Cantabrian valleys.
- Catalan Pas-Dispersed: Scattered houses extend from concentrated nuclei due to population growth and the desire to exploit new agricultural opportunities. These houses share services with the nuclei.
- Lax Dispersed: Small groups of houses or villages are scattered, typical of the Cantabrian coast.
Concentrated Settlement
In concentrated settlements, houses form a village group, regardless of the location of the fields. This is common throughout Spain, particularly in the northern half of the peninsula where settlements are small and close together. In the southern half, they are larger and more separated, exemplified by the agro-cities of Andalusia. Concentrated settlements have two basic forms:
- Linear: Houses are arranged along an avenue or road.
- Crowded: Houses are grouped around an irregularly shaped nucleus.
Recent Changes
Rural settlements have undergone numerous changes:
- Inland areas have seen a reduction in settlement size due to rural exodus, especially in areas with limited access and resources.
- Coastal areas, particularly in the Mediterranean, have experienced tourism-driven growth, with housing developments, hotels, and facilities transforming rural areas and diminishing their traditional agrarian character.
- Suburban areas have seen urban growth incorporating nearby rural communities, leading to residential and recreational land use.
1.3.2 Rural Habitat and Recent Changes
The rural habitat comprises the houses and other structures within rural settlements. Their morphology depends on construction materials and floor plans.
Traditional materials reflect local resources and have resulted in several housing models:
- Stone houses: Use irregular stones without cement, common in Extremadura, the Balearic Islands, and the Canary Islands.
- Wood houses: Feature an intricate wooden structure filled with masonry or brick, typical of the Basque Country, Segovia, and Guadalajara.
- Mud houses: Use raw clay mixed with straw, dried in the sun, and molded or placed between wooden panels. Common in both plateaus, the Ebro Valley, the orchards of Valencia and Murcia, and the Guadalquivir countryside.
Currently, clay or brick houses are predominant.
The floor plan of a house reflects the agricultural activities of its inhabitants and includes several models:
- Block house: Contains all units under one roof: house, barn, stable, and storage.
- Ground-level house: Has a single floor, sometimes shared by people and animals.
- Multi-story house: Divided into floors, with agricultural units on the lower floors and living spaces above, often with an attic for storage.
- Compound house: Consists of different buildings for each function, arranged around an enclosed or open yard, such as the Andalusian farmhouse.
Recent Transformations
The disappearance of traditional ways of life has led to the abandonment and destruction of many traditional houses, disrupting the harmony with the landscape and resulting in the loss of cultural heritage. Recently, initiatives have been taken to conserve and protect traditional styles.