“For sale: empty Spain” Raising awareness on abandoned buildings and depopulated villages

Abstract

[EN] Population density is one of the most influential factors in the conservation of historic vernacular buildings. This factor is not directly linked with the constructive technique used but with the conservation and abandonment of traditional buildings. Since the mid-20th century many rural areas in the Iberian Peninsula, mostly inland, have suffered a loss of population. This is partly due to the start of industrialization which caused the population to move to the cities, as well as the high levels of poverty and abandonment in small inland towns which remain very isolated, even today. It is in this context that the Empty Spain teaching initiative arises, applicable to architectural preservation subjects taught at the ETS of Architecture (Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain), and encouraged by the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda promoted by United Nations. Raising awareness on global issues affecting society is essential in the awareness of social responsibility in education . This is even more the case for any professionals in training, especially architects, directly involved in key decisions on forms of construction and choice of materials. From the start it was felt that this involvement could help shape the framework needed to prompt motivation and undertake the changes to follow.