Traditional Rural Environment and Sustainable Architecture: A Case Study in Moratalla (Murcia, Spain)

Abstract

This paper attempts to demonstrate the relationship between sustainability and vernacular architecture, being focused on a specific research carried out in the old part of Moratalla, a town in Murcia (Spain). This study has been possible thanks to the collection of 265 field records with in situ data so that quality and quantity can be measured. All these are distinctive parameters of vernacular architecture of the centre in the middle ages, what teaches us an important lesson of how traditional construction is environmentally friendly and sustainable, thus leading to more practical bioclimatic architecture. The current study relies on an agreement between the catholic university of Murcia (ucam) and the town council of the aforementioned town (moratalla), what gives an idea of its importance. Some recommendations have been included at the end of the paper to be taken into account by municipal legislation so that our building heritage can be preserved and maintained.