Studies on Basque vernacular architecture have usually been focused on inland rural architecture, been the farmhouse or "baserria" the paradigm of the traditional house in the collective imagination. Therefore, this type of rural house has been the most studied to date. However, vernacular architecture in the Basque Country is much more varied than this corpus of studies shows.

This research aims to study the architecture and urban spaces of the maritime villages of the Basque coast, a subject that has been little explored to date. The main objectives of the research are to analyse their origin, evolution and development  of these settlements, to study the relationship of their spaces with natural landscapes of the coast, to identify and study the different building typologies built in them, and to study the transformations they have had over the last two centuries. This research focuses on the analysis of the preserved buildings and urban spaces, also on a rigorous study of historical cartographies, iconography and old photographs as a method to understand their characteristics before the strong transformations befalled through the last century.

This research uses drawing as the main tool for recording, reconstructing and analysing those buildings, as well as to express the results of the investigation.

Research staff

Lead researcher: Aritz Díez Oronoz (Department of Architecture)

Lead researcher: Josu Narbarte Hernández (Aranzadi Zientzia Elkartea)

Other project information

• Locator: IK-22-002
• Year: 2022
• Keywords: Arquitectura vernácula, Arquitectura marítima, Poblaciones pesqueras, Paisaje costero, Construcciones en madera  
• Project type: Proyecto de I+D+i financiado en convocatoria competitiva
• Funding entity: Departamento de Cultura y Política Lingüística del Gobierno Vasco
• Start date: 2022
• Duration: 24 months
• Total amount: 29.960 €