GUILLERMO PAVÓN TORREJÓN DOCTORAL THESIS PRESENTATION

Among the structures that shape the rural territory, this research focuses on dispersed architecture linked to traditional agricultural and livestock production, reflecting on the permanence of these constructions within the contemporary context—a context in which, having lost the use value that justified their construction, they are severely threatened. Regardless of the architectural and aesthetic value of the most prominent examples, the assessment of this architecture must be undertaken through its condition as a territorial element. This initial hypothesis aims to move beyond a merely descriptive view of this rural heritage by incorporating an operative approach; thus, by analysing its role in the historical forms and processes of territorial occupation, it also proposes tools that can be used for its preservation. To substantiate this hypothesis, the research addresses the reading of these buildings not as an assemblage of isolated constructions, but as part of an overarching process reflecting the historical, social, and cultural conditions that have shaped the landscape. This integrative perspective highlights the significance of dispersed architecture as an essential component of the rural territory—in short, as territorial heritage.

The thesis applies the method of territorial analysis developed by the Italian architect Saverio Muratori and his followers to a case study located in the Guadalquivir Valley, primarily covering the Sevillian districts of Écija,Osuna, and Estepa. This territory’s structure is characterised by the dispersion and typological variety of its settlements, alongside a strong interrelationship between natural and built elements. Applying the method to this area of the province of Seville allows the territory to be understood as a complex system of spatial,temporal, and productive relationships that have shaped its evolution over time. The adaptation of the method to the specificities of the case study is complemented by the use of new technologies, particularly Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and aerial drone photography. The application of these techniques facilitates greater procedural agility and opens up a reflection on the potential of Muratorian theory through the inclusion of tools unavailable when its theoretical framework was initially formulated. In this way, the thesis revisits and enhances the value of Muratori’s analytical tradition in Spain through its application to a specific reality. The theoretical framework also incorporates theories from other architects studying territory within Italian architectural culture and their translation to the Spanish context. The study draws on references from other disciplines, such as geography and landscape archaeology, to provide a broad understanding of territory as the result of historical and productive processes.

One of the principal contributions of this thesis is the Atlas of the Architecture of a Territory, a cartographic device illustrating the research process and the findings obtained. It consists of a graphic representation that includes a synthesis map and sixty-two plates organised into six cartographic series. These range from the territorial scale, titled The Nature of the Territory, down to the building scale in the Typological Tables of Dispersed Architecture. Ultimately, by applying and adapting the Muratorian method of territorial analysis to the Guadalquivir Valley, the thesis demonstrates the efficacy of this methodology not only as an analytical tool for understanding the evolution of the landscape and dispersed architecture, but also as an operative resource for spatial planning and management, as well as for the appraisal and preservation of this architecture.