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EN
ES
FR
Réf.
41834
Type
conference item
Titre
Vernacular architecture and intangible heritage in Mexico
Langues
English
Auteurs
Prieto, Valeria
Date
2003
Pages
3 p.
Titre de conférence
14th ICOMOS General Assembly and International Symposium: ‘Place, memory, meaning: preserving intangible values in monuments and sites’
Lieu de conférence
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Date de conférence
27 – 31 oct 2003
Mots-clés
vernacular architecture / intangible heritage
Pays mentionnés
Mexico
Résumé en anglais
The architectonic vernacular heritage in Mexico of bothurban and rural villages has very strong links with the
intangible culture of villages and towns throughout thecountry. Traditions and ways of life that were present
even before the Spaniards arrival adds importance toconsider this as a significant cultural building heritage.
There are many ways to recognize this invisible heritage:the Christian holidays, where the ancient indigenous rites
are mixed with the catholic religion; in the music anddances that have been preserved for many centuries, and
in the meaning that some sites represent to them, forinstance, the main plaza where many of the “fiestas” take
place or small but miraculous churches where principalsaints are venerated. Intangible heritage is part of the built
architectural spaces in Mexico nowadays.In rural villages and even in many popular urban areas
pilgrim ceremonies are made towards the sites where asaint is venerated. Such is the case of Ixhuacán de los
Reyes in Veracruz where the Virgen de los Remedios,believed to be miraculous, once a year attracts a
largenumber of faithful believers. The route that pilgrims
follow has a special meaning represented both in thetraditional pavement and in the facades ornamentation.
However many of these traditions and material heritageare threatened by the quick expansion of the way of life
globalization transmits. Global culture influence reachesthe smallest and the most outer villages in Mexico.
Negative social transformations and lost of quality of liferesult from this cultural impact. Among others, the
ancient streets and shapes of the original traza of thevillages, the community buildings and open spaces like
the market places which exist since the indigenous times,experience deterioration that changes the surrounding
landscape and natural context of an entire village.The relations between the material and immaterial
heritage are broken and foreign ways of life replace thelocal ones. As a consequence local people loose an
important part of their identity; the one linked to the soil.Part of their regional values becomes mixed with a
wrongly understood modernity. This cultural phenomenaputs in serious risk to vernacular architecture and natural
heritage.
intangible culture of villages and towns throughout thecountry. Traditions and ways of life that were present
even before the Spaniards arrival adds importance toconsider this as a significant cultural building heritage.
There are many ways to recognize this invisible heritage:the Christian holidays, where the ancient indigenous rites
are mixed with the catholic religion; in the music anddances that have been preserved for many centuries, and
in the meaning that some sites represent to them, forinstance, the main plaza where many of the “fiestas” take
place or small but miraculous churches where principalsaints are venerated. Intangible heritage is part of the built
architectural spaces in Mexico nowadays.In rural villages and even in many popular urban areas
pilgrim ceremonies are made towards the sites where asaint is venerated. Such is the case of Ixhuacán de los
Reyes in Veracruz where the Virgen de los Remedios,believed to be miraculous, once a year attracts a
largenumber of faithful believers. The route that pilgrims
follow has a special meaning represented both in thetraditional pavement and in the facades ornamentation.
However many of these traditions and material heritageare threatened by the quick expansion of the way of life
globalization transmits. Global culture influence reachesthe smallest and the most outer villages in Mexico.
Negative social transformations and lost of quality of liferesult from this cultural impact. Among others, the
ancient streets and shapes of the original traza of thevillages, the community buildings and open spaces like
the market places which exist since the indigenous times,experience deterioration that changes the surrounding
landscape and natural context of an entire village.The relations between the material and immaterial
heritage are broken and foreign ways of life replace thelocal ones. As a consequence local people loose an
important part of their identity; the one linked to the soil.Part of their regional values becomes mixed with a
wrongly understood modernity. This cultural phenomenaputs in serious risk to vernacular architecture and natural
heritage.
Document joint
A3-1_-_Valeria_Prieto.pdfLicence
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