REINFORCEMENT OF INTERDISCIPLINARY SKILLS IN THE FIELD OF ARCHITECTURAL COMPOSITION/CONSERVATION. THE “CABAÑAL RECORD”

The “Cabañal Record” educational experience, which took place in the 2015/2016 academic year at the Higher Technical School of Architecture of the Universitat Politècnica de València, has provided a common framework for the development of interdisciplinary skills, both characteristic and tangential to two disciplines, restoration and architectural composition. The work presented by the authors is linked to the development of a joint project carried out by students from three different subjects (Architectural Conservation, Architectural Composition, Restoration of Non Monumental Historic Architecture).

This teaching action aims to ascertain the architectural details of a historic neighbourhood in the city of Valencia, the Cabañal, whose unique urban layouts and residential buildings stand out for both their architectural value and their extreme decay. Under the lemma “learning to conserve” the students executed three axes of action based on recording information and onsite didactic experience.

First, the historic blocks were documented, selecting unique buildings within them and studying possible conservation projects applied to specific cases. Subsequently, constructive characteristics common to several historic buildings were identified, propping them up and classifying them with a view to identifying conservation criteria. Finally, the distinctive composition characteristics of the historic buildings in the neighbourhood were studied to be used as guidelines in the design of new buildings and for empty plots. These three joint actions were then combined in an exhibition open to the entire School and providing a common interpretation of the project carried out.