| Summary: | Andorra is a small country nestled in the heart of the Pyrenees that has undergone a radical transformation over the past half century. From a centuries-old mountain culture based on subsistence agriculture, the country saw itself converted into a leading tourist destination in a very short period of time. This change has been accompanied by significantly high levels of immigration. The traditional society of the country, which had the family house at the centre of social life, soon found itself relegated along with much of its material evidence. In recent years, the country has started to look back at the past in an attempt to connect the new generations with their own history. With this end in mind, Andorra has been implementing a policy focussed on recovering its traditional legacy and encouraging the renovation of its vernacular architecture. The enactment of the Cultural Heritage Act in 2003 has played a fundamental role in these efforts. The interventions of recent years have given us a greater insight into traditional Andorran construction, the conservation problems associated with it as well as the merits of the solutions that have been adopted. In this article, we review the history of this legacy and the manner in which it is being restored.
|
|---|
