Constructional Characteristics of Buildings Constructed in the Period about 1650 – 1900. Fieldwork in the District of Gabrovo Cover Image

Конструктивни характеристики на сгради, строени в периода около 1650 – 1900 г. Теренно проучване в област Габрово
Constructional Characteristics of Buildings Constructed in the Period about 1650 – 1900. Fieldwork in the District of Gabrovo

Author(s): Teodor Todorov
Subject(s): Anthropology, Social Sciences, Customs / Folklore, General Reference Works, Regional Geography, Cultural Anthropology / Ethnology, Culture and social structure , Source Material
Published by: Институт за етнология и фолклористика с Етнографски музей при БАН
Keywords: stone masonry; masonry solution; clay; old houses; building practices; Bulgaria

Summary/Abstract: The article presents a constructional analysis of old building practices in the region of Gabrovo. Some of the few remaining authentic buildings at the age of370 – 120 years were examined during a field study entitled “The Building Crafts of the Balkan Mountains“ and organized by the association of Meshtra – TraditionalKnowledge and Crafts and the Open Air Ethnographic Museum “Etar“ on July 20 – 22, 2018. Most of these buildings are in extremely bad condition and partially destroyed. Despite their authenticity and age, they are not recognized as cultural monuments. The focus of the study is on the building practices in choosing material, its preliminary processing, the positives and negatives of the building practices used in that period. The article compares the masonry techniques used for the building of the houses studied, other practices used abroad in the same period and the contemporary norms of masonry constructions. The information here presented could be used for the successful restoration of buildings from this period and for the profound understanding of the former construction materials and techniques.

  • Issue Year: 2020
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 92-104
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Bulgarian