Historical study and constructive characterization of three catalan monasteries through the analysis of their architectural restorations from the s.XIX to the present

Abstract

The present research focuses on the study of the interventions carried out in three Catalan monasteries from its construction to the present day. The three monastic groups on which this communication is centred are the monastery of Sant Cugat del Vallès, the monastery of Vallbona de les Monges and the monastery of Santes Creus. The three buildings have similar architectural composition characteristics, as well as constructive techniques and recent history. Although these three monastic groups date from the 9th-12th century they have all been in constant use and adaptation to new requirements, being the changes of greatest impact, the exclaustration and confiscations and their subsequent intervention works during the 19-20th century. In order to make a correct contextualization and study, a specific methodology is applied. It is based on the systematization of different parameters in tables that link data referring to its history, architectural composition, historical constructive system and techniques, building pathology and restorations. To this end, an important task of collecting historical data on the former interventions is carried out. Such methodology takes into account the spatial study of the different parts that form the monastic groups: the monastery (as a surrounding building, refectory, kitchen, bedrooms, chapter house, scriptorium, etc.), the basilica or temple (including towers and bell towers) and finally, the cloister as the characteristic piece of this typology. Likewise, a temporary subdivision of the restorations is also carried out in packages of three decades since the beginning of the 20th century, in order to observe how they have been transformed according to the stylistic criteria of the moment and according to the evolution of the techniques and the principles of restoration predominant architectural in each era. Although a priori it is not intended to perform a diagnosis of the causes of the current damage of the exposed buildings, this methodology can be a useful tool since it offers the vision and interpretation of the architects who acted in said monasteries decades ago. Though the comparison between the different periods of restoration in the three monasteries, it is possible to establish historical parallels and, at the same time, to have an approximation to the History of the Restoration of Monasteries in Catalonia.