José Luis Romany and the Vernacular Architecture of the Former Marquisate of Dénia (Spain)

For five years in the 1970s, José Luis Romany photographed, drew and measured dozens of vernacular homes around Dénia. The main objective was to identify construction systems and architectural types typical of the local popular house. His drawings and notes were taken freehand in pencil during the visits in small school drawing notebooks. He reviewed some of these ink drawings during his long absences in Madrid. He had in mind to carry out an in-depth study, but this project was cut short. His recent death compels us to recover not only his work. It forces us to rethink our place with respect to that heritage to which so much attention he devoted, and of which so little remains. Understanding the relationship of these anonymous houses with the territory, their typological evolution and the way in which they were constructed is a prior step to being able to address the urgent challenge of updating them. And, in all of this, the material provided by Romany is undoubtedly relevant.