Aldeias do Xisto Design and Intervention Workshops

Photos from MASCAR IBERICA fair in Lisbon

2010-06-06T13:07:00.014+02:00

A.D.X.T.U.R. choose to present their region in the Mascara Iberica fair (20-23 may 2010) with the design and intervention exposition, showing the Design & Intervention Summer workshops project from 2009( the index of that project is right menu bar).

here are the photos from that event:

The event at its peek on Sunday.

A few days earlier, together with Janine Braun, building up on the night of the 19th of May.

A few minutes before the opening, arranging the last things.

On the left edge of the table are the results from the workshop Daniela did with the weavers of Casa das Tecedeiras in Janiero da Cima and Bogas do Meio.

Another view on the main table - at the bottom of the photo are the prototypes from Daniela's workshop, on the right side at the middle of the table are the prototypes games made out of schist (slate) stone David has been working on this spring.

The first day, not many visitors, thanks to the super hot weather, during the day. in the evening people start to come out.
The main table - to be used both as forum and for prevention of 'design' products/project from the region of Aldeias do Xisto.

A closer view on the games developed in schist stone - Domino, Tangram and a tower game.

Saturday.

Saturday.
Sr. Elidio surprised and came to visit the presentation, he was very happy and moved to see his own intervention project - the Roda of Janaiero da Cima, documented by the participants of the workshop and presented in the exposition.

On Sunday the guys from Oficina do Objectos, joined us in the fair with their wooden games and dolls.

UPDATES D&I SUMMER WORKSHOPS 2010

2010-05-28T11:04:00.003+02:00

New information regarding the Workshops Program and the Costs for Participation has been added to the Design & Intervention Summer Workshops at Aldeias do Xisto post / Registration is open along with other updates.

To see it directly please click here.

Photo reportage May 2010

2010-05-25T12:03:00.018+02:00

This May we were visiting Aldeias do Xisto, scouting for workshop locations, keeping in touch with people whom we met the workshops last year's edition.

The photos bellow were taken during our visit to the villages:

Herbs growing at the abandoned tennis field of the village Minas da Panasqueira.

The Abandoned Tennis field at the village Minas da Panasqueira.

Flowers and flower pots in Figueira.

Possibly hand built and now broken Chair, its craft like construction attracted our attention.

Same chair another perspective.

Traditional Crochet curtains.

And old 'Water pump' next to a well.

A transformer ( table to wagon :))

Fresh Rurality.

Entrance to to toy maker's workshop in Alcaide.

Registration for the 2010 summer Design & Intervention Workshops Is Now Open!

2010-04-19T19:28:00.020+02:00

Introduction:

Summer 2009 was the beginning of a Design & Intervention program aimed at supporting ADXTUR (the Agency for the Development & Tourism in Aldeias do Xisto) by the creation of a platform in which, through creativity & design, ideas and possibilities for the sustainable development of inland Portugal could be explored and discussed.

Taking then the form of interdisciplinary design workshops, the platform created a meeting point between the local population and several international designers.

A meeting point through which knowledge that had survived in the people, objects, architecture and landscape of the region was mapped and with which insights into sustainable design processes and into some of the challenges involved in local development were gathered.

Design & Intervention Summer Workshops 2010:

This upcoming August, with the direction of the designers Daniela Pais and David Luxembourg, the Design & Intervention platform will take the shape of a Design Laboratory which will explore and investigate ways of supporting the efforts of local municipalities in central Portugal against the human desertification, oblivion and abandonment of traditionally built stone villages.

Around this Design Lab, in 3 periods of 1 week each, a series of interdisciplinary design workshops will take place. The program for these workshops is a combination between creative thinking and creative making, and is aimed at offering and developing new insights into the design process and challenges involved in the creation of new and innovative concepts about crafts, nature, sustainability, social design & local development.

The project is a collaboration with the Portuguese project Schist Villages Network ‘Aldeias do Xisto’. This is a sustainable development project of a regional scope and context that is promoted by ADXTUR -Agency for the Development & Tourism of Aldeias do Xisto, in a partnership with 16 counties in the Central Region of Portugal and over 70 operators & businesses on this territory.

Participation in these workshops is open for designers, design students and other creative professionals who are interested in sustainable design within the contexts of rural living & local development.

The Design Laboratory:

As mentioned already above, the Design & Intervention platform will take the shape of a Design Laboratory, as a part of a continued program, integrating the main objectives of the Design & Intervention platform (to see what these are click here) and following/focusing on a different themes as the design and intervention program develops.

The first Design Lab. theme will be focused on the idea of survival: survival of knowledge, of heritage, of values, of resources and of the participants of the LAB & Workshop themselves.

Around this theme the Design Lab. will promote a continuity of the design & intervention program in the villages through specific projects during the year and as well as through residences for designers and the summer workshops.

Workshop 2010 Program:

TO FEEL > TO ANALYZE > TO RECOGNIZE > TO VALUE

As mentioned before the program for these workshops is a combination between a ‘Hands on’ approach and a ‘Minds on’ approach, involving the local community its resources and its artisans with national and international designers & design students while keeping the focus on the regional intervention program, its aims and its needs. A briefing will be given in the beginning of each workshop as to what these are and as to the communities, artisans and crafts that are involved.

The participants to the summer workshops can expect to be busy with hand-on design regarding sustainability and the reinvention of everyday luxuries (including cooking) & technologies in a rural environment (also in order to reduce their footprint during their stay at the villages). They can also expect to get involved with local communities while scouting and collecting knowledge and information about their environment, data that will be transformed into proposals or acts of intervention as each workshop progresses. Bellow you will find a week-by-week themes and planning:

Period I - 02.08 till 08.08
Hands on: Making the basics for living / survival tools
Minds on: Researching & developing initial proposals for interventions according to LAB assignment by Scouting; mapping; analyzing; pointing out proposals/ directions.

Period II - 09.08 till 15.08
Hands on: Making of design essentials / sustainable & local technologies
Minds on: following on the previously LAB assignment directions, Research and development taking a more specific and direct approach into providing solutions and detailed proposals.

Period III - 16.08 till 22.08
Hands on: Making of communication materials exploring local resources and using the technologies previously developed at workshop 2.
Minds on: Finalizing proposals and solutions on a micro level, dealing with execution details and scenarios of implementation of proposals provided by previous workshops.

Criteria for participation:

Participation in these workshops is open for designers, design students and other creative professionals who are interested in sustainable design within the contexts of rural living & local development.

You can ask for an application form for the workshops - either via info@danielapais.com or through hello@yoad.info

Please note:
- Per workshop/period there are only 8 places available. We recommend people who are interested in participating in the workshops, to contact us directly and register/reserve their place(s) ASAP.
- You can participate in 1, 2, or 3 workshops (see listing of period below).

- You must be 20 years old or older.
- In order that we will have a better understanding of who you are and how you work, we ask each participant to write us/send us a short C.V. or Bio (max 1 A4 long) with some details about themselves their work, study, education etc.

+ Also (this part is not compulsory) if you have any website or a small portfolio that we could look in please let us know where it is (URL) or simply send it to our emails.

* As a platform the design & intervention program is open to involvement of all interested and interesting parties, therefore the possibility is given to creative professionals & design students with a special interest or project to combine their studies with this program and to continue and explore their ideas and concept within the workshops. If you have a special interest or an ongoing project you would like to continue and explore during the workshop, please attach a short power point presentation or PDF about it when sending back your application form.

Participation costs:

*Important notice* Together with the local municipalities we are working on ways to reduce the participation fee to an ideal cost of 300 Euros/week. Prices bellow may change in the future. *Important notice*

Per week – 500 Euros
(Period I - 02.08 till 08.08, Period II - 09.08 till 15.08, or Period III - 16.08 till 22.08)
For 2 weeks (10% discount) – 900 Euros
(Periods I & II - 02.08 till 15.08)
For 3 weeks (20% discount) – 1200 Euros
(Periods I, II and III - 02.08 till 22.08)

Prices are per person and include: Accommodation (in a shared room / camping), Meals (full board) and Materials.

Deadline: All application must be submitted and received before the 10th July 2010.

Aldeias do Xisto Revisited.

2010-04-01T19:15:00.008+02:00

Last March me and Daniela traveled back to the villages. She for a week of workshops with the local weavers in Janeiro da Cime and I for a week of work developing 3 games for the local Aldeias do Xisto loja.

Both projects aim at revitalization and the bringing back of value to 'old' resources, crafts and craftsmanship. bellow is our photo report.

My works took me all over; I have visited stone quarries, stone cutters, carpenters, weavers and laser printers and even had to cross Torre ( tallest point of Portugal) twice in 24 hours.

Who'd believe there is so much snow in Portugal?

This is what I like about design: The power to Break the routine - asking someone to do something different will also make them feel different.

A stone cutter finds himself creating games pieces in a a line of work that normally keeps him busy cutting/carving of grave stones.

In the local game maker's workshop- prototyping packaging.

A weaver making a playing mat for the game concept 'Tower of Stone'.

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a life time"

With her workshop Daniela aimed to create not only a clothing collection but to create “design” tools with and for the weavers that will give them more autonomy when creating new pieces and keep local knowledge in touch with the global market.

Her workshop took place between 15 a 19 de March 2010 at Casa das Tecedeiras in Janeiro de Cima and in Bogas do Meio, Fundão.

Participants: Aida, Cecília, Elsa, Laura, Lurdes, Natália, Rosa.
Assistant: Lea Liabastre

Presentation Dutch Design Week Archived!

2010-01-01T12:54:00.017+01:00

We Finally finished Archiving our 2009 project - as presented in Oct. 2009 at the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven.

Bellow you can find photos from the exposition and on the panel to the right you can find the archived content of the exposition under 'Index 2009'.

Following the objectives of Design & Intervention platform, the main idea behind this presentation was to both promote the Aldeias do Xisto region ( by recreating the 'flavour' of the villages) and to involve more people in the Design and Intervention future workshops, activities and aims.

The table as the center of the presentation recreating the importance of the table in rural living as a meeting point.

The perspectives wall: We archived the collected visual information into this layout in order to manifest and allow different ways of reading the total information. A person could explore the region following either the point of view of each of the participants, making his own connections with the information on the wall, or following the the tags of thematic content.

The Design & Intervention wall: the information on this wall is arrange according to the different stages of the workshop - from research, mapping & registration of various situations& conditions to analysis and the forming of proposals of for intervention on various fields.

The initial sketch of the plan for the presentation.

1.1: Introduction - Summer Design & Intervention Workshops

2009-10-02T08:00:00.003+02:00

Summer 2009 was the beginning of a Design & Intervention program aimed at supporting ADXTUR (the Agency for the Development & Tourism in Aldeias do Xisto) by the creation of a platform in which, through creativity & design, ideas and possibilities for the sustainable development of inland Portugal could be explored and discussed.

Taking the form of interdisciplinary design workshops this August, the platform created a meeting point between the local population and several international designers.

A meeting point through which knowledge that had survived in the people, objects, architecture and landscape of the region was mapped and with which insights into sustainable design processes and into some of the challenges involved in local development were gathered.

1.2: Aims of the Workshops and Platform

2009-10-02T07:00:00.006+02:00

Objectives of the interdisciplinary workshops:

1. To provide designers and design students with a challenge and a platform to explore new ideas within the rural context.
2. To offer & develop insights into design processes and the challenges involved in the creation of new and innovative concepts about crafts, nature, sustainability, social design & local development
3. To provide the local communities with creative and innovative input for their sustainable
development.

Objectives of the platform:

1. To support the regional intervention program with new refreshing ideas and attitudes towards the restoration of the villages & their future lifestyles.
2. To Revitalize and promote local crafts & sites of interest for tourism, education and leisure activities.
3. To introduce and promote the Aldeias do Xisto in new social & professional networks in Europe
4. To attract new & young people to this area who may in turn want to stay and help to develop the region in the future

1.3: Thematic Content of the Workshops

2009-10-02T06:00:00.004+02:00

Water & Energy

With 2 of the main rivers of Portugal flowing through this region the water element is present everywhere, not only in the riverbeds and fountains of fresh water, but also in the remnants of old agrarian facilities such as derelict graining mills (moinhos) and olive oil mills (lagares).

When registering these facilities and the flow water around them we mostly reflected and thought about the vitality, or the force of the water and the possibilities of using this renewable energy source through the renovation and re-application of the old lagares.

Modern vs. Local

Though municipal development programs many villages undergo intervention in the form of modernization of infrastructure; the renovation of electricity grid and lighting to the village, the construction of sewage and water ways as well as the introduction of public furniture and infrastructure for emergency services (like the fire brigades for example).

However in many cases, whether performed privately or through the municipality, these renovations result in an eclectic style of patchwork in which foreign elements are added on old facades and street ways.

This clash of ‘life styles’ is an evident struggle that can be observed through all the territory as ‘Modern’ and ‘Old’ live side by side and on top of each other in village buildings and public infrastructures. As outsiders we portrayed these elements of conflict searching also for the roots of its existence in order to understand, to improve or even take advantage of it.

Human capital
(knowledge; heritage, people and crafts)

People are the key factor for sustainable development. They are the carriers of local knowledge, guardians of history & heritage, and it is through their skills and motivation that sustainable development can be achieved.

In our travelling through Aldeias do Xisto we met many people, most of them were old, some were young and only a few of them were children. With this declining population in mind we felt it urgent to capture and document the knowledge of the individuals that are slowly disappearing from the region. However their knowledge is only one aspect of sustainable development here, it is equally important to not let the strength and motivation of these people escape.

Horticulture
(Hortas/ Hortis/ Vegetable garden)

Following the irregular landscape of this region it is understandable why this land is farmed and organized in small parcels which mostly owned and used by families to cultivate there vegetables and fruits, sometimes even in large quantities. In this landscape full of family ‘farms’ we were taken by this green connection and followed the close relationship between people and their food. The existence of the ‘Hortas’ is directly related to the existence of human capital i.e. The local knowledge and skill that is still present and alive in this region.

3.0: Perspectives

2009-10-02T05:00:00.003+02:00

Aldieas do Xisto through the eyes of the participants to the workshops, Arranged according to the thematic themes described in the 'Thematic Content of the Workshops' entry (1.3) .

Please follwo the links bellow:

3.1 - Bruno Carvalho
3.2 - Noesjka Klomberg
3.3 - Patricia Valinho
3.4 - Janine Braun
3.5 - Dominic Cort
3.6 - Catarina de Medeiros
3.7 - Daniela Pais
3.8 - Matthijs Vogels
3.9 - David Luxembourg

3.1: Bruno Carvalho - Water & Energy

2009-10-01T08:55:00.002+02:00

1. Washing clothes @ Moinho Velho.

2. Irrigation @ Moinho Velho.

3. Multi-functional irrigation pipe @ Moinho Velho.

4. Water pipe connecting reservoir to power station (side view) @ Vidual.

5. Water pipe connecting reservoir to power station (front view) @ Vidual.

3.1:Bruno Carvalho - Modern vs Local

2009-10-01T08:45:00.001+02:00

1. Industrial drilling machine (made of concrete) @ Janeiro de Cima.

2. Electricity boxes @ Figueira.

3.1: Bruno Carvalho - Human Capital

2009-10-01T08:35:00.001+02:00

1. Videos: Mobile @ Cartomil & ‘Crying’ water wheel @ Janeiro de Cima.

2. Sr. José shepherds chair @Moinho Velho.

3. Sr. José house and workshop (built with reused material from South Africa) @ Moinho Velho.

4. Sr. José Reis.

5. Sr. José workshop door @ Moinho Velho.

3.1: Bruno Carvalho - Horta

2009-10-01T08:25:00.001+02:00

1. Sr. Elidio vegetable garden @ Janeiro de Cima.

2. Detail of Vegetable garden @ Açor.

3. Vegetable garden @ Açor.

4. Horta gate @ Porto Castanheiro.

3.2: Noesjka Klomberg - Water and Energy

2009-10-01T07:55:00.001+02:00

1. River pool @ Porto Castanheiro.

2. Dam of St. Luzia @ Vidual .

3. Irrigation system @ Porto Castanheiro.

4. Irrigation system @ Fajão.

3.2: Noesjka Klomberg Modern vs Local

2009-10-01T07:45:00.001+02:00

1. Light switch at Cultural House @ Martim Branco.

2. Mix of construction materials @ Martim Branco.

3. Goat shed @ Porto Castanheiro.

4. House @ Martim Branco.

3.2: Noesjka Klomberg - Human Capital

2009-10-01T07:35:00.001+02:00

1.Door @ Figueira

3.2: Noesjka Klomberg - Horta

2009-10-01T07:25:00.001+02:00

1. Priest house garden @ Figueira.

2. Door in priest house @ Figueira

3. Vegetable garden/ Horta @ Figueira.

4. Beans @ Figueira.

5. Family working in a Horta @ Figueira.

3.3: Patricia Valinho - Water and Energy

2009-10-01T06:55:00.001+02:00

1. Well @ Figueira.

3.3: Patricia Valinho - Modern vs Local

2009-10-01T06:45:00.001+02:00

1.Door @ Figueira.

2.Door & Lamp post @ Figueira

3. Lamps @ Figueira.

4. Lamp posts @ Figueira.

5. Alley lamp @ Figueira.

3.3: Patricia Valinho - Human Capital

2009-10-01T06:35:00.001+02:00

1. Weaving Installatoin at the Weavers House entrance @ Janeiro de Cima.

2. Baskets at basket weaving workshop @ Alcongosta.

3. Wood rests at the basket weaving workshop @ Alcongosta.

4. Miniatures of traditional kitchen in Xisto shop @ Figueira.

3.3: Patricia Valinho - Horta

2009-10-01T06:25:00.001+02:00

1. Vegetable garden @ Figueira.

2. House backyard/garage @ Figueira.

3.4: Janine Braun - Water and Energy

2009-10-01T05:55:00.001+02:00

1.Detail of watering wheel @ Janeiro de Cima.

2.Watering wheel @ Janeiro de Cima.

3.Details of the scale model of Sr. Elidio watering wheel @ Janeiro de Cima.

4.Scale model of Sr. Elidio watering wheel @ Janeiro de Cima.

3.4: Janine Braun - Modern vs Local

2009-10-01T05:45:00.001+02:00

1. Door detail @ Fajão.

2. Door detail @ Fajão.

3.4: Janine Braun - Human Capital

2009-10-01T05:35:00.001+02:00

1. Deatil of door in a priest house @ Figueira.

2. Mobile @ Cartamil.

3. BBQ Grill in the street @ Janeiro de Cima.

4. Traditional pan @ Fajão

5. The bombo workshop of Sr. Américo family @ Lavacolhos.

3.4: Janine Braun - Horta

2009-10-01T05:25:00.001+02:00

1. Vegetable garden @ Figueira.

2. Chicken shed @ Figueira.

3. Barn @ Figueira.

4. Vegetable garden @ Figueira.

3.5: Dominic Cort - Water and Energy

2009-10-01T04:55:00.002+02:00

1. Detail of watering wheel @ Janeiro de Cima.

2. Detail of watering wheel @ Janeiro de Cima.

3. Detail of watering wheel @ Janeiro de Cima.

3.5: Dominic Cort - Modern vs Local

2009-10-01T04:45:00.001+02:00

1. Street chapel with brick seat @ Figueira

2. House with metering boxes @ Figueira

3. Street electricity central box @ Figueira

4. Roof top @ Figueira

5. Detail of light switch in the priest’s house @ Figueira

6. Metering boxes @ Figueira

3.5: Dominic Cort - Human Capital

2009-10-01T04:35:00.001+02:00

1. Women at her door @ Figueira.

2. Schist stones / ardosias @ Sobral de São Miguel.

3. Schist stones / ardosias @ Sobral de São Miguel.

4. Quarry of schist @ Sobral de São Miguel.

3.5: Dominic Cort - Horta

2009-10-01T04:25:00.001+02:00

1. Detail: irrigation system @ Figueira.

2. Detail: irrigation system @ Figueira.

3.6: Catarina de Medeiros - Water and Energy

2009-10-01T03:55:00.001+02:00

1. Lagar @ Lavacolhos.

2. Parts of an old Lagar @ Janeiro de Cima

3.6: Catarina de Medeiros - Modern vs Local

2009-10-01T03:45:00.001+02:00

1. House @ Figueira.

2. House @ Figueira.

3. Wall detail @ Figueira.

4. House detail @ Figueira.

3.6: Catarina de Medeiros - Human Capital

2009-10-01T03:35:00.001+02:00

1. Improvised bench @ Figueira.

2. Garage door sytem @ Figueira.

3. Confection door the priest house @ Figueira.

4. Picture of the priest @ Figueira.

3.6: Catarina de Medeiros - Horta

2009-10-01T03:25:00.001+02:00

1. Vegetable garden @ Figueira.

2. Street chapel in vegetable garden @ Figueira.

3. Vegetable garden @ Figueira.

3.7: Daniela Pais - Water and Energy

2009-10-01T02:55:00.001+02:00

1. Dam of St. Luzia. Vidual

2. Swimming pool @ Dam of St. Luzia.

3.7: Daniela Pais - Modern vs Local

2009-10-01T02:45:00.001+02:00

1. House balcony @ Açor.

2. House @ Açor.

3. House corner detail @ Sobral de São Miguel.

3.7: Daniela Pais - Human Capital

2009-10-01T02:35:00.001+02:00

1. Video: Spoon maker @ Pardieiro, Bombo maker @ Lavacolhos, Bread maker @ Figueira.

2. Carpenter workshop @ Janeiro de Cima.

3. Carpenter workshop @ Janeiro de Cima.

4. Baskets @ Alcongosta.

5. Carpenter workshop @ Janeiro de Cima.

6. Baskets weaver @ Alcongosta.

3.7: Daniela Pais - Horta

2009-10-01T02:25:00.001+02:00

1. Fountain @ Benfeita.

2. Vegetable garden @ Barroca.

3. Horta house @ Açor

4. Drying tomatoes @ Janeiro de Cima.

3.8: Matthijs Vogels - Water and Energy

2009-10-01T01:55:00.001+02:00

1. House’s washing place @ Lavacolhos.

2. Ccommunity washing room @ Sobreira Formosa.

3. Ponteira water pomp @ Figueira.

4. Water wheel detail @ Janeiro de Cima.

5. Ponteira water pomp @ Figueira.

3.8: Matthijs Vogels - Modern vs Local

2009-10-01T01:45:00.001+02:00

1. Front porch/house entrance @ Janeiro de Cima

2. Detail of door @ Figueira

3. Details Light switch @ Lavacolhos

4. Details of door @ Fajão

3.8: Matthijs Vogels - Human Capital

2009-10-01T01:35:00.001+02:00

1. Ceramic tiles painting @ Lavacolhos.

2. Wooden door @ Figueira.

3. Detail - tools @ Sobreira Formosa.

4. Cork pieces @ Sobreira Formosa.

3.8: Matthijs Vogels - Horta

2009-10-01T01:25:00.001+02:00

1. Honey comb @ Figueira.

2. Bee hive @ Figueira.

3.9:David Luxembourg - Water and Energy

2009-10-01T00:55:00.003+02:00

1. Lagar @ Figueira.

2. River dam @ Figueira.

3. Ponteira @ Figueira.

4. River dam @ Janeiro de Cima.

3.9:David Luxembourg - Modern vs Local

2009-10-01T00:45:00.001+02:00

1.Waste bin @ Janeiro de Cima.

3.9: David Luxembourg - Human Capital

2009-10-01T00:35:00.001+02:00

1. Spoon maker workshop @ Pardieiro.

2. Spoon maker @ Pardieiro.

3. Spoon maker workshop @ Pardieiros.

4. Cork detail @ Sobreira Formosa.

5. Cork detail @ Sobreira Formosa.

6. Cork workshop @ Sobreira Formosa.

7. Cork craftsmen @ Sobreira Formosa.

8. Donna Maria da Luz @ Figueira.

3.9: David Luxembourg - Horta

2009-10-01T00:25:00.002+02:00

1. Vegetable Garden @ Figueira.

2. Vegetable Garden @ Figueira.

3. Lettuces in vegetable garden @ Sobreira Formosa.

2.1: Introduction - Aldeias do Xisto

2009-09-30T08:00:00.001+02:00

The Schist Villages Network is a sustainable development project with regional scope. Involves private and public forces embodied in ADXTUR agency, integrating 14 counties in the center of Portugal, where the 24 Schist Villages are located.

Over the last decade, ADXTUR bridged the gap between private and public needs, establishing a cooperative platform to promote cooperation and surpass existing discrepancies in the territory through coordination and interaction with different players. The common goal was: accomplish a sustainable development of the territory, reducing human desertion and heritage neglect.

Main objectives:

• promote sustainable development;
• divulge endogenous values and products;
• preserve the culture and heritage of the rural;
• Reinforce the wellbeing and quality of life of local populations.

2.2: Aldeia do Xisto Context

2009-09-30T07:00:00.000+02:00

During the last years, the 24 villages went through interventions at various levels, namely:

• Traditions recovery;
• Architectural heritage valorization;
• Traditional arts and trades promotion;
• Landscape preservation.

These interventions were partially supported by European funds but also private and public, and never lost sight of what was the prime goal: increase the quality of life of people that live in the villages, raising their self-esteem, ennobling their social dynamic while involving them in a participative project that is, in the end, their own.

The focus of these interventions will always be the locals. Although there are other priority areas like touristic enhancement (activities and infra-structures), habitants will always be the focus point. The villages have huge touristic potential as heritage but without people and their livelihoods there will not be a sustainable offer.

2.3: Relevant Regional Information

2009-09-30T06:00:00.001+02:00

Demography

The territory has a significant ageing population, as some sub-regions have an average rate of 275% against the national average of 111%. Only 27% of the population in the territory is between 0-24 years.

Land use

Land use is highly marked by its morphologic characteristics, due to the existence of mountain and rivers. Last decades have shown two distinct trends in Portugal: on one hand, a progressive concentration of population in main urban centers along the coast and on the other hand, the polarization and demographic growth in the main urban centers in the interior. Together, these centerss concentrate 75% of residence population in portugal. In contrast to these rural areas in portugal tend to suffer from desertification and human migration, consequently resulting in lack of workforce for maintaining industry and public services.

Education

Instruction level is a matter of concern, as 61% of the population has primary school studies and 15% are illiterate. But the scenario is worst: only 5,5% of the population went to high-school and 3,5% to university. Scholar abandonment rate is also high: 21% of the students drop out from school.

Infrastructure

In terms of environmental sustainability, the scenario is the following:

• Water supply capacity system is 97%, surpassing national average that is 92%. But shared solutions between counties only exist in a small part of the territory. In most cases water supply is held by a single municipality and has many origins, making a full control of water quality and liability almost impossible.
• Residual water drainage coverage is about 70% but the treatment capacity is only 60%. As for the waste collection system, it covers almost 99% of the population. However only 2,4% of produced waste is recycled.

In terms of social equipments:
• Educational facilities surpass national average..
• Health services tend to be more alike the national context. But this only happens because the city of Coimbra offers a great amount of those services, in contrast with the interior of this territory.
• Cultural and leisure equipments also surpass the national average.
• The rates of social protection services for children and elder are extremely low.

Mobility

This region lacks good accesses between the different urban and rural centers. One of the main obstacles is in fact, nature; the mountains and the rivers divide the territory, but public authorities have a strategic plan to overcome this handicap in order to allow regional mobility and promote strategic development.

Train network crosses a good part of the territory allowing an alternative transport; but the interior region has lack of services and in some cities there’s only three train services per day.

2.4: Crafts and Craftsmenship

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In the regional development plan of ‘Aldeias do Xisto’ crafts are seen as an essential element of rural development and are considered as an economical activity that is integrated with many fields and functions: social, cultural, environmental, pedagogic, recreational and aesthetic.

Looking in detail upon craftsmanship in this region it is evident that craftsmen develop their work in a very individualist way, choosing not to explore any of the advantages that can be gained by establishing connections with other craftsmen or organizations.

Working in order to protect and promote the craftsmanship of this region, Aldeias do Xisto has sought to change this mind set and has been creating a list of criteria to identify the different types of crafts. Believing it is important to first visualize where each type of craft and craftsman is if your goal is to make connections between them.

Type of crafts that exist in Aldeias do Xisto: Musical Instruments, Wood Works, Ceramics, Food, Decorative Arts, Metal Works, Basket Weaving, Textile, Patchworks & Linen, Hats, Shoemakers, and Cork.

4.1: Mapping

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It was important for us, that before we start our intervention,we would have a good over view about the region, local key figures, previous intervention projects and future opportunities. this section portrays some of our discoveries.

Schist Heritage Network- Røros Project

An international project between the Schist Villages Network and the Røros Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Norway.

The project, applied and approved under the EEA Grants financial mechanism, practice a careful conservation, maintaining and repairing of houses in several Schist Villages through the development of workshops with Norwegian and Portuguese craftsmen in a constant transfer of knowledge.

The first phase of the project occurred in November 2008 with 4 workshops covering 3 villages.

Human capital
(knowledge; heritage; people & crafts)

People are the key factor for sustainable development. They are the carriers of local knowledge, guardians of history & heritage, and it is through their skills and motivation that sustainable development can be achieved.

In our travelling through the region we met many people, most of them were old, some were young and only a few of them were children. With this declining population in mind we felt it urgent to capture and document the knowledge of the individuals that are disappearing in the villages every moment. However their knowledge is only one aspect of sustainable development in this region it is equally important to not let the strength and motivation of these people escape.

Community Houses- Casas da Floresta (Forest Houses)

Since 10 years Pinus Verde (Association for the sustainable development of the forest) develops a project centered in the main element of the ADX territory: the forest.

The concept or meaning of Forest is taken in its full cycle and richness. The first objective was to promote the protection of the forest through projects and teams of guards having an integrated approach to the forest.

An approach considering that the forest is also a place of people and cultural traditions to support. Therefore the social action towards the human qualification has been a main strategy.

All this community houses have a thematic; educational and touristy perspective, but they were created essentially to preserve the local traditions and crafts that are related to the forest.

A forest where mushrooms grow; bees produce honey; women weave the linen and men play the Bombo.

Water and Energy

Registeration of the remnants of old agrarian facilities such as derelict graining mills (moinhos) and olive oil mills (lagares) and the flow water around them. While doing this we mostly reflected and thought about the vitality, or the force of the water and the possibilities of using this renewable energy source through the renovation and re-application of the old Moinhos and Lagares.

4.1: Schist Heritage Network- Røros project

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An international project between the Schist Villages Network and the Røros Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Norway.

The aim of this project is to practice a careful conservation, maintaining and repairing of 80 houses in several Schist Villages, through the use of traditional craftsmanship’s methods and materials.

This is done by doing workshops on preserving the heritage of the Portuguese villages with Norwegian and Portuguese craftsmen in a constant transfer of knowledge.

With the house as the learning setting the recovery of the buildings also means the recovery of authentic traditional craftsmanship methods their traditional techniques and materials.

PRINCIPLES OF ACTION

According to the practice implemented in the city of Røros- world heritage/ UNESCO

1- Make the minimum possible of substitutions.

2- Any needed substitution must have the minimum impact in the rest of the building.

3- The repairing should not be made if the lifetime of its structural elements is to short .

4- The substitution must be based on the comprehension and appreciation of the traditional arts& crafts. The visible surface and the expression of the elements must keep the same characteristics of the elements that were substituted.

5- The original material must be carefully examined and any substitution must have identical quality.

6- Whenever is necessary to reinforce the structure the addition of new elements is preferred rather than any change on the structure itself.

7- The substitutions, changes and additions must be documented with the help of photography, drawings and written descriptions.

4.2: Mapping - Human Capital

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People are the key factor for sustainable development. They are the carriers of local knowledge, guardians of history & heritage, and it is through their skills and motivation that sustainable development can be achieved.

Sr. Elidio, age 66.

Location: Janeiro de Cima, next to the watering wheel.

Professional activity: As a boy worked as a wood collector. In his youth migrated to France and became specialized in construction of interior fake roofs. Now retired.

It was the watering wheel of Janeiro de Cima that led us to Sr. Elidio, the initiator of its re-creation. A watering wheel is a giant wooden wheel that transports the water from the river to the fields. In the past there were many of this wheels along the river but now this is the only one and it was built from his memories.

He told us about the wheel- “(…) the most important thing is the singing!”.

Sr. Américo , age 30.

Location: Lavacolhos, in the bombo (traditional drum) workshop under the house of Américo´s grandfather.

Professional activity: Works in the municipality of Fundão as a stone layer.

Américo is one of the bombo players of the Lavacolhos village, following the path of his family, but he has also learned how to make the instrument. He is the youngest craftsman we encountered in the whole region. He learned is craft from his grandfather who still owns a bombo workshop, but due to his grandfather advanced age, Américo is now the one doing most of the tasks. His only complaint is not having enough time to practice to be with is
grandfather.

D. Lucia, age 48.

Location: Figueira, while making bread in the community oven.

Professional activity: House wife …

When we arrived to the village of Figueira D.Lucia was ready to receive us. During our stay we observed that she does not stay still, she moves constantly from one activity to the other. Between her infinite daily tasks she showed us the village in detail and presented us to the residents. With her we learn to make bread and we learned how fresh made goat cheese tastes.

Together with her two sons she open Xisto Shop store in the village, which is the only open activity in the village and therefore the meeting point of its residents every night.

Fernando, age 26.

Location: Figueira, in Fernando´s family vegetable garden.

Professional activity: Studying Informatics and part time managing ADX family shop in Figueira.

After meeting D. Lucia we met her sons: João and Fernando. They are easy to
recognize in the village because they are the only two youngsters around.

Active as the mother they have many plans to develop in the village and much motivation. They want to develop active tourism in Figueira using the farming as an activity and as an exchange of
knowledge.

Fernando is also a stone mason of traditional schist walls and other rebuilding.

Sr. Jose Reis, age 73.

Location: Malhada Velha, in Moinho velho at the gates of Sr. José Reis house.

Professional activity: as a boy he learned from his father the profession of carpenter. Later on he moved to South Africa where he worked for 30 years in the
construction business. Now shepherd.

When we came across the site Moinho Velho we saw a “patchwork” house and a men that kindly open is house and share with us his life story. All his life José Reis found treasures that kept him busy in what people don’t want any more. From South Africa he brought 2 containers full of materials, mostly windows and door that he used to build. He has plans for everything in his land – “(…) everyday I make something, and I will do so till I can. This is my life.” he says.

Sr. Sebastião, age 77.

Location: Martim Branco, in the fields over the ruins of an old open air clay oven. Last time Sr. Sebastião was there he was 7 years old.

Professional activity: Worked all is life in the Portuguese water company. Simultaneously developed a political career. Now retired.

When we arrived to Martin Branco Sr. Sebastião was waiting for us with the key of the local cultural house. He told us many stories and took us to visit few places. Along the way he spoke about local issues like the lack of mobility and food supply, but about global matters on which he likes to think- “(…) we all live from the land but no one wants to farm it. And then we want all food to be available and cheap.

2009 4.3: Casa das Tecedeiras (weavers house)

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In the Janeiro de Cima Village, as well as in the nearby Bogas do Meio, the art of weaving in linen on a traditional loom produces highly crafted items which blend traditional and modern designs. This is one of the most genuine traditions from the region.

At Casa das Tecedeiras you can purchase some items, visit an exhibition about the linen cycle, where a loom is available for those willing to try it and their workshop is also available for visiting.

During the reconstruction project studies of ADXTUR when inquiring the villagers of Janeiro de Cima, there was a common dream between the women in the village: the wish to have a common space were they could all weave together instead of doing it individually in their own houses.

To support these women but also to empower this craft (immaterial heritage) ADXTUR implemented a project that gives the weavers training and market positioning.

The Casa das Tecedeiras is simultaneously an atelier, a sales point and a small museum about Linen and Weaving.

These days the artists from Casa das Tecedeiras are all local women who participated in textile design courses throughout the years. Today they are able to produce a variety of articles, from clothing to fashion accessories, and mostly house textiles and decorative items.

TRADITIONAL LINEN PROCESS

Sown at end of March the Linum Usitatissimum Starts to bloom at the end of May and is harvest 1 month after.

1- RIPAR/ RIPPLING to remove the seeds by pulling the stems through a coarse comb.
2- REMOLHAR/ RETTING stems are soaked in water during 4-5 days to separate the fibers from the stalk.
3- SECAR/ TO DRY during 2 days.
4- MASSAR/ BEATING to beat with the massa on the stems over a stone.
5- ESPADELAR/ “SCUTCHING” the stems are tapped and stroked to separate the best fibers from the unwanted woody ones.
6- SEDAR/ “HECKLING” to comb using a hackle with iron teeth.
7- FIAR/ SPINING
8- Make hanks with the sarilho.
9- BARRELA/ A boiling treatment with hot water and ashes.
10- LAVAR/ TO WASH the hanks in the river, natural BLEACH and DRY.
11- DOBAR/ make the ball of threads.
12- URDIR/ LAYING THE WARP to prepare the warp in the urdideira.
13- TECER/ TO WEAVE in the loom.

2009 4.4: Mapping Water Energy (study of Figueira village)

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Before the introduction of electricity water was an important ‘industrial’ energy source through out Aldeias do Xisto. Today water mills (moinhos- where flower is produced for bread making) and olive mills/pressers (lagars- where olive oil is produced) are used by local population in few villages only.

However once you become aware to the amount of these buildings and their remains in this region (almost every village has some) you also become aware of how mankind harnessed the power of water in the past and how we can do so again in the future as renewable energy.

In our mapping of the region for these water energy facilities and their infrastructure the village of Figueira stood out as a good example for comprehensive use and management of this resource, both in dry seasons when it’s scarce and in wet seasons when the water are over flowing and flooding the local river.

Study of Figueira River

In the following photos from top to bottom: 1, 4, 9 & 10 - Wells. There are many wells in figueira, with and with out pointiera (sort of a water pump), these are either filled with flood water, or are part of an underground river.

In the following photos from top to bottom: 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 - These (Thick) Schist walls had dual functionality:

1-Water storage which could later on be released in order to power the moinho and lagar that are down the stream.

2- prevention of land erosion, these strong walls kept the water stream in its course.

Bellow: 8- Dam & Gate: The Dam directed the water into the channel that leads to the moinho & lagar when needed. The moinho & lagar did not operate 24/7 however. The gate stopped the flow of water when the moinho & lagar were not in use.

11- Water canal: In dry season water was pumped from the wells & through the canal for either irrigation or for operating the moinho or the lagar.

Bellow: 12- Derelict Moinho

Bellow: 13- Destryed Lagar

Bellow: 14- The Water Canal that leads to the active lagar.

bellow: 15- Active Lagar

5.0: Figuiera Interventions 27-28 Augaust

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Inetrventions Program

Figuira Village:

Map of Figuira with spots of interest:

Brainstorm analysis of the village and its opportunities:

5.1: Water Route - Concept proposal for Figueira village

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Using figueira’s natural resurce for economic and social dynamization. A creation of walking track through the village’s wells where kinetic installtions involving water are installed.

Different types of wells in Figuira:

Map of the Water Route:

(Location of wells is marked with red circle)

The Different Levels of village dynamization and sphears of social/human involvement :

1 (Smallest circle) - the water source its self - Used for irigation.
2 - Kinetic installation /object around the water source - That will increase awarness to watter issues and renuable energy resources, as well as create interaction between visitors and the water source.
3 - The invention/creation of the Kinetic installation /object - By People who come, stay in the village and work on/create/ invent the kinetic installation. An artists residency for designers, scientists, architects, and engineers.
4 - The Building of the Kinetic Installation / Object - By Specialized craftsmen who also come, stay in the village and build the kinetic installation (craftsmen residency), Local villagers and craftesmen who can/ want to help
5 - The Village in which everything is happening - The villageitself is used in order to facilitate creative/craft residencies (stay,food, materials, machinery etc.) Creating interaction between Guests and the locals; involving villagers and guests in everyday activities.
6 (Biggest circle) - Tourism: Attracting foreign visitors to the village but also visitors from near by villages who are curious to see what going on in the village.

5.2: Garden Garden -Concept proposal for Figueira village

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Normally small villages in Aldeias do Xisto region don’t have gardens; instead they have a lot of green fields made of vegetable gardens. Garden Garden is a concept for a place of work and leisure for the inhabitants of figuiera village, creatng there a new village garden of vegetables but with a classical garden design.

Click on the image to enlarge.

5.3: One Minute Intervetions (Modern Vs. Local)

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In recent years Figueira has went through its first phase of intervention. Along with renovating some of the houses in the village, a new power and lighting net has been created and also new water supply lines and sewage ways were built.

While the renovation of the houses has added to the environment and the aesthetic value of village, the method in which the new power and water infrastructure was implemented did the exact opposite - introducing foreign materials and attaching modern objects in visually aggressive ways to narrow stone built alleys and traditionally built houses.

One minute interventions is a short design exercise, which is aimed at increasing awareness and discussion about the values, the aesthetics and the possibilities of using local materials and traditional building methods in local develpment projects.

The Rules for ‘1 Minute Intervention’:
1. Search for disruption in the local environment caused
by a recent phase of renovation/intervention.
2. Document the disruption with a photo.
3. Intervene, fix, hide, or transform this disruption, using
only local materials, and objects found in the area.
4. All acts of intervention must be of 1 minute long and
no longer.
5. Document the result of your intervention.
6. register the local reaction to your work.

Figuiera Village Interventions:

No. 1: Power exit for street lighting.

Materials: Plastic, Aluminum, Iron. Attached to wall with screws

Intervention: Partially covered with local material/object

Material: Old roof tiles found in the same alley

No. 2: Power exit for street lighting.

Materials: Plastic, Aluminum, Iron. Attached to wall with screws

Intervention: Partially covered with local material/object

Material: Schist stones found on the ground

No. 3: Central power net closet.

Materials:
Plastic, Aluminum, Iron. Attached to ground with concrete

Intervention: ‘Camouflaged’ covered with local material/object

Material: Old wooden door taken from derelict house.

No. 4: Urban/public furniture.

Materials: Schist rocks and old wooden plank found in the village

Intervention: Rocks inserted in holes found in the traditionally built schist wall, wooden plank placed on rock.

No.5: Electricity metering box (contains measuring equipment).

Materials: Plastic, Aluminum. Dug into the wall and attached to ground with concrete

Intervention: ‘Camouflaged’ covered with local material/object.

Material:
Wooden window and wire found in a garbage pile