Graphic and Material Analysis of the Fish Market Halls on the Coast of Cádiz from 1924 to 1949

Abstract

The provision of supply, storage, and management has always been a fundamental aspect of settlements throughout history. The typology of lonjas (market halls), dedicated to facilitating commercial agreements, played a vital role in this process. While they originated in the medieval period and reached a level of prominence comparable to religious buildings, over time, they lost their grandeur and representativeness due to changes in trade. Despite their historical significance, they have been relatively understudied in previous research, making it a key moment to reclaim the value of this cultural heritage. This research aims to fill this gap by graphic analysis that describes their intrinsic characteristics of the fish market halls in the province of Cádiz from 1924 to 1949. The methodology was based on a documentary approach to gather graphic sources and technical reports from the Archivo Histórico Provincial de Cádiz, administrative records such as the Cadastre, consultations with technical staff from municipalities, press notes, national, regional, and provincial bulletins, and scientific literature. The analysis of the case studies was developed through CAD drawing of three-dimensional models describing the interior distribution, volumetric composition, and main structural system. Plans of convex spaces and visual syntax of main elements were also carried out to establish parallels in the configuration of the interior spaces of this architectural typology.