The Urban Dimension of Agricultural Heritage. The Landscape of the Nerja Orchard, Málaga

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5821/ace.20.58.12736

Keywords:

territory, productive landscape, city, orchard, agriculture

Abstract

Agricultural heritage acknowledges those territories in which the relationship between people and the land has played a fundamental role throughout its history—one that transcends the mere productivity and extends to the memory and vital identity of the enclave itself. This reality, particularly in the case of urban orchards, closely tied to cities, has faced accelerated urban transformation in recent decades. The abandonment of historical and morphological growth practices has led to a rupture, undermining agrarian logic. This study aims to identify the urban dimension of agricultural heritage in cities whose origin and evolution are deeply intertwined with agrarian activity. To this end, a methodology was developed to address historical and heritage-specific factors, using the case study of Nerja (Málaga, Spain) and its intrinsic orchard, whose historical morphology justifies its relevance. This approach offers a new perspective on understanding agricultural heritage while highlighting the case’s significance, thereby supporting its potential protection. In this way, the research underscores the critical role of agrarian activity in built environments and advocates for a perspective that values the productive fabric of urban orchards through their urban dimension.

Author Biographies

Mar Loren-Méndez, University of Sevilla

She holds a PhD in Architecture and is a Full Professor at the Higher Technical School of Architecture of the University of Seville, in the Department of Architectural History, Theory, and Composition. She holds a Master in Advanced Design Studies from Harvard University and a Master's in Heritage and New Technologies, part of the European Leonardo Da Vinci program. She is the chairholder of the UNESCO Chair at the University of Seville on Creative Research and Education on Heritage Assessment and Regeneration, CREhAR. She is a member of the Research Group "Contemporary City, Architecture and Heritage" (HUM-666), having led award-winning and widely published projects on the subject. Recipient of the 2021 FAMA Award from the University of Seville for Excellence in Research Career. Awarded the Medal of the City of Seville in 2022.

Celia Chacón-Carretón, University of Sevilla

She is an architect from the Higher Technical School of Architecture at the University of Seville, graduating in 2022. She is currently pursuing her PhD with a predoctoral contract awarded through competitive selection, FPU21/03499 (FPU, Ministry of Universities, Government of Spain), in the Department of Architectural History, Theory and Composition at ETSA Seville. She is a member of the Research Group "Contemporary City, Architecture and Heritage" (HUM-666). She has completed an international research stay at the Laboratory of Ecological Settlement Design (LaPEI – Laboratorio di Progettazione Ecologica degli Insediamenti) at the Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italy. Her Final Degree Project was awarded at the 16th Spanish Architecture and Urbanism Biennial (2023).

Pablo Millán-Millán, University of Sevilla

He holds a PhD in Architecture and is an Associate Professor at the Higher Technical School of Architecture of the University of Seville, in the Department of Architectural Design. He holds a Master’s degree in Architecture and Historical Heritage from the University of Seville and the IAPH, and a Master’s degree in Urban Management of Ibero-American and Andalusian Heritage from the University of Seville. He has been a Fondecyt postdoctoral researcher funded by the Government of Chile and an external professor at the School of Architecture and Design of the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso. His work in heritage has earned him awards such as the Andrés de Vandelvira Prize 2020, granted by the Official College of Architects of Jaén, and the selection of his work as part of the 15th Spanish Architecture and Urbanism Biennial (2021).

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Published

2025-06-30

Issue

Year 20, issue 58 (Jun. 2025)

Section

Article's section

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At this moment, it is count with the "Oficina Española de Patentes y Marcas", while global protection it is being processed by the World Intelectual Property Organization (OMPI/WIPO). Nevertheless the International Standard Serial Number Office (ISSN) has given the following numbers ISSN: 1886-4805 (electronic version) and 1887-7052 (paper version). All articles will be peer reviewed, using double blind reviewing.

 
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