Coinciding with the exhibition “Living in the Mediterranean”, which ran at the CAATEEB in Mataró from 17 April to 22 May 2009, two lectures were given by Xavier Casanovas and Montserrat Villaverde. The exhibition, which has travelled to dozens of Mediterranean towns and cities, goes beyond commonplaces and preconceived ideas to promote knowledge of the territory, the city and the traditional Mediterranean dwelling.
In the talks, Xavier Casanovas, of the Rehabilitation and Environment Unit of the CAATEEB and Head of the RehabiMed project, presented the Institute’s many years of experience in cooperation associated with the rehabilitation and maintenance of traditional heritage. Under the title “Revitalization of traditional heritage through international projects”, he explained the pioneering work of this department in the field of rehabilitation and cooperation, presenting projects carried out in Cuba, France, Italy, Morocco, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Cyprus, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, etc. He also presented the results of the RehabiMed project, with particular emphasis on the decisive creation of the Method as a working basis for all Mediterranean countries.
For her part, Montserrat Villaverde, lecturer at La Salle School of Architecture and collaborator in the RehabiMed project, reflected on the importance of the preliminary studies that need to be carried out before the rehabilitation project, with particular emphasis on the methodology and nature of historical studies. Under the title “The house: a tribute to Joan Amades (1890-1959)”, she paid tribute to the great Catalan ethnographer and folklorist on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his death and the celebration in 2009 of Joan Amades Year.