Recovering the identity of the Argentine countryside. Field "taperas" by Franco Casaccia
11/02/2024.
[Firmat] Argentina
metalocus, CRISTINA RODRÍGUEZ
metalocus, CRISTINA RODRÍGUEZ
Taking this work as a personal interest in documenting landscapes and typical constructions of the Pampas region in Argentina, the architect Franco Casaccia presents one of these elements known as a field "tapera" in the city of Firmat, in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina.
The field "taperas", which are found along this extraordinary sea of green, in the humid Argentine Pampa, are simple, rudimentary, and temporary dwellings that were located within a farm and that have deteriorated due to the passage of time and to disuse.
The field "taperas", which are found along this extraordinary sea of green, in the humid Argentine Pampa, are simple, rudimentary, and temporary dwellings that were located within a farm and that have deteriorated due to the passage of time and to disuse.
Field "taperas" by Franco Casaccia. Photograph by Franco Casaccia.
Field "taperas" by Franco Casaccia. Photograph by Franco Casaccia.
Field "taperas" by Franco Casaccia. Photograph by Franco Casaccia.
Field "taperas" by Franco Casaccia. Photograph by Franco Casaccia.
Field "taperas" by Franco Casaccia. Photograph by Franco Casaccia.
Field "taperas" by Franco Casaccia. Photograph by Franco Casaccia.
The country "taperas" are part of the historical and cultural heritage of Argentina, which is why they are beginning to be protected, conserved, and restored, a process in which Franco Casaccia intervenes as a temporary notary of these landscapes. These buildings, normally built in adobe or brick, are symbols of Argentine rural life, which is why they are important in understanding the history and identity of the country.
Many "taperas" also have a symbolic and emotional meaning for local communities, since they are part of their landscape and cultural heritage, so they should be preserved not only for their architecture but also for their ability to be important elements in cultural memory. of agricultural communities, as well as their identity and cultural roots.
Many "taperas" also have a symbolic and emotional meaning for local communities, since they are part of their landscape and cultural heritage, so they should be preserved not only for their architecture but also for their ability to be important elements in cultural memory. of agricultural communities, as well as their identity and cultural roots.
Field "taperas" by Franco Casaccia. Photograph by Franco Casaccia.
Project description by Franco Casaccia
The project is simply an initiative of personal interest to document typical landscapes and constructions of the Pampas region in Argentina. It also aims to show how these are impacted by the socio-economic changes and new agricultural practices of current times.
Firmat is located in the vast expanse of Argentina's humid Pampa, between rolling fields and infinite horizons, where the "taperas" of the countryside stand, silent witnesses of the country's rural history. These ancient constructions, typically made of adobe or brick, once served as a refuge and center of activity in the vast Argentine plains.
Field "taperas" by Franco Casaccia. Photograph by Franco Casaccia.
However, the passage of time and changes in agricultural and livestock activities have left many of these taperas abandoned and deteriorated. Rural migration to urban areas, the discontinuation of traditional agricultural practices and the lack of maintenance have contributed to the decay of these structures, which are now struggling to remain standing. Despite this, there is growing interest in conserving and restoring these taperas as part of Argentina's historical and cultural heritage. Local organizations, conservation groups and governments are working to document, study and safeguard these constructions, recognizing their value as symbols of Argentine rural life and their importance for understanding the country's history and identity.
In addition to their historical value, many taperas also have symbolic and emotional meaning for local people, who see them as an essential part of their landscape and cultural heritage. Therefore, the preservation of these structures goes beyond architectural conservation, embracing also aspects of identity and cultural identity. In summary, the taperas de campo in Argentina represent both a challenge and an opportunity to preserve and celebrate the country's rich rural history. Through preservation and restoration efforts, it is hoped that these constructions will continue to tell the story of life in the Argentine pampas for future generations.
More information
Architects
Dates
30.01.2024.
Location
Firmat, Argentina.
Photography
Franco Casaccia
Franco Casaccia is an architect from the National University of Rosario in 2018 and an architectural photographer born in Firmat, Argentina in 1991 who currently resides in Cologne, Germany.
During his studies at the Faculty of Architecture, he developed a particular interest in photography, participating in workshops and exhibitions. From then on, he never stopped taking photos. He is convinced that photography is how cities, buildings, and people intertwine. He works with different scales and typologies, both exterior and interior. His objective is to document how an architectural project coexists with its environment and the people who inhabit it. He also revisits projects to show how they have aged and, consequently, how this environment transforms over time.
Over the years he has captured photographic moments and portraits to tell stories, focusing on how specific elements such as framing, composition, and lighting are present in each shot and combine to create a memorable and unique image.
His knowledge as an architect, understanding of architectural design, and the spatial and structural composition of buildings provide him with a unique perspective when capturing the essence and purpose behind an architectural project. After completing his master's degree in architecture in Argentina, he moved to Germany, where he began his career as an architect in Leipzig before moving to Cologne to work at JSWD Architekten. At the same time, he began his career as an architectural photographer, this being his main creative activity.
Nowadays he does photographic work for different architecture studios, mainly in Europe. In his short career as a photographer, his work has already been published in architecture magazines, books, and digital portals.
During his studies at the Faculty of Architecture, he developed a particular interest in photography, participating in workshops and exhibitions. From then on, he never stopped taking photos. He is convinced that photography is how cities, buildings, and people intertwine. He works with different scales and typologies, both exterior and interior. His objective is to document how an architectural project coexists with its environment and the people who inhabit it. He also revisits projects to show how they have aged and, consequently, how this environment transforms over time.
Over the years he has captured photographic moments and portraits to tell stories, focusing on how specific elements such as framing, composition, and lighting are present in each shot and combine to create a memorable and unique image.
His knowledge as an architect, understanding of architectural design, and the spatial and structural composition of buildings provide him with a unique perspective when capturing the essence and purpose behind an architectural project. After completing his master's degree in architecture in Argentina, he moved to Germany, where he began his career as an architect in Leipzig before moving to Cologne to work at JSWD Architekten. At the same time, he began his career as an architectural photographer, this being his main creative activity.
Nowadays he does photographic work for different architecture studios, mainly in Europe. In his short career as a photographer, his work has already been published in architecture magazines, books, and digital portals.
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