Life Reusing Posidonia in Seville

The exhibition and documentary Life Reusing Posidonia can be visited in Seville from 25 January to 6 February in the former convent of Santa María de los Reyes.

It was officially inaugurated on the 25th by the general director of Housing, Rehabilitation and Architecture of the Department of Development and Housing of the Junta de Andalucía, José Manuel Colmenero, and the director general of Architecture and Housing of the Department of Territory, Energy and Mobility of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Eduardo Vila.

There followed a roundtable discussion attended by Eva Morales, architect from the Cotidiana studio; Rosa Mendoza, head of Life Posidonia Andalucía; and Isidoro Gordillo, lime master craftsman from Gordillos Cal de Morón. Over the course of the session, speakers and attendees alike helped to outline a Map on Resources in the South.

Eva Morales stressed the importance of rehabilitation in the face of the amount of empty buildings in the region, as can be seen in the following photograph.

Thus, the first item we must consider is rehabilitation, with new construction as the last option. But rehabilitation in its truest sense! Touching as little as possible and safeguarding the characteristic features of Andalusian homes.

Rosa Mendoza, head of Life Posidonia Andalucía, explained that the posidonia meadows in Andalusia are in relatively good condition but do not produce enough dead leaves to be washed up on the beaches for use in building, unlike the Balearics. Hence having considered the use of cork, of which over 36,000 tons per year are produced in Andalusia! In this link you will find more information on the strategic plan for cork oak groves and cork in Andalusia 2017.

With Isidoro Gordillo, lime master craftsman from Gordillos Cal de Morón, we learned the value of the lime from Morón declared Unesco World Intangible Heritage in 2011. The lime from Morón, as well as offering many environmental benefits for households, is burned in kilns using discarded olive wood branches. It is part of the landscape of the southern Iberian Peninsula, where the whitewash helps to endure the sweltering summer heat.

After the talk, the Cotidiana studio decided to begin to create a Map of Resources with local and ecological industries in Andalusia. Will you help broaden our list with other businesses?

We wish to thank Isabel Martín, from the Cotidiana studio, for leading us through the maze of the exquisite historical quarter of Seville and show us the city’s treasures, and the people of Seville, for not running us down along the narrow winding streets (not with their bicycles, but with their horse-

drawn carriages!).