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 The urban landscape in the Mediterranean includes a particular style of habitation, with residential units set around a courtyard, dating from when farming communities were the only form of social grouping. During these centuries, when there was no clear line between inhabited centres and outskirts, such courtyard houses, described as minor architecture, allowed families to live communally with others. The mild climate, which led to some domestic work being done outdoors, assisted the development of these courtyard houses to the extent that the style took on major importance. The Salento courtyard house in particular originally had a characteristic arched entrance doorway, linking it to the street, and the rectangular inner courtyard was surrounded by a number of living units, each of about 25 square metres. Often the functions of dining room and bedroom overlapped in these quarters, as did the storeroom, with provisions and various work tools, such as a loom. These habitations never opened directly onto the street which made it natural for the activities and customs that gave rhythm to the days for its families to become communal. next page |
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