Implementación de estudios interdisciplinares para la conservación y puesta en valor de la arquitectura religiosa de madera en la provincia de San José

Religious architecture is a fundamental part of the identity and landscape of communities. In Costa Rica, the construction of wooden churches between the late 19th and mid-20th centuries was crucial for the consolidation of settlements, often associated with agricultural colonization. Currently, there are 20 wooden churches in the province of San José, which adopted styles such as Neo-Gothic, Neoclassical, and Victorian, generating “eclectic Creole expressions.” However, their age and materiality make them highly vulnerable to biodeterioration, in addition to the scarce information available at the architectural and xylological level, which hinders their enhancement and conservation with technical criteria. The objective of the project is to promote the conservation of wooden religious architecture in the province of San José through architectural, xylological, and pathological studies that provide objective knowledge for its preservation and enhancement. This will be achieved through an interdisciplinary approach structured around three specific objectives: architectural characterization through documentary reviews, field visits, interviews, and architectural surveys; followed by the determination of the species and characteristics of the wood present in the churches through taxonomic identification and documentary review; finally, a pathological study will be carried out to analyze the relationship between architectural and xylological factors and biodeterioration through the use of non-invasive techniques and a comparative matrix. The expected results include the creation of databases with detailed information on the architectural, xylological, and pathological studies of the sampled churches, as well as an indexed scientific publication, a graduation thesis, and a digital publication documenting the technical, artistic, and historical value of the churches. These inputs will be of direct use to the Archdiocese of San José, the Heritage Center, and the communities involved.

Promover la conservación de la arquitectura religiosa de madera en la provincia de San José mediante estudios arquitectónicos, xilológicos y patológicos, que brinden conocimiento objetivo para su preservación y puesta en valor.

EAU: Línea 4: Patrimonio e identidad
EIF: Tecnología de productos forestales, biomasa y bioenergía