Characterisation of the National Network of Silos and Granaries in Castilla y León, Spain: A Case Study

Abstract

In 1995, Spain’s National Network of Silos and Granaries was divided into a basic network and a secondary network. Of the total storage units identified, 541 are vertical units or silos forming part of the secondary network. Unlike the silos of the basic network, many of the secondary network silos, which were primarily reception units sited near the areas where the grain was grown, have been repurposed. This article describes a methodology developed to inventory silos based on their general features, construction and technological facilities, and its application to the 123 silos in the secondary network in the Spanish region of Castilla y León. The exercise was conducted in conjunction with a socioeconomic analysis of the communities where the silos are located. All the silos studied are located in the most productive areas and close to farms, have small storage capacities and include all but one silo typology, the transition macro-silo. Some are still used for grain storage, whilst others have been converted into multi-purpose warehouses, gymnasiums, community centres or other specialised facilities. Ideas for silo repurposing implemented in other regions of Spain and other countries might well be applied in Castilla y León. In addition, this methodology has proved useful to identify proposals that are viable in the more highly populated communities.

History, Architectural and Technological Characteristics, and Feasibility of Repurposing of Italy’s <em>Ammasso </em>Grain Storage Silos

“…The rest of the silos were built within a relatively short time frame, all in the 1930s, with a peak in 1938, the year when eight of the 30 surviving silos were constructed. The ammasso silos predate the silo networks built in other countries under authoritarian regimes, such as Spain and Portugal, which both began construction in the 1950s [6,21].…”

“…There is also a growing trend of tourism based on ethnographic and industrial assets (old mills, wineries, mining structures, etc. ), transforming these once-abandoned and useless ruins into recognized elements of the country's cultural heritage that have great potential for highlighting the virtues of the surrounding territory [21,65]. All of this places increasing citizen pressure on the authorities to take action and protect the silos that remain by transforming them into buildings with potential for alternative uses.…”

“…In Spain the Servicio Nacional del Trigo (SNT, National Wheat Service) was created [20], establishing a monopsonistic grain market. Construction on Spain's National Network of Silos and Granaries began in 1951 and continued until 1990 [13,21,22].…”

“…These silos are a valuable part of Italy's industrial heritage, so it is crucial for them to be inventoried so they can be properly understood and used to their best advantage [34][35][36]. Similar initiatives are underway in other countries [21,[37][38][39]. In some cases, silos are finding salvation through renovation.…”

“…In some cases, silos are finding salvation through renovation. There is a moral obligation to try and give these structures as second life; it took significant resources to build them, and avoiding their demolition can contribute to greater environmental sustainability by helping reduce the carbon footprint [21]. A crucial role in this regard is being performed by organizations such as the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which supports the conservation, protection, and reclamation of cultural heritage worldwide [40]), and the International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage (TICCIH) which, as its name indicates, focuses on the industrial heritage [41].…”