The document discusses the horreo, a traditional movable granary structure from Asturias, Spain. Horreos originated in Roman times and were used to store harvests off the ground to protect from moisture and rodents. They are constructed mainly from chestnut wood and stone, resting on pillars with a wooden structure comprising beams, boards, and a roof often made of tiles. Horreos can be decorated and include features like staircases, balconies, and carvings. They vary in roof materials and design depending on the local area within the region of Asturias.

1. Asturian
Horreo
IES El Batán
Department of Technology

2. Horreo
● A movable construction used to protect
the harvest from moisture and mice.

3. History
● The oldest references to horreos appear in roman
documents from the 1st century b. C. The word “horreo”
comes from latin “horreum”, barn.
● Horreos are represented for the first time in a codex
form 13th century.
● The oldest detailed description of an Asturian horreo
was written by the Asturian writer and politician Gaspar
Melchor de Jovellanos in 1792.
● The amount of horreos grew up during Renaissance. In
the 17th century a new form is developed: the “panera”
with six pillars and a rectangular shape.
● Along the 18th century the new horreos and paneras start
to have a balcony all around them: the “corredor”.

4. Structure
● The horreo is mainly made from chestnut wood but
some parts must be made from stone. Depending
on the area, roof materials can be Arabic roof tile,
slate or straw.

5. Base
● The horreo rests on four or six pillars called “pegoyos”.
They are upon four stones partially digged into the
ground called “pilpayos”. On the pegoyos we can see
the “muelas”, a flat slate stone put there to prevent the
mice from getting into the horreo. Finally a wooden block
called “taza” prepares the place for the main beams.
These four elements work under compression.
● The “trabes” are the
main support of the
rest of the horreo.
They are four square-shaped
wooden
beams with half lap
joints at their ends.
Trabes are subjected
to flexure.

6. Stairs
● “Subidoria” is the name of
the stairs, made usually
from stone. They make a
massive structure apart
from the horreo.
● There is a big gap
between the end of the
stairs and the floor of the
horreo to avoid rodents
jumping from the ground.
● “Tenobia” or “tenovia” is
the footstep fixed to the
trabe side.

7. Body
● “Colondras” are wooden
boards that fit on the
trabes to make the walls
of the horreo.
● “Liño” is the name of the
beam that lay on them.
● The “sobigaño” is a wooden beam that goes side to side
under the “pontas” or “sollas”, the boards that make the
floor of the horreo. Sobigaños work on flexure.
● The door is usually south-oriented. The door itself and
colondras at their sides are sometimes decorated with
Celtic carvings or drawings.

8. Roof
● “Aguilones” are the beams that make the edges of the
roof. The “tijeras” is the group of logs that support the
system of beams on the middle of liños.
● “Tercias” and “carríos” are used to make the base of
the roof. The bottom of the roof is finished with the
“agüero” or “aguadero”.

9. Corners
● Form the ends of the trabes to the ends of aguilones
there are eight wooden bars called “tentemozos”.
Tentemozos are not present if the horreo has a corredor.

10. Indoor & Top
● From liño to liño there are a group of thin beams called
“durmientes” and “vigas del quesu”. They are the only
elements that work on tension.
● “Moño”, “obispo”, “curuto” or “ontera” is the piece of
stone or wood that forms the top of the roof.

11. Balcony
● From 17th century some horreos have their
“corredor”, a balcony that surrounds the
main body.

12. Roof
Materials
● Roof materials may vary among straw,
slate or, most commonly, Arabic roof tiles.

13. Roof Materials
Distribution
● Roof style depends on a geographic
distribution troughout Asturias, shown
approximately in the map below. Thatched
roof is limited to a very small area on
southwestern mountains.

14. Movable
● Every part of an Asturian horreo is
detachable, so an horreo isn't considered
as a building, and can be sold apart form
the land where is built on.

15. Decoration
● It's usual to find some Celtic symbols and
carvings on the horreo walls.

16. Conclusion
● Asturian horreos are one important part of
Asturian country landscape, specific in
shape and structure, a traditional
construction used as granary.