Albert Gavaldà Palacín: "With dry stone you can do anything you can imagine"

MontrealSince UNESCO added dry stone walling to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2018, this prehistoric technique has gained increasing support. Walls, paths, and huts are being built across the region using nothing but stone. To celebrate this technique, the sixth edition of Dry Stone Week will be held next week, organizing various activities throughout the Catalan Countries. Albert Gavaldà Palacín, from Reus, has been working with this technique for 20 years. He obtained his certification as a dry stone waller in France, as it is not yet regulated in Spain.

What is dry stone walling?

— It is any kind of construction made entirely of stone. It uses no binding material. No mortar, no cement, no lime...

And what advantages does it have?

— Many! First, depending on where the stone is quarried, it doesn't generate any waste, because it can be found right there in the field. Furthermore, dry stone walls allow water to pass through but retain the soil. In our Mediterranean climate, it either rains too little or too much, and when it rains too much, we have a serious erosion problem because we lose the soil.

It's harder for the water to knock it down than for the earth to wash away...

— Exactly. And in terms of fauna and biodiversity, it's a great refuge for small mammals and insects, which are a huge benefit to agriculture because these little animals eat crop pests. In case of fire, they also act as natural firebreaks. And they can also serve as a food source, because some small mammals use them as seed stores.

Are most of the dry stone constructions margins?

— Yes, most of them are. But there are also shacks, cobbled paths, bridges... In fact, you can build almost anything you can imagine with dry stone. But currently, from a practical and functional standpoint, the most common type is the riverbank. Concrete doesn't perform as well as a riverbank. You often see concrete riverbanks that have been pushed out by the water, and this eventually weakens them.

That's why it's been so long since...

— Yes, ever since humanity existed. It was the first material ever used. I once heard Albert Om say that history is told through stones, and it's true. We have dolmens that have existed for millions of years, while constructions made of wood, straw, or mortar have gradually fallen into disuse. Stone has endured. Last summer I visited an archaeological site in Cerdanya where there was a dry-stone structure dating back to the Bronze Age.

Without any reform?

— Yes, they kept adapting it. The Romans came and used those stones for another construction. Then came the Visigoths, and with that same material they also built what they needed... and everyone was making use of that same material. And from the remains they found, they saw that it dated back to the Bronze Age. Think about it: in the end, Machu Picchu is essentially dry stone. With a very sophisticated and well-executed technology, but it's stone upon stone.

It's all benefits, but it will be much more expensive. How much does a meter of dry stone wall cost?

— Between 100 and 150 euros per square meter. But it all depends on your perspective. We live in a society where everything is viewed in the moment. You can do something very cheap that lasts two years... or you can build it with dry stone and it will last 100 years. There are dry stone constructions that are 300 years old and are almost intact. In the end, it's also a matter of common sense: I imagine 100 years ago you would have gone to a farmer and said: we'll build you a border of cement with iron, Portland cement. It will come from Brazil, water from I don't know where, and all this will cost you less than gathering all these stones and building it. The man would ask us if we are...

Is it true that every stone leaves room for maneuver?

— Yes, but each stone has its function.

What's the secret to making a very long wall stand without cement?

— The stones must always be in contact, the larger stones at the bottom, and the whole thing must be self-supporting. It's a battle of forces: you have to fight against gravity and the slope's inclination. The most important thing is the internal structure, what makes the margin hold.

Who commissions dry stone constructions?

— I started about 20 years ago, and back then it was mostly farmers. It was a joy when you found a great farmer who had already built field margins, but could no longer do it and hired you. I really enjoyed it.

And who are the main customers now?

— Currently, at Relleu i Entorn we work mostly for natural parks, town councils, wineries, rural tourism businesses, and wealthy individuals. We do it, and we do it well. But logically, farmers should earn enough to be able to maintain the riverbanks.

Are there enough margins?

— There's a lot of dry stone construction going on. Since UNESCO declared dry stone construction a Cultural Heritage in 2018, it seems to be more fashionable. Dry Stone Week has been celebrated for several years now, with activities taking place throughout the Catalan Countries.

Is there sufficient training?

— I am part of the Guild of Margers of Catalonia and we try to train new professionals so that they don't find themselves a bit like me and so many others at the beginning... having to go to France for training or learning by trial and error.

And does it work?

— Yes, but technical studies are needed, as they've done in places like, once again, France. Studies are needed to unite architecture and dry stone. To return somewhat to the old model, when the craftsman and the architect were closely linked. Not long ago, El Celler de Can Roca burned down... The dome was made of wood, but it was supported by dry stone pillars, which have remained intact. That was the great work of contemporary dry stone architecture in Catalonia. There are some architects who work with dry stone, but it's difficult. Many are unfamiliar with it.