Constructive-decorative plasticity of the entrance gates in the rustic household

Abstract

Traditional artistic creation is one of the most impressive material forms from the past of our nation. Evolving over time, it has formed some traditions, customs and practices, including in the field of rustic constructions. The most impressive forms in the plasticity of Moldovan vernacular architecture are the gates. These material pieces, in the process of its development, have favored the creation of gates typology and their constructive-decorative elements. The problem addressed is focused on the description of the small forms at the entrance to the rustic yard. The structural organization of large and small gates, the details that compose them and the elements of emblellishment, have determined both the plasticity of these samples and their symbolism. The fence completes the sociofamilial ambiance of the residents, the gate marking the place of passage from the outside space to the inside. This architectural element indicates the threshold of delimitation of the village community space from the domestic one. The shape, decoration and ornamentation of the gates encompass a fairly vast and complex semantics that determines the symbolic significance of these entrances. Finally, we can state that this constructive system, which is part of the Romanian cultural heritage, presents one of the most perfect forms of popular creation within the architecture of the rustic household.