Report: Modern Aspects of Traditional Construction: Timber Facades of Drying Sheds
With the decline of the local tobacco-growing industry, these simple agricultural structures are being abandoned and are falling into a state of decay. The sheds traditionally contain a drying framework, consisting of tall posts supporting tiers of horizontal fir stems. The tobacco is hung on cords strung between these horizontal members. Of fundamental importance for the drying process, however, is the outer enclosure. It provides protection against sun and rain and allows air to enter and escape. Early facade types, with closely spaced vertical staves nailed to the structure, have an almost transparent appearance and bear a certain resemblance to modern facade types. Since this form of construction did not provide adequate protection for the crop against mist and driving rain, flexible systems were developed that allowed a regulation of the air intake by means of opening flaps. In the middle of the 19th century, a system was devised in which the long faces of the sheds were divided into tiers of vertical wood louvres that could be opened to various degrees according to weather conditions. For many farmers, the system proved too expensive, and it was often adopted for only small areas of the facade. Later, ventilation was improved by adding a louvred structure along the ridge, which created a stack effect internally.
