varieties of maize aerial drying sheds across europe

Vernacular architecture is sprinkled all over every landscape we may see, however the importance of these constructions are not often recognized. Aerial maize drying sheds played an important role in human development and settlements and still play a vital role in some regions' identity after remarkable advances in agriculture. These constructions share not only construction, material and form features, but also the areas where they can be found have common climatic and geographic conditions despite the physical distance. This review article intends to give a view of this vernacular type of construction. Not only will an architectural point of view be given, but also an ethnologic and historic perspective. It presents the biggest inflection point in these timeless objects, the introduction of maize [zea mays] in Europe and the adaptations required for a maximum profit as well as problems derived from that. Materials and construction systems used will also be included and their particular evolution in each studied region.