Architectural Syntheses. From the Caponier to the Bunker. The Evolution of Fortifications from the Mid-19th to the Mid-20th Century in Catalonia

The Architectural Syntheses series concludes its tenth edition with the thesis “From the Caponier to the Bunker. The Evolution of Fortifications from the Mid-19th to the Mid-20th Century in Catalonia” by Dídac Gordillo Bel.

This doctoral thesis, composed of a general introduction and four interconnected chapters, demonstrates that the bunker is the evolution of the caponier. The study traces the development of fortifications from Antiquity to the 20th century, analyzing how advancements in weaponry (smoothbore artillery, rifled artillery, and explosive shells) transformed defensive systems. Chronologically, it shows how the caponiers and loophole galleries of moats evolved into open-field constructions connected by tunnels, leading to the bunker: an isolated element visually linked with others to cover extensive areas.

The research analyzes the fortified development in Catalonia, with Tortosa as its axis, studies forts within entrenched camps (the Torre de Alfonso XII in Girona and the Fort of Sant Julià de Ramis), and examines Catalan bunkers built according to standardized models prior to the Spanish Civil War, later replicated in the “Línea P.” The thesis concludes with reflections on the potential future uses of these constructions, emphasizing that heritage is only preserved when it is actively used, without distorting it through aggressive interventions.