Conservation of Earthen Architecture 12. A letter from Mexico.

Abstract

In this issue, I will introduce our research on 20th century earthen architecture in the northern part of the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains. From the beginning of Spanish colonial rule in the early 16th century until the establishment of the Mormon colonia at the end of the 19th century, there were no settlements in the northern Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains, and most of those that exist today are mestizo settlements that were formed after the revolution. After the Revolution, mestizos from all over the nation settled in the northern part of the Mountains and Ejido Ignacio Zaragoza was formed. This settlement is known as “El Willy”, named after a Mormon leader who founded the surrounding colonias. This small settlement serves as a center for other small settlements and farms in the region. A look around the village reveals a certain architectural pattern conformed by some elements such as sun-dried brick walls, steeply pitched tin roofs, brick chimneys, and front porches. The objectives and methods of the research on the vernacular architecture and landscape of this settlement will be presented in the next article.