Typology of 20th century vernacular architecture in northeast Sierra Madre Occidental

Abstract

Vernacular architecture in the communities of the northeast Sierra Madre Occidental (Casas Grandes, Chihuahua) share some formal, functional, and constructive characteristics of the buildings. Most of them were built with local materials such as earth and timber. Recently the integrity of built landscape has been changing gradually due to the introduction of industrialized materials and construction techniques, and addition of new constructions designed without considering the cultural and natural context of the place. The identification of typology allows the understanding of multiple dynamics of transformation and adaptation to natural and cultural contexts, which will contribute to the quality of new constructions in the communities. The buildings were classified by their formal, functional, and constructive characteristics. Interviews with communities were carried out to recognize cultural and historic contexts.