Foundation for a typological interpretation of the rural housing introduced in Southwestern Patagonia based on the phenomenon of its adaptations to climate

Abstract

It is posited that during certain stages of rural development in southwestern Patagonia there occurred a process of mixing and adaptation of different cultural and building traditions. This resulted in an architecture that was introduced, but adapted to the territory, which materializes itself particularly through the relationships between the enclosures that make up housing and those that define its connection with the climatic context. Among these, the importance of perimeter elements stands out given their potential for adaptation to local weather. Also, certain spatial organizations that helped in the creation of an architectural identity in the context of the study are recognized. Emphasis is placed on the adaptive processes that were developed to relate to the climatic dimension of the environment due to the rural location of the housing analyzed. Finally, it is maintained that this interpretation makes it possible to complement appreciation of architectural heritage, depending on usage patterns related to the thermal condition of housing, rather than only by aesthetic or figurative cataloging.