Inhabiting drylands: Raw earth as a medium for habitability in the non-irrigated territory in the north of Mendoza Province, Argentina

Abstract

The non-irrigated territory in the north of Mendoza Province is a vast space without access to water resources that is inhabited by a scattered peasant population with native Huarpe origins. For centuries, dwelling in this territory has been a challenge due to both the climate/environment and sociopolitical conditions. Therefore, the drylands habitat has specific characteristics regarding its form of management (autonomous), adaptation to the environment, and the use of the raw earth construction technique, adobe. This research focuses on the current use of adobe, which is conceived as a medium that facilitates the self-building and self-production of housing solutions in deprived populations, and adapts dwellings to the consequences of an arid territory and a long process of rights infringement. This article presents the first results of surveys conducted on the adobe construction technique (using quantitative techniques: survey and samples in situ) and the characteristics of the social habitat of the native Huarpe population based on the participant observation technique.