Horizonts

HORIZONTES Revista de NHAC Otoo 2009No1 Octubre del 2009

HORIZONSTeaching of architectureInterchangeCommunitiesInternacionalTechnical transferenceInterview

Magazine of Architecture

Autumn 2009

NEW HORIZONS FOR ARCHITECTURE OF THE COMMUNITIES A.C.

HORIZONS Magazine NHAC Autumn 2009

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Encourage and promote in students and profes-sors, architecture that contributes to preserve the architectonic identity of the communities and to be careful of the environment.

Mission

VisionTo help similar institutions for the teaching of re-gional and sustainable architecture through the use of ancestral techniques in the light of new te-chnologies.Vi

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Directory

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FOUNDERSVERNICA GONZLEZ GARCAPASTOR ALFONSO SNCHEZ CRUZ

PASTOR ALFONSO SNCHEZ CRUZ

MARCO ANTONIO AGUIRRE PLIEGO

IBO BONILLA OCONITRILLO ALFONSO RAMREZ PONCEALEJANDRO RIVADENEYRA MIGUEL NGEL CASTRO MONTERDE JUAN JOS SANTIBEZ GARCA

MA.DEL SOCORRO CANSECO CONTI FRANCISCO SANTIAGO CAMIRO

JUAN MANUEL GASTLLUM ALVARADO

BALTAZAR AGUSTN GARCA SANTOS

NHCA NEWSPAPER

DIRECTOR

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

EDITORIAL COUNCIL

DESIGN

ACADEMIC LINK

PUBLICITY

COMMUNICATIONS JUDITH CABALLERO GMEZ


Direc

tory

Contact: [email protected] www. acnhac.org Tel. 01 951 5011418

Centers of Aquisition:

Manuel Doblabo No. 1010 A La Noria, Centro Oaxaca, MxicoTel. 01 951 5011418

Av. Jurez No. 800-B, Centro Oaxaca, MxicoTel. 01 951 5026572

THE HORIZONS Magazine of Architecture without fixed independent periodsNo. 1 year 1. Printed in Oaxaca, oax. Mxico

TRANSLATOR RICHARD BOILY


CONTENTS

THE EXPRESSIONS AND OPINIONS CON-TAINED IN THE ARTICLES PRESENTED ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THEIR AUTHORS.

FRONT PAGE: CAPULALPAM DE MENDEZ MAGIC TOWN OF THE NORTHERN MOUNTAIN RANGE OF OAXACA, MEXICO.Photographs by Marco Antonio Aguirre Pliego.

NHAC GAZETTE A PUBLICATION OF THE CIVIL ASSOCIATION NEW HORIZONS FOR THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE COMMUNI-TIES A.C.

www.acnhac.org

REGISTERS FOR REQUESTS IN PROCESS.

CONTENTS

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EDITORIAL

Pastor Alfonso Snchez Cruz

TEACHING OF ARCHITECTURE

REASONABLE AND SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE(Economic coverings of brick without curvature)Baltazar Agustn Garca Santos

INTERCHANGE

A PROJECT OF TECHNICAL TRANSFERRENCE BET-WEEN THE NHCA AND COSTA RICAPastor Alfonso Snchez Cruz

COMMUNITIES

THE MOVABLE-DWELLINGS, AN EXAMPLE OF NATIVE ARCHITECTURE IN SANTA CATARINA ROATINA, MIAHUATLAN, OAXACA.Juan Manuel Gastllum Alvarado.

AUTOCONSTRUCTION OF 16 RURAL DWELLING IN SAN MIGUEL AMATITLAN, OAX(Oaxacan Mixteca)Juan Jos Santibez Garca.

THE TRADITIONAL DWELLINGS OF SAN PEDRO IXCAT-LAN. Marco Antonio Aguirre Pliego

INTERNATIONAL

THE OTHER TOURISM, THE OTHER ARCHITECTURE. A tool for the conservation of natural reserves.Ibo Bonilla Oconitrillo.

TECHNICAL TRANSFERENCE

CENTLA DWELLING. Alejandro Rivadeneyra.

INTERVIEW

VALERIA PRIETO.Judith Caballero Gmez

DWELLINGS OF BALES OF HAY. Miguel ngel Castro Monterde


Editorial

Pastor Alfonso Snchez CruzPresident of NHAC.

Students and professors of the schools of architecture, architect colleagues, friends; the Horizons Magazine of Architecture is one of the means of information and diffusion of New Horizons for Architecture of the Communities A.C. (NHAC) legally constituted the 28th of September 2008, for non lucrative ends, integrated by students and professors of architecture.

In this first issue are reflected the principal activities realized from April of 2008 to the present day, which are The interchange with our brother country Costa Rica and the conven-tions for collaboration with socie-ties of professionals, academic ins-titutions and government entities.

The purpose of this edition is to make known architectonic and cul-tural values of our communities by means of a series of articles by recog-nized architects that have had incur-sions in the professional and acade-mic circuits, serving as a consultation in the daily work of the students or inclusive in works of investiga-tion of the professors in the subject.

Included, you will find the sections:

THE TEACHING OF ARCHITEC-TURE, in which are summarized the activities realized with Arch. Alfonso Ramirez Ponce, of the graduate area of the UNAM; INTERCHANGE, acti-vities realized with Costa Rica; COM-MUNITIES, articles by the architects Juan Jose Santibaez Garcia, Juan Manuel Gastellum Alvarado and Marco Antonio Aguirre Pliego; IN-TERNATIONAL, projects in commu-nities of Costa Rica realized by Arch. Ibo Bonilla; INTERVIEW, with the Arch. Valeria Prieto; TECHNICAL TRANSFERRENCE, Centla Dwe-lling by Arch. Alejandro Rivadene-yra and Dwellings of Bales of Hay by Arch. Miguel Angel Castro Monterde.

I wish to thank my architect FRIENDS for their help in the co-ordination of each step of this pro-ject, being today a palpable reality; to my family for their patience and endorsement in every sense, but above all for their confidence; to each and everyone who have par-ticipated in some of the activities that we have pursued and realized.

Editorial

EDITORIAL

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(Economic brick vaults without wooden support. ) Alfonso Ramrez Ponce

REGIONAL AND SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE


Baltazar Agustn Garca Santos

On the 20th and 21st of February of the current year, there was carried out with satisfactory results, at the Instituto Estatal de Ecologia de Oaxaca (IEEO) State Institute of Ecology of Oaxaca the workshop course; REGIONAL AND SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE, (Economic coverings of brick without cur-vature) said activity was realized thanks to the Collaboration Agreement celebrated by the IEEO and the Civil Association New Ho-rizons for Architecture of the Communities A.C., (NHAC)*. The workshop course was presented by the recognized architect Alfon-so Ramirez Ponce, professor of graduate stu-dies of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) National Autonomous University of Mexico, writer, lecturer, plan-ner and constructor of low cost works with prime materials like brick. Ramirez Ponce is an Assessor of the Pan-American Federation of Architects of America FPAA, winner of the prize Armando Mestre of the Republic of Cuba. First prize of the Competition on Te-chnology Transference for Popular Habitat, organized by the CYTED (Ciencia y Tecno-logia para el Desarrollo) Science and Tech-nology for Development, and now Distin-guished Friend of the Civil Association New Horizons for Architecture of the Communi-ties. The workshop had the nutritive partici-pation of students, professors and graduates of the Faculties of Architecture of the capital city of Oaxaca.

In the afternoon of Saturday the 21st, Ramirez Ponce kept the Oaxacans captiva-ted for more than two hours in the Casa de la Ciudad (House of the City). He demons-trated the listening of architecture with mu-sical pieces combined with architectural examples had music seen as a way to bet-ter understand our regionalism, With these activities promoted by the NHCA, we hope

REGIONAL AND SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

Economic brick vaultswithout wooden support.

to establish bases for the realization of projects and the conjunctive actions of training, diffusion, consultation and interchange with students professors and architects, normative environmental Institutions and constructors. This will permit contribution to the formation of futu-re professionals conscious of the necessity of preserving and taking care of the environment and the architectonic typology of the communities, which with the passing of time have lost uses, customs, traditions, construction te-chniques, and the use of materials of the region.

Photos of the workshop course Regional and Sustainable Architec-ture, (Economic coverings of brick without curvature) presented by Arch. Alfonso Ramirez Ponce, the 21st and 22nd of February 2009, in the installations of the State Institute of Ecology of Oaxaca.

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TEACHING OF ARCHITECTURE

*NHCA, is an independent civil association, non-lucrative, which has a network of friends in the local, regional and inter-national contexts ready to contribute to regional and sustaina-ble architecture to take care of the environment.

The course-workshop realized with the help of Eng. Jos Luis Bustamante del Valle, Director of the IEEEO, and is available at www, acnhac.org


INTERCHANGEA technical transference project between Mexico and Costa Rica.Pastor Alfonso Snchez Cruz


Pastor Alfonso Snchez Cruz

From the 16th to the 21st of August 2008, the Costa Rican experience interchange phase of the project was carried out to the theme of Archi-tecture, alternative tourism and so-cial benefit. This was promoted by the Presidents of the Colleges of Ar-chitecture of Oaxaca and Costa Rica, Miguel Angel Castro Monterde and Abel Salazar Vargas respectively, the Universidad Autonoma Benito Juarez de Oaxaca UABJO (Auto-nomous University Benito Juarez of Oaxaca), the Civil Association New Horizons for Architecture of the Communities and the Escuela de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, de la Universidad Interamericana de Costa Rica (School of Architecture and Urbanism of the Interamerican University of Costa Rica). In the School of Architectu-re and Urbanism of the Interameri-can University conferences were gi-ven: one by the writer of this article and another by Arch. Ibo Bonilla of Costa Rica, and a conversation wor-kshop with the participation of said lecturers, professors, students and guests, to do with cases of academic and private collaborations with far-ming and indigenous communities, for the generation of productive pro-jects, by means of access to financial sources of annuity, like Non-gover-nmental Organizations, United Na-tions Programs and Foundations. From Mexico the certifica-tion of Magic Towns with special emphasis was put forward and in particular the ultimate designation: Capulalpam de Mendez, located in the Juarez mountain range in Oaxa-ca, a community that in spite of its multiple natural attractions, has a very clear identity and differen-tiable from its social organization, governed by uses and customs, in this way to conserve its artistic, ar-chitectonic and cultural heritage.

In February of 2009, another aca-demic exercise was started, oriented in cataloging analytically detailed architectonic typologies of the town. The objective was to bring technical support for the basis of an ordering in the intervention of existing cons-tructions and in the outlines for the growth of the new infrastructure needed for a growing influence each time greater for alternative tourism, which constitutes a pillar of econo-

Visit to the School of Architecture of the University Veritas of Costa Rica.

ARCHITECTURE, ALTERNATIVE TOURISM AND SOCIAL BENEFIT

A technical transference project between Mexico and Costa Rica.*

Conferences presented by the architects Pastor Alfonso Sanchez Cruz and Ibo Bonilla Oconitrillo in the School of Architecture and Urbanism of the Interamerican University of Costa Rica.

mic sustenance of the population. The participation of the Costa Rican Architect Ibo Bonilla brought an important thrust and motivation in the initiating of this phase of the project in conjunction with Arch. Pastor Cruz, students and professors, to such a point that Arch. Ibo Bonilla was declared Dis-tinguished visitor of Capulalpam de Mendez. In preparation for this aca-demic collaboration, Arch. Ibo Bo-nilla lectured at two magisterial conferences: in the Library Fran-cisco de Burgoa and in the Faculty of Architecture of the C.U. of the UABJO, which generated an impor-tant benefit for the student commu-nity, magisterial and official, with the presence of community leaders interested in the theme, to the point where their opinions were broad-cast by the principal TV stations and newspapers. In his conferences, Ibo Bo-nilla highlighted the premise that all investment should promote a social benefit; that ecotourism can be a sufficiently productive activity, and protecting the forest is more profita-ble than exploiting it. Also he shared his experiences of various decades with more than forty native and far-ming communities that live around the Natural Reserves of Costa Rica. He said that Ecotourism is associa-ted with the effects of activities rela-ted to excursion of less than a year, outside the personal environment, with the finality of leisure, study or other related motives, with respon-sible environmental attitudes and an ethic of conservation and respect for the natural and cultural envi-ronment. He emphasized that this is tourism with less intensity and less demand in the stereotype of

comfort, which favours the interest of knowing landscapes, biodiver-sity, people and customs distinct from where they come from. The mentioned entities have enhance very positively this interchange of experiences and methodologies, about a theme of which Costa Rica and Mexico share its importance, as a means to pre-serve their identity and heritage. With the aforementioned we have established the bases for a much more ample collaboration, which includes the interchange of profes-sors and students; presently the Ci-vil Association of New Horizons for Architecture of the Communities (NHCA) has a signed agreement of collaboration with the School of Architecture and Urbanism of the Interamerican University of Costa Rica.

INTERCHANGE

9

*Second phase of the interchange Oaxaca-Costa Rica.


EXCHANGE

EXCURSION:CPULALPAMDE MNDEZ Pueblo MgicoSierra Norte de Oaxaca.

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Within the technical transference project between Mexico and Costa Rica, the distinguished visitor made an excursion to Capulalpam de Mendez.

Ibo Bonilla signing the register of distinguished vi-sitors in the municipality of Capulalpam de Mendez, Oaxaca, Mexico.


COMMUNITIESTHE MOVABLE DWELLING EXAMPLE OF NATIVE ARCHITECTURE IN SANTA CATALINA ROATINA, MIAHUATLAN OAXACA.Juan Manuel Gastllum Alvarado.

AUTO CONSTRUCTION OF 16 RURAL DWELLINGS IN SAN MI-GUEL AMATITLAN OAX. (Oaxacan Mixteca)Juan Jos Santibez Garca.

THE TRADITIONAL DWELLINGS OF SAN PEDRO IXCATLAN. Marco Antonio Aguirre Pliego


In the southern limit in the Region of the Central Valleys of the state of Oaxaca, ad-jacent to the Southern Mountains Region, eleven kilometres to the east leaving from the population of Miahuatlan of Porfirio Diaz, is located the Municipal Agency of Santa Cata-rina Roatina, Miahuatlan, Oaxaca, its popula-tion nucleus of 1406 inhabitants is concentra-ted on an extension of terrains with hills and downward thrusts in an area of approximately 3 Km.

In present times, where the globaliza-tion concept influences everything, but in par-ticularthe small communities, because it em-beds itself stripping the identity values of the towns, it is the moment to look towards them to re-reclaim these custom particularities, fruit of history and culture; in this case refe-rring to true architectonic works, that in truth are not of large dimensions as to be included in the conjunction of specimens appreciated as grandiose, they keep a human scale pro-per of the conception and thought of its execu-tors, who achieve dwellings that dont offend the surroundings but to the contrary, integra-te within the context to which in their elabo-ration they use materials that are produced in their surroundings: regularly natural ele-ments that in many occasions only need to be

collected to give them a function, and through simple processes are transformed into an all constructive that couples with the identity of the location which has born them, and where their residents are shown to be happy posses-sors of the results. In these moments, when surfaces the necessity to rescue the knowledge achieved by some localities in terms of construction of traditional dwelling, it is the duty to trans-mit such conditions to the present genera-tions, and in the future these practices become known in favour of their registering, diffusion and promotion for didactic and rescue ends. In this sense, even in Santa Catarina Roatina they conserve the original cultural patterns from which they elaborate dwellings that use a minimum of economic resources, those that labour is substituted through tequio (volun-teer labour) by the same neighbours, those that in full harmony with their environment use the materials which are at hand to cons-truct their habitat, that which so well reflects the socioeconomic level of their inhabitants, above all radiate cultural richness, adequate for the climate that predominates the zone and proportions a vast range of natural resources and techniques that they have at their dispo-sal. In spite of certain geographical points of Roatina the use of industrialized materials in their dwellings has been noticed, neverthe-less one perceives a community that keeps

Juan Manuel Gastllum Alvarado

COMMUNITIES

THE MOVABLE DWELLINGS

EXAMPLE OF NATIVE ARCHITECTURE IN SANTA CATALINA ROATINA, MIAHUATLAN OAXACA.

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concepts of dwellings in contraposition to tho-se systems known as modern, those that in all measures are seen as construction proce-dures foreign to the culture and idiosyncrasies of its populations. Also are maintained stan-ding various dwellings elaborated based with walls made of adobe covered with clay, with thick wood at the top of doors and windows as a style of enclosure, and roofs with wooden beams that sustains tiles from the region with adequate slopes to drain the rain water. Nevertheless, the construction system that is desired to standout in those instances, of which are common in the population, uni-quely use materials like vegetation, earth, and water that the close environment offers; ele-ments found and obtained naturally and that the inhabitants of Roatina have taken charge to bind in their dwellings integrating them with the natural environment in agreeable conjunctive landscapes. It deals with rectangular dwellings approximately 3.00 x 4.00 meters in surface, using reed or poles of otate (pole which looks like bamboo but of a small diameter) in way of walls bound with rattan, placed vertically with reinforcements of the same material ho-rizontally, of which are incrusted with wooden poles finishing in a U in its extremes sunk di-rectly on the ground at the corners and inter-mediate reinforcements, components that are covered with clay in the interior as well as the exterior. With this scheme rests a structure of

wooden poles finishing in a U aligned with the walls, known as props, that support a roof of four slopes, of which are formed by equal areas that are united resting on each other towards

the centre of the dwelling, where is formed the parts of the slopes, of which are hung on woo-den poles finishing in a U which receive two or three bundles of reeds horizontally that form a triangular reticule at the extremes and square at the centre called to encage, above which they place the clusters of ocote pine leafs, atta-ching them from bottom to top until reaching the trestle; the extremities are intertwined, the loose ends or disagreeable or non-functional

COMMUNITIES

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ends are cut, and they are arranged with over-lap. This roofing has demonstrated a resistan-ce in windy times up to forty years with the respective maintenance consistent with small interventions or repair, recommending its use as a dwelling, moreover not to give it use as a kitchen or place where fire is used because of the inflammable substances of which the bun-dles of leafs on the roof can catch fire.

The present article would not be comple-te without highlighting that with all these com-binations of qualities a more attractive one is added, resulting that when for whatever rea-son, someone who lives in these dwellings de-cides to separate himself from the original nu-cleus or to change the location of residence, in function of its conservation, the structure that makes up the roof can be transported on the

CHACON Polanco, Mario Roberto. La arquitectura popular otra especie en extincin. En Mdulo, revista de la facultad de arquitectura de la universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. Marzo 1989.COMOS. Carta del patrimonio vernculo construido. En: http://www.internacional.icomos.org/vernac-esp.htm. LANGAGNE Ortega, Eduardo. Et al. Como una piedra que rueda. Ediciones Gernika, S, A. Mxico 1993. 444 p. LOPEZ Morales, Francisco Javier. Arquitectura Verncula en Mxico. Edit. Trillas. Mxico 1993. 388 p. MOYA Rubio, Vctor Jos. La vivienda indgena de Mxico y el mundo. Direccin General de Publicaciones U.N.A.M. 3 Ed. Mxico. 1988. 256 p OCAMPO Garca, Mara de Lourdes. La vivienda tradicional de Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas. En: Cuadernos de Arquitectura y ur-banismo No 6., Revista de la Facultad de Arquitectura. Univer-sidad Autnoma de Chiapas 2001. 78 p.

Juan Manuel Gastellum Alvarado is a full time profes-sor of the Faculty of Architecture C.U., of the Autono-mous University Benito Juarez of Oaxaca, professor of Urban Development and Secretary of the Civil Asso-ciation New Horizons for Architecture of the Communi-ties. [email protected]

BibliographyIt is worthwhile to reflect in turn to the particulari-ties that presents our po-pulation to rescue them from prejudicial influen-ces, maybe not avoiding

the cutting out of modernism, maybe incorporating its positive aspects, but above all maintaining those elements that have demons-trated usefulness in the past, since those remain latent in the present and will be appreciated in the futu-re.

COMMUNITIES

backs of twenty persons to the future location of residence, moving in this fashion the dwe-llings up to three kilometres distance to place this part of the structure on the new walls of the new location, for what is considered to be movable dwellings.

This activity that is executed by means of guelaguetza (everyone freely helping) and where the beneficiary responds to the collabo-rators as in a celebration with a meal and alco-holic beverages, in conjunction contributes to promote social relations, the cooperation and the group spirit between those that intervene.

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Juan Jos Santibez Garca

The expression of architecture is the clearest parameter of the general state of a culture; it is the open book that manifests achieve-ments, pretensions, myths and beliefs of a community. Since I have had the use of reason I have been a spec-tator and actor in the daily happenings of the region, since I was born here and from childhood accompa-nied my father to the towns. I witnessed many indige-nous manifestations like dances, celebrations, labours, clothing and later their architecture. In the last 35 years we have lost much of our original values through economic development that invade all corners of the country and does not forgive local forms and criteria. From the year 1988 to 1996 I worked on va-rious works in the diocese of Huajuapan as assessor. This helped me to discover the region as an architect. At collaboration time, I learned the simple solutions that people gave to their spaces; they beging to be linked to nature, loving her and discovering with ease the use of materials that are in the surroundings. The present document registers a special job that shows us that things can be done under the optic of local values adopting the bountifulness of new techni-ques and modern know how. With pride I let known the work of 16 farm women that built their dwellings with lots of effort and dedica-tion. The achievement that they reached doing it mar-ked a new point of departure in their lifes. They gained the respect of the community, self-esteem and securi-ty. The unbelievers in the town now admire them, visit them, stimulate them and are now objects of a photo-graphic exposition in the present article.The municipality of San Miguel Amatitlan where the development of this project took place is considered one of the poorest in the state of Oaxaca and the coun-try. In the last 30 years there has been a procession of many government programs with weak results, ge-nerating strong dependence vices, and from my particular point of view, this has weake-ned the character of the popu-

(Oaxacan Mixteca)

AUTO CONSTRUCTION OF 16 RURAL DWELLINGS IN SAN MIGUEL AMATITLAN OAX.

lation, above all in the men.With their small cultural collaboration these women have generated certainty, have sown a new spirit ca-pable of changing many habits. It is the beginning of a new vision in the patterns of behaviour between the sexes. This example shows that the women are very strong, that when they are given the opportunity they make whatever endeavour progress, because they have less vices and being forsaken in society are more dis-posed to change.In this scenario the importance of community expe-rience and its real dimension should be considered, not for its quantative characteristic, but for the con-ceptual aspect that could signify, with due impulse, the beginning of a project at the regional level, with greater transcendence, which could reproduce itself in numerous groups, impeding in this way that the boun-tifulness brought by this experience remains only as an anecdote. In this document are illustrated some characteristics of the project.

Juan Jos Santibez Garca.

Cemex Project Award Con-gruencies in SustainabilityThe Bienal Silver Medal Award of Mexican Architecturewww.arquitectosartesanos.com

PHOTOGRAPHSMarcela taboada of the collec-tion Women of clay

REFERENCESA municipality of the Oaxacan MixtecaSan Miguel Amatitlan by Juan Carlos Bonilla Duran

THANKS TOPbro. Santiago RojasJulia Santiago y grupoEdith Rodrguez GioTEXT CORRECTORArch. Martin ArriagaCONAFOVI

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The present article is an extract of the original text of 14 pages. BIBLIONHAC inthe web page www.acnhac.org

More information about Juan Jse Santibaz at www.arqui-tectosartesanos.com.mx


Marco Antonio Aguirre Pliego

Introduction

To talk about San Pedro Ixcatlan, Tuxtepec, Oaxaca, is to talk about humidity, greenness, and native architecture; but to undertake the last it is necessary to define it.What is vernacular architecture? The term vernacu-

lar according to the dictionary designates native. It is obvious that this does not satisfy us, since it lends itself to confusions. Rosa Maria Sanchez Lara, in an article titled The significance of vernacular architecture, af-ter reviewing what popular architecture is, says:

Vernacular architecture in on the other hand, for the most part until now has been analysed by critics and scholars foreign its production and use (from there the picturesque aspect that has been conferred), has been de-nominated also nave, spontaneous, folkloric, etc., and in it remain as cons-tants, elements of popular and traditional character.

A clearer and ampler definition would require a

search taking in consideration the significance of the dominant civilization. Alvin Toffler in some way initia-tes us to the situation when he writes:

The human species have experienced up to now two great waves of chan-ge, each one having buried previous cultures or civilizations and therefore has substituted them in inconceivable ways of life. The first wave of change

the agricultural revolution took thousands of years in displaying itself. The second wave birth of industrial civilization needed only three hun-dred years.

Vernacular architecture is the surviving popular ar-chitecture of the agricultural age. It is the architecture that refuses to disappear in the industrial age. One of its principal characteristics is that in it the collective sen-timent is an imperative. It is the architecture of the co-llective pre-industrial. Vernacular architecture is archi-tecture suspended in time; or better said an extemporal architecture in the measure that its design does not pretend to signify a trend. On the contrary, it signifies a cultural resistance and from this angle, it is a marginal phenomenon with respect to contemporary occidental culture. Industrial capitalism, by intrinsic contradic-tion, produces marginality.

Another essential characteristic of vernacular archi-tecture is that of being a product eminently of crafts-manship. And here again cultural resistance is expres-sed; the resistance of a world that was enslaved.

The sphere of vernacular architecture is the one of the primitive space; the architecture that is close to na-ture, near motherhood. From here the fascination that is provoked in the city individual.

Vernacular architecture is aesthetic in the measure that it harmonizes itself with nature.

The discussion that I express in what follows about the architecture of San Pedro Ixcatlan, is a long way from being a thesis. It is only a summary of fleeting impressions, which have as a conceptual frame the ar-gumentation expressed here up to now.

THE TRADITIONAL DWELLINGS OF SAN PEDRO IXCATLAN.

Location of San Pedro Ixcatlan. Drawing by Marco A. Aguirre P.

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1Rosa Maria Sanchez Lara. The significance of vernacular architecture, in VERNACU-

LAR ARCHITECTURE, book of architecture and conservation of artistic inheritance. N

10.INBA.,Mexico 1980. p. 11. Alvin Toffler. The Third Wave. Edition . 11 Impression. Mexico, 1988. p.26.


In the year 1988 Oscar Gomez Torres and Marco Antonio Arriaga Solis, realized as a thesis, for the tit-le of architects, a study called Rural Dwellings for the Process of Relocation in the Region of the Papaloapan. Through this they analysed the problem comparing the towns situated in the basin of the dam Miguel Aleman also known as the Temascal dam. The problem consists

Tradicional ixcateca dwelling on the edge of the lake. Drawing by Marco Antonio Aguirre Pliego.

Antecedences of this article

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that exists a governmental project to raise dams level of water, something that affects various populations and that implies the relocation of all of them. In the thesis in question, the authors analysed the governmental pro-posal and rejected it proposing one more adequate. The knowledge of this thesis moved me, first, to know phy-sically the site object of the study; and later, to confront the criticism from other aspects related to the same


The traditional ixcateca dwelling

The traditional dwelling of San Pedro Ixcatlan is cha-racterized, from a special point of view, in that it is mo-dulare; in other words it is composed of locals, with different functions, separated by areas of free air circu-lation. Said functions generally fall under the following: kitchen, bedroom and storage; the bathroom invariably separated from the assembly, it is a cubical with latrine.

From the constructive point of view, the locales in question have compacted earthen floors, although en recent years, we must admit, some families have pro-gressed by means of concrete floors; the walls of the en-closures are made of poles or canes of otate (pole which looks like bamboo but of a small diameter) placed hori-zontally, without windows; the coverings are made ba-sed on a thick wooden framework tied with rope made of vegetable fibre and covered with dung from the re-gion. The forms of the covering, with two slopes, and with pronounced inclinations, generate a space that is used like a wooden mezzanine in which are kept uten-sils and prime materials.

From a plastic point of view, the floors of the lo-cales have a long rectangular form and their respective composite axis are placed randomly; the great inclina-tion of the coverings make that the volumes are visua-lly agreeable; the proportions of the different elements

of each unit of the assembly are harmonious between eachother. Complementing the image of the landscape the orchards in which there are tropical fruit trees like the mango and the guava, and ornate trees like the rose post (Tabebuia rosea), also called the tropical oak tree, whose foliage, in spring, is composed in large part by rosy flowers.

From the point of view of the conjunction un-derstood as the population, the dwellings that I refer to occupy the common lands (borders of the emplace-ments) under a low density plan; in other words, wi-thout agglomeration. In the central area of the town the dwellings are of another type: of much durable mate-rials, nonetheless they have wooden or brick walls and are covered with galvanized sheet metal; the unique common element is the roof with two slopes, one of which has an angular break that favours the formation of an eaves that covers generally a corridor. It appears to me that the centric dwellings are fluid because of the formal scheme of the dwellings in the Mazatec zone. But returning to the dwellings on the periphery of San Pedro Ixcatlan, in other words traditional dwellings, af-ter analysing them conceptualizing the following reflec-tions that corroborate my initial presentation: through its aspect express es obstinacy for a determined form of being, of which is valid under whatever circumstance.

Floor plan and construction details of a traditional ixcateca dwelling. Drawing by Oscar Gomez and Marco A. Arriaga S.

Marco Antonio Aguirre Pliego is an architect with a masters in the History of Architecture in Mexico, retired professor of the UABJO, member of the Seminar of Mexican Culture and new recipient of the Plaque of Honour from the Federation of Colleges of Architects of the Mexican Republic in 2008.

Two different aspects of the dwelling in San Pedro Ixcatlan. Photographs

from Jesus Ignacio Ramirez Tovar.

COMMUNITIES

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INTERNATIONALTHE OTHER TOURISM, THE OTHER ARCHITECTURE

(A tool for the conservation of natural reserves)

Ibo Bonilla Oconitrillo.


THE OTHER TOURISM, THE OTHER ARCHITECTURE

A tool for the con-servation of natural reserves

The objective of these conferences was to share the accumulated experience during the 17 years of non lucrative collabora-tion, with farming and indigenous com-munities that live around the Reservas Naturales de Costa Rica (Natural Reserves of Costa Rica), under the strategy that Ecotourism can be a sufficiently productive activity, which implies for example to protect the forests is a greater profit than to exploit them. Costa Rica has around 30% of its territory de-dicated to natural reserves, we do not have sufficient adult workers to hire as forests rangers, thus under the concept of a solidarity collaboration private in character, we bet on the idea that the best caretakers are the proper neighbours of the forest. The conceptualization of ecotourism began around the year 1990, but it is until recent times that it has consolidated as such, the year 2002 was decla-red by the U.N. as the Year of Ecotourism. Con-ventional tourism historically has demonstrated to be probably the most un-loyal and predatory of hu-man activities; despoiling until destroying the most beautiful locations, requiring costly and stereotypic luxury and with the least change of style, moving to dazzle other locations, leaving behind itself known secondary affects: damage to the natural and cultural environment, inflationary processes, real estate speculation, unjustified urban expansion, so-cial deterioration like prostitution, drugs, gambling, etc. If the construction of buildings is the human activity that is implicated in 70% of the impact on the natural economy and is tied to the volatile tourist industry, this tells us that we need to take precau-tions and bring forth technical solutions and policies to mitigate such impact. Ecotourism appears to be less aggressive, but we need to observe it closely, because the major part of what has been done esca-ping the certification protocols for green design and construction, of which permits with the pretext

Ibo Bonilla Oconitrillo

Magisterial conferences by Ibo Bonilla Oconitrillo in the library Francisco de Burgoa, Oaxaca, Mexico, April 5th 2008.

INTERNATIONAL

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of the ecotouristical seal, that some unscrupulous contrac-tors, especially transnacionals, implant models that are foreign to pristine landscapes, that are attractive at first, but that destroy when not respecting their particular eco-logical characteristics, for the sake of preconceived ideas that commercially have had success in other parts. This type of entrepreneurial activity, whose objec-tive is to maximize profit, which typically promotes the system of all included, and which excludes people that from ancestral times have lived on the lands that are now occupied by so called big hotels. On the other hand, the success of ecotouristic activities are based on the diffu-

sion of the awareness of environmental responsibility and in the ethics of conservation and it has been observed that such conviction is transmitted to a type of tourist that nor-mally comes predisposed in this sense. Our project unfolds based on workshops that include the best possible participation of the interested popula-tion, normally they are small communities which have had contact with social services, anthropologists, sociolo-gists, etc. from official organisms and/or non government organizations, or have had relations with other communi-ties that are developing similar projects.

3 cases of 45 projects promo-ted by Arch. Ibo Bonilla in Cos-ta Rican communities.

Stibraupa Yorkin The Bribri indigenous communi-ty, located near the Skuy river in Yor-kin, Talamanca, leaders in communal promotions and flag carriers for the preservation of the ancestral culture. There they built two shelters, classro-oms for telesecundaria (high school by telecommunications), restaurant, communal hall, pathway and are in the process of refurbishing the aque-duct.

INTERNATIONAL

21


Scientific Station La Selva (The Fo-rest) The property La Selva occupies an important position within biological corridors in the north of the country, moreover having a world class scientific sta-tion for the quality and quantity of scientific investi-gations of the tropical forest. It is controlled by the Organization of Tropical Studies that is a consortium of universities from the United Stated and Costa Rica. There they built shelters for scientist and visitors.Centre of Visitors and Laboratories.

Ibo Bonilla OconitrilloPresident of Valdesol Plans and Projects, Architect, Mathematician, Educator, Master in Business Adminis-tration more information about Ibo Bonillawww.ibonweb.com

INTERNATIONAL

22

HORIZONS Magazine NHAC Autumn 2009 19

TECHNICAL TRANSFERENCE.

CENTLA DWELLINGAlejandro Rivadeneyra.

Miguel ngel Castro MonterdeDWELLINGS OF BALES OF HAY



CENTLA DWELLING

The present article shows the design of the Centla Dwelling, a prototype dwelling that is constructed in Boca de Chilapa, Centle, one of the municipalities of Tabasco, as an alterna-tive so that the families can count on a secure location facing the imminent floods that occur from year to year; the project, designed by the Mexican architect Alejandro Rivadenyera, will consist in the construction of 26 dwellings.Because of the yearly floods suffered in the sta-te of Tabasco, the Hidrico Plan has planned a series of hydraulic works and the relocation of the inhabitants of the lower zones, which im-plies millionaire investments during various years.In the meantime, there exist alternate measures

The Centla Dwelling is based on the typology and traditio-nal construction systems of the dwellings on the shores of the Grijalva River. The dwe-lling is raised 1.50 meters abo-ve ground by means of posts.

to live with the water, instead of seeing it as an enemy. As a result of steps headed by the mayor Nicolas Bellizia, the Civil Association Habitat for Humanity will elaborate a habitation pro-ject in the municipality in question, of which will be located in the ranch Boca de Chilapa; it involves the construction of 26 dwelling units starting from a prototype.Said project is an efficient, economic and sus-tainable alternative for housing solutions in high risk flooding zones and has been elabo-rated especially for the municipality of Centla, because of the necessities that exist between the populations that live on the edge of the ri-vers and suffer every year the destruction of the rising tributaries. The construction of the 26 dwellings that the project consists of, will be initiated with an investment of approximately three million 120 thousand pesos, for the benefit of 150 inhabi-tants of the zone.

The Public Works of Centla and Habitat for Humanity A.C., are joining forces to rea-lize this ambitious project, which will come

24

Alejandro Rivadeneyra


Alejandro Rivadenyera.- is a fore-most Mexican architect which has been the object of important natio-nal and international recognitions

amongst those that we find: Third place for the international competition convoked by the Aca-demia of Milan, for the convention centre of the Vatican, First place in the competition of the project for the new headquarters of the Federal Council of Conciliation and Arbitration and se-cond place in the project of the Arts Centre of San Luis Potosi. Gold Medal of the IDA, Profes-sor in the seminar for title of the Faculty of Ar-chitecture of the UNAM. For more information

www.rivadenyera.com.mx

The photographs presented are courtesy of Arch. Alejandro Rivadenyera for the NHCA


25

to offer a more secure option to those who live in this region of the municipality.It can be said that recently the first contract for the construction of the Centla dwelling in the municipality of Peto in the Yucatan peninsula has been signed with CONAFOR, it concerns a training program for the sustainable construc-tion in rural communities. The project of which we are occupied has ample possibilities of cons-truction in other entities of the Country.


STRAW BALE DWELLINGS

Miguel ngel Castro Monterde

The closest data of the utilization of bales of hay to build dwellings or schools come from the years 1886 or 1887 in Nebraska; later on in New Mexico as well. In Mexico there is knowledge of the first dwellings made of those mate-rials that were found in the state of Chihuahua.

This construction system is adaptable to whatever type of

project; the bales of hay that in these are utilized are made of sticks of wheat or rice and other similar plants, which are cut and fed mechanically into a ba-ler to compact them; once compacted they are tied in blocks of various sizes and are left to dry, in this way are easier to manage.

The design of this type of dwelling can be very plastic in a way that you can create the needed forms. The construction process is very versatile and easy to use for any person, since it treats of a simple construction process, in that uniquely we need to build a foundation using rocks, to a height of approxima-tely 40 centimetres, above ground level, to avoid hu-midity; above this we anchor reinforcing rods, bam-boo or reeds so that in each one of these we enclose up to four bales of hay. In the inferior part, between the rocks and the bales of hay, we use asphalt car-dboard so that humidity is not absorbed by the hay. We proceed in this way until we reach a maxi-mum of 7 bales for each level. It is recommended to reach a height 2.40m. For the openings of the do-ors and windows we use pine wood of 1 or 1 to make the frames the same thickness as the walls; for the superior closures, finishing the placement of the bales of hay, we also place wood of 1 or 1 in two layers and they are fastened with screws to the rods anchored to the foundation or fastened by plastic ties.

Simonton dwelling, Purdum, Nebraska

Dwelling in Puebla in 1994

Characteristics of the 3 wires 35.5 to 34.1 cm. high 58.9 cm. wide 109.2 to 119.3 cm. long

Heat insulation R-55.2

Characteristics of bales of two wires of 35.5x40.6 cm. high45.7 cm. wide 89.9 to

101.6 cm. long 15.75 to 29.25 kg. Heat insulation R-43.2

Women working in the Aves del Castillo pro-ject in Mexico 1993 with Archs. Helen and Jorg Ostrowsky of Calgary


26


In the state of Oaxaca such bales can be acquired with ease in No-chixtlan, this population being producers of wheat.

Miguel Angel Castro Monterde is an architect for the U.R.S.E. Was president of the College of Architects of the State of Oaxaca (2007-2008). Recipient of the Pla-que of Honour of the FCARM in 2008 and presently in charge of the Commission of Assemblies of the same

View of the interior of a dwelling made of bales of hay in Santa Fe United States build by Arch. Beverly Spears

Dwelling in Alberta Canada in 1993

Threaded tubes with bolt to adjust each 1.8 m. and on the corners each 91.45 cm

Wooden door lintel Structure of wooden win-dows

Wood enclosure of 2x6

No. 4 rods inser-ted at each 4 ba-les of hay

Each 4 bales of hay No. 4 rods in the foundation ma-king an anchor leaving it 3.6 m. high

THECHNICAL TRANSFERENCE.

For the roof we use a light material which can be wood based on beams or ties supported by each one of the extremes of the walls of bales of hay, and above these ties wood tongue and groove boards or 16 mm. plywood can be placed, above this asphalt cardboard or tiles manufactured in the regional, with the finality of conserving the regional vernacular architecture image in that which is constructed. The walls for its thickness and the type of material, results in an excellent thermal and acoustic material, appropriate for locations with severe clima-tes. In the coverings of the walls we utilize chicken wire, held with thick wire anchors, which serves as the reinforcement for a ho-mogenised mixture of earth from the region with sand, cement, manure and a few fistfuls of the same hay, which is applied like mud over the coverings and left to dry before gi-ving it the next step; the covering can up to be 3 centimetres thick. Once dried it can be finished with nopal gum or in defect with alternate contemporaneous products like transparent resins; these should be applied uniquely to the exterior; in the interior we follow the same procedure, but ignoring the materials used against inclemency so that the walls can have ventilation. The system has been implanted in two cities of Mexico: in Tlaxcala and in Oaxaca. In the later inclusive there are examples of this including the surrounding valleys. Ho-pefully we could retake this type of cons-truction since it is comfortable, flexible in its design and low in cost; and our state of Oaxaca being an entity of low earnings, the

system in question will permit its inhabi-tants to have a dignified dwelling.


InterviewValeria prieto


Interview Valeria Prieto

INTERVIEW

?

?

Architect Valeria Prieto, can you tell us: Where did you graduate and what are you in charge presently in the Mexican ICOMOS I graduated from the National Au-tonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), currently I am vice presi-dent of the Mexican ICOMOS and Se-cretary General of the International Scientific Committee of Vernacular Architecture of the same, at the in-

What is the motive of your visit to the city of Oaxaca?

It is due to an invitation of the Aca-demic Body of Higher Studies of Ar-chitecture (CAEA), of the Faculty of Architecture of the C.U. of the Auto-nomous Benito Juarez University of Oaxaca (UABJO), to share my experien-ces about the conservation of vernacu-lar architecture inside the framework of the First Seminar about vernacular dwellings in the south eastern region of Mexico.

Judith Caballero Gmez

A visit to Capulalpam de Mendez Oaxaca Mexico by the participants of the First Seminar on vernacular dwellings of the southeast region of Mexico


INTERVIEW

The 1st Seminar on vernacular dwellings in the southeast region of Mexico, was organized by the Academic Body of Higher Studies in Architecture (CAEA), the Faculty of Architecture of C.U., of the Autonomous University Benito Juarez of Oaxa-ca (UABJO), and the help of the Civil Association New Horizons for the Architecture of the Com-munities (NHAC), and was realized from the 3rd to the 5th of September 2009, in the Faculty of Architecture C.U., of the U.A.B.J.O.

What is your opinion with respect to the con-clusions and results of this first seminar?

Your final comments.

This academic activity could have major repercussions in the southeast region in the measure that its conclusions and results are be adopted by the Faculties of Architecture, already part of the conclusions exhort the introduction within the curricular plan of the education of the student, the learning of vernacular architecture no only in the undergradua-te program, but also in the graduate area, by the same means we could have a greater benefit for the students if the teachers induce them in realizing professional practices in rural com-munities, where the conservation of a typology of this type of architecture can be appreciated, as such like the improvements that can be proportioned to rural native dwellings of the most marginal population, this is indubitably necessary.

I congratulate the Academic Body of Higher Studies in Architecture, organizers of the event and the Civil Association New Horizons for the Architecture of the Communities, since with this labour they induce future architects to show interest in the communities, and to do their practices and social service in these zones, since as this is an option of the field of labour, with an ample range of activities to elaborate and propose not only in favour of the teaching of architecture, but also the rescue of our vernacular architecture that is finally the type that enriches each corner of the populations of our country.

There is the risk that it will disappear in so far that in the last ten years, numerous examples of vernacular architecture of distinct architectonic genders like the dwelling, the markets, the squares of the towns and the open spaces in general have suffered a radical transformation, loosing their historical and cultural content, for this reason the importance of participating in this first seminar, where all the presentations were a great contribution; on the other hand it is good to know that there still exits professionals that are interested in the study of this type of architecture.

What do you think about the future holds for vernacular architec-ture in Mexico?

Participants of the First Seminar on vernacular dwellings in the south eastern region of Mexico


Watercolour by Arch. Jorge Tames y BattaPresident of the Association of Institutions in the Teaching of Ar-chitecture of the Mexican Republic (ASINEA)2008-2010Faculty of Architecture UNAM Mexico DF.


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Drawings of the Articule The traditional dwelling of Capu-llalpan de Mendez Northern mountain Range of Oaxaca, Mxico, presented at the First seminar on the vernacular dwelling in the southeast re-gion Mxico available in the section BIBLIONHAC www.acnhac.org

Dwelling of the Ramirez family Dwelling of the Ramirez family


Bread oven

Boards of 25 cm

Bream

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