The Quincha in Chile. Restoration of National Monuments, Freirina, Atacama Region ouse in the Mayan area

Abstract

The quincha of the Near North of Chile is a
constructive system of high patrimonial interest,
not only for its historical and architectural value
but also for the intrinsic technological knowledge
present in this type of buildings that combines
in a unique way two recurring materialities
in Traditional Chilean architecture: wood and
earth. However, it’s current situation is at high
risk due to the threat of natural phenomena
such as earthquakes, big rains and floods, and
the introduction to the territory of urban and
homogenizing construction systems, which have
led to little interest in learning the traditional
trades materialized in this type of heritage. This
is the case of the Santa Rosa de Lima Church
and the Los Portales Building in the town of
Freirina. Both buildings are national monuments
since 1980 and were fully intervened between
2016 and 2017 in response to their weakened
structural condition and worrying conservation
status. This text describes the experience of the
restoration process of both buildings, in a partially
urbanized and high-rural town, whose impact on
the community meant the revaluation of this type
of construction and its positioning in the Chilean
heritage context.