Abstract

ORECCHIA, Luis Alfredo  and  BRIZUELA, Eduardo Enrique. Four centuries of earthen architecture in La Rioja: From the spanish conquest to the present. An. Inst. Arte Am. Investig. Estét. Mario J. Buschiazzo [online]. 2018, vol.48, n.2, pp.205-221. ISSN 2362-2024.

This article presents an overview of the earthen construction in La Rioja Province, Argentina, across four centuries. A heritage perspective introduces several sites and different typological buildings dating from the 17th to the 20th centuries. One valuable chapter is about religious heritage, mainly built with earth before the earthquake of 1894. Earthen architecture not only remains to the past. Its presence continues in the valley, and nowadays it is visible through many contemporary projects. On one hand, due to the reconversion of abandoned houses, into museums, libraries or lodging.On the other hand, through the construction of new buildings. All this turned the earthen construction into a sustainable alternative.

Keywords : earthen architectural heritage; reconversion; contemporary architecture.