Chapter 1

A brief introduction:
Vernacular architecture is a concept that really inclusive: everything that is built with local materials by and by someone that’s not a professional can be considered vernacular architecture; for this reason there is a continuity non always well defined among these buildings, because there is no code but only tradition to sustain the shape and the technology. The common line among these examples is that the approach is almost always bioclimatic, the evolution of shapes and technology goes towards the thermal comfort for the users, also there is the strong element of tradition, because architecture learns always from the past examples.   
The architectural regionalism can be really inspiring for the professional because it’s the natural answer to the climate and concept like surface/volume ratio, thermal inertia, dispersant surfaces, ventilation, cooling by evaporation and shading systems are used since thousands of years.

Punta Arenas: