Review of "lightened slipstraw ceilings" as a cultural practice in the vernacular roofing of Aymara houses in Arica and Parinacota, Chile

Abstract

This article reviews the slipstraw ceiling technology known in the Aymara language as "caruna.” The study was made in Aymara homes at more than 4,000 meters above sea level in the town of Tacora, in the region of Arica and Parinacota, Chile, as part of project 49204, financed by the National Cultural Heritage Service. It aims to recover this vernacular technique as an alternative to industrialized materials that have modified Andean housing and the quality of life in extreme climates over the last 25 years. Samples of materials used in this technique, reproduced by a local craftsman, were collected and analyzed in the laboratory to determine their thermal properties and workability. The energy performance of three homes in Tacora was also monitored to compare the results obtained with those of the laboratories. The findings revealed that the mud mold used in this ceiling technique is predominantly made from clay with medium compressibility and low thermal conductivity, which makes it apt for insulation in cold desert climates. Lightened clay and straw ceilings stand out in the local culture thanks to the availability of material resources and ease of installation. This study highlights the importance of preserving traditional knowledge, respecting ancestral knowledge, and improving the thermal performance of homes in the northern mountain range of Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, highlighting its relevance for developing sustainable and culturally relevant housing solutions.