Ritualized Architecture in East Mexico

This article was published in the Proceedings of the International Conference on Preservation, Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Historical Buildings and Structures Tomar, Portugal held from 19-21 March 2014. All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without prior written permission from the Publisher. Green Lines Institute.The Papaloapan River in East Mexico is a rich region historically, culturally and naturally. These characteristics are also reflected in the region’s vernacular architecture. This fascination with the built environment led me to carry out research for my PhD on the indigenous houses there, based on the historical, physical and cultural evidence that still exists in most of these indigenous communities, which is manifest in the architecture, the simplicity of the forms of the houses and the construction of the spaces. In 2012 and 2013 I lived with the Mazatec people along the Papaloapan River for a total of six months, an experience which allowed me to understand how the design and construction of their houses are grounded in many traditions. Therefore, the research for my PhD primarily involves: (1) understanding the relationship between the Mazatec people and their dwellings; and (2) recording the ceremonial rites associated with the design and construction of their houses