REVITALIZACIÓN DEL BAHAREQUE ANCESTRAL DEL PUEBLO KICHWA SARAGURO, ECUADOR: CONSERVACIÓN, ADAPTACIÓN Y DIFUSIÓN DEL PATRIMONIO CONSTRUCTIVO

Construction with wattle and daub has evolved over time, but today faces the risk of disappearing due to material scarcity, a lack of labor, and a preference for “more durable and versatile” systems. This study explores the revitalization of wattle and daub, an ancestral construction technique of the Kichwa people of Saraguro, Ecuador, through a multi-stage mixed-methodological approach: material analysis, design, structural analysis, and the construction of a wattle and daub panel that integrates Andean iconography and adapts to contemporary concrete, metal, and wood porticos; and a practical workshop to disseminate and evaluate the feasibility of construction through mingas (communal participation). The results highlight the viability of wattle and daub in contemporary construction, with its affordable cost and structural efficiency. Its use was promoted by encouraging community participation and the transmission of ancestral knowledge. It is an alternative for contemporary construction, preserving cultural identity and adapting to environmental challenges.