View source for Chilotan architecture

{{short description|Architectural style}}
[[File:Church in Castro, Chiloe, Chile (154115860).jpg|thumb|Wooden Church in Castro, Chiloe, Chile]]
[[Image:Iglesia de San Francisco de Castro 6.jpg|thumb|Wooden interior of the [[Church of San Francisco, Castro|Church of San Francisco]] in [[Castro, Chile|Castro]].]]
[[File:Church of wood in Chiloe.jpg|thumb|Interior showing wooded arches]]
[[Image:Waterfront of Castro (3162702163).jpg|thumb|right|20th century [[palafito]]s, at high tide in [[Castro, Chile]].]]

'''Chilotan architecture''' is a unique [[architectural style]] that is mainly restricted to the [[Chiloé Archipelago]], and neighboring areas of southern [[Chile]]. This style shows the blending of European styles with indigenous building methods and material. Catholic churches built here show the most significant representation of this style, with 16<ref>UNESCO World Heritage Centre. “Churches of Chiloé.” ''UNESCO World Heritage Centre'', [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/971 whc.unesco.org/en/list/971].</ref> being designated as [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage Sites]].

==History==
The Chiloé Archipelago, a group of islands off the West coast of Chile, has a unique colonial architecture that differs substantially from typical Chilean [[Spanish colonial architecture]]. These differences are due to both the physical isolation of these islands and their access to different materials, mostly wood. 

Spanish colonists arrived in the 16th century and were followed by [[Jesuits|Jesuit]] missionaries in the 17th century. The combination of indigenous culture and Jesuit influences lead to a [[mestizo]] culture and a unique architecture.
;Spanish Colonial Churches
The activities of the Jesuits resulted in the building of 150+ wooden [[Catholic Church|Catholic churches]] and other religious buildings as a part of the [[Indian Reductions]] mandated by the Crown for [[Spanish colonization of the Americas]], 60 of which remain today.<ref name=":0" />

Typical elements of Catholic churches, [[Basilica|basilica layout]], [[Vault (architecture)|vaulted ceilings]], symmetrical tower [[Façade|facades]], and arched entrances, are presented in these churches but without the recognizable material stone. Instead, locals built these churches entirely out of wood, using ship-building techniques.<ref name=":0">World Monuments Fund. ''World Monuments : 50 Irreplaceable Sites to Discover and Champion : In Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of World Monuments Fund''. New York, Ny, Rizzoli, 2015.</ref> Even fasteners and other typically metal connections were made with wood. These churches were mostly placed along the coastline to serve as navigational aids for sailors.<ref>World Monuments Fund. “Chiloé Churches.” ''World Monuments Fund'', 2017, [https://www.wmf.org/project/chilo%C3%A9-churches www.wmf.org/project/chilo%C3%A9-churches].</ref>

{{main|Churches of Chiloé}}
;Houses and other buildings
Wood is the main building material in all Chilotan architecture and many different species are used for different reasons. [[Cypress]], [[Mañio (disambiguation)|mañio]], [[Eucryphia cordifolia|ulmo]], [[Plumeria rubra|plum]], [[Nothofagus dombeyi|coigue]], and [[Fitzroya|larch, or fitzroya]] wood are the most commonly used. Ulmo wood is primarily used for structural elements and fitzroya was often used for shingles due to its good properties to resist moisture and other environmental factors.<ref name=":1">Pareti, S., et al. “Ancestral and Vernacular Architecture as Contemporary Heritage, Tourist and Cultural Resource. The Case of the ‘Palafitos’ and the Route of the 16 UNESCO Heritage Churches of Chiloé, Chile.” ''IOP Conference Series. Earth and Environmental Science'', vol. 1026, no. 1, 2022, pp. 12051-, doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1026/1/012051.</ref> Used in both churches and houses, it became a very recognizable material for its rich color. The roof shingles of fitzroya came to be used as money and called ''[[Spanish real|Real]] de [[Fitzroya|Alerce]]''.

[[Stilt house|Palafitos]], or [[Stilt house|stilt houses]] are a staple in Chiloe. These houses typically consist of a base of stilts or piles, with a gable roof and a central kitchen to help heat the entire home.<ref name=":1" /> The reason for these houses being built into the water was to accommodate fishing, a large part of Chilotan culture. This style is observed in other parts of the world, however, the longevity of these houses is notably higher in Chiloe, primarily due to the properties of the wood available in the area.

==See also==
*[[Churches of Chiloé]]
*[[History of Chiloé]]
*[[Plan Serena]]

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
*[https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/971 UNESCO World Heritage Site - The Churches of Chiloe]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070429125847/http://www.nuestro.cl/eng/stories/tourism/iglesiaschilotas.htm Churches of Chiloe: descriptions and photograph gallery]

{{Chiloe Archipelago}}
{{Spanish Colonial architecture}}
{{Spanish Empire}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chilotan Architecture}}
[[Category:Architecture in Chile]]
[[Category:Architectural styles]]
[[Category:Chiloé Archipelago]]
[[Category:Colonial architecture in Chile]]


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