High Performance Strategies for House Design: a Mine in the Atacama Desert

Out of the architectural typologies that emerged in countries with a rough, arid and hot climate we synthesized the principles that laid the foundations of applied theories in bioclimatic and sustainable architecture. The accumulated experience is visible in their vernacular architecture, clearly showing the layers of attempts, adaptation and knowledge merging towards the best adaptive model of architecture to the harsh context. Some of the more prominent features of this type of architecture is constant search of cooling techniques, such as shading, designed to be protected by direct sunlight. There has been little to none improvement to this type of architecture for a long period as no real value could have been added to this already functional ancient systems. But today, with the help of modern technology, one can use parametric design in order to further optimize this architecture and push it to an even more effective response to context.