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German Architecture and Migration in Chile, 1852-1875
The German colonization of southern Chile, which began in the 1850s, led to the construction of a vast architectural heritage, which is recognized as "German" architecture. However, it is not really clear to what extent the German architecture of southern Chile is influenced by the import of German architectural models, or how did this influence take place.
The research of this colonization is abundant from the social point of view, and there is extensive documentation of its built heritage. However, a specific work on the recognition of the architectural elements remains to be done, in order to identify and understand this influence in depth.
The question that this work attempts to answer is: what are the specific influences of German architecture in the architecture developed by German immigrants in southern Chile? In addition, trying to identify the contemporary relevance of these influences, one may then also ask how is this reflected today in what is considered the national built heritage.
Immigrants building in the shore of Lake Llanquihue. Source: Kinkel (1983), Puerto Varas: 130 Años de Historia: 1852-1983
Objectives
The overall project objective is to establish the influence of typologies and building systems brought by German immigrants in the architecture of the colonization of southern Chile.
The specific objectives are to document the cases and the relevant building systems in both Germany and Chile, to establish the relevant elements in the influence by regions or time periods, and describe the means of which the transferal occurred.
A parallel
We have been able to identify common factors in the analysis from the following perspectives: structural design, construction system, solutions repertoire for joints or assemblies and systems of notation - identification of parts. All of them consider the relevance of the use of locally available materials, especially wood, and adapting methods to local conditions both labor and the availability of tools.
Relevant Elements
Zwerchhaus en la ciudad de Rotenburg
Zwerchhaus and Soberados
In the northeastern region of Hessen, we observed a recurrence of "Zwerchhaus", which seem to be the antecedent of the "Soberados" in Chile. The Zwerchhaus are secondary roofs crosing perpendicularly the main roof, and giving access to the attic, used as a storage space.
The tympanum in the Zwerchhaus is in the same vertical plane as the the façade of the lower floor, or about 10 cm farther out because of the projection of the woodwork. Because of its original use, it had no windows, but a hatch with a metal hook above to hang a pulley for lifting the items to be stored.
Desarme casa Salduv Statec en Jilemnice
Massive Timber
The use of this construction type is widespread in the studied areas of origin, especially in the hilly regions of Silesia and Bohemia, the Riesengebirge, while in Chile very few documented cases still exist, as the house Garcés in Puerto Fonck. In this case the massive timber remained unclad a few decades ago, protected by a perimeter corridor, which at times was just a loggia, but in any case around the house on all four sides. Today, it has been clad and the corridor modified.
Marks in house Barrientos P. Octay
Carpenters Marks
We have found a remarkable coincidence between areas of origin and destination areas in the marks made by the carpenters for identification of parts for future collection and assemblage. The identification procedure is structured in both areas of study based on and organized secquence of storeys, axes and parts, based on Roman numerals for easy carving, although there are some differences in the notation used in different areas, that still need to be studied.
Highlights
Exhibition "Eingewanderte Baumeister" Juni 2011
S.E. Jorge O'Ryan Schütz, Embassador of the Republic of Chile inaugurated the Exhibition
The research collaboration of the Technische Universität Berlin and the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile investigated the circumstances surrounding the "architecture transfer", which migrated structural elements and concepts of settler homes in the surroundings of Lake Llanquihue in the Región de Los Lagos in Chile. An part of the results of the ongoing research project was first made available to the scientific community in this exhibition.
The opening took place on Thursday 9 June 2011, in the foyer of the architecture building. Prof. Dr. Peter Herrle welcomed the guests, and S.E. Jorge O'Ryan Schützt, Ambassador of the Republic of Chile inaugurated the event.
