Geometry and Proportions of Adobe Vernacular Buildings in Cuenca, Ecuador

The Historic Centre of Cuenca, recognized as World Heritage Site since 1999, is characterized by the relevant presence of traditional buildings which load-bearing structural elements are made of unbaked earth. Despite representing a unique example of vernacular architecture, an in-depth analysis of the buildings’ geometric features as their vulnerability against seismic actions is still missing. First, this paper presents a brief description of the most common construction system of these constructions. Next, 45 case studies are investigated with the support of in-site surveys carried out by the authors. In light of these investigations, this research sheds light on the geometrical configuration of these constructions and offers a new interpretation of their architecture. Finally, the geometrical data gathered in the surveys are compared with the recommendations given by international codes and analysed providing a first preliminary assessment of their structural vulnerability and insights on the most vulnerable case studies.