Reflections on the traditional housing of Scotland and Yucatán

Get to know with Arq. Andrea Conde how the traditional houses from two opposite parts of the world can adapt to the territory in similar ways in Reflections on the traditional housing of Scotland and Yucatán.

It is surprising that within traditional or vernacular housing around the world, there are certain similarities in terms of morphology, despite geographical differences and the eras in which they emerged. This is the case with the Mayan House of Yucatán and the thatched house in Scotland, which, although they belong to very different historical contexts, share characteristics in terms of functionality and materials used. This can be explained as a coincidence or, more likely, as the result of similar solutions to common construction problems in different parts of the world.

In 2023, I visited the Scottish Highlands, a mountainous region known for its wild and natural beauty, as well as its many protected reserves. Its low population density makes it a unique and seemingly desolate place; however, it possesses an incredibly enriching culture, full of history.

“Albarrada” o barda escocesa / Scotish “albarrada” or fence
Fotografía / Photography: Andrea Conde

In the “Skye Museum of Island Life” on the Isle of Skye, there are examples of thatched houses dating back to the 19th century, a time when the use of these houses began to decline due to the rapid development of large cities. However, this type of housing has existed since the 15th century. 

The structure of these houses was typically made of stone or wood (depending on what was locally available), with thick walls to retain heat in winter. Most of the thatched houses had a rectangular floor plan, with a single gabled roof covered in thatch, which helped protect the home from rain and snow. The roof was handwoven, often using barley or oat straw, and sometimes even heath grass. All materials were gathered locally and attached to a wooden framework (Hunnisett-Snow, 2018).

The thatched houses were very simple, and within them, common spaces were shared. The rooms were not private; instead, the whole family (and sometimes the animals) lived together in one space. Typically, they were found in a single ambient, with a central fireplace used for cooking, heating, and lighting. As for furniture, it varied depending on the time period, but we can highlight shelves and drawers for kitchen utensils and dishware, chairs or benches, small tables, dressers, chests of drawers, and occasionally a spinning wheel, mostly all made of wood.

Vivienda vernácula escocesa / Scotish vernacular housing
Fotografía / Photography: Andrea Conde

On the other hand, the Mayan House, originating from the southeast of Mexico, has existed since much earlier, probably around 1000 B.C. This traditional dwelling holds great significance, as the representation of the house is linked to the Maya cosmogony (a myth explaining the origin of the universe, living beings, and time according to Maya civilization). In this sense, the roof, typically made of palm or thatch, represented the sky, the walls, usually made of masonry or bajareque (woven sticks and mud), separated the sacred from the profane (the house from the surroundings), and finally, the floor, especially the earthen floor, was considered the underworld.

Furthermore, we cannot forget that this house is located within the solar maya, which is deeply connected to the territory of this region. The solar is a plot of land dedicated to certain domestic activities, such as agricultural production and animal husbandry. This type of dwelling serves both as a residence and as a reception area, and sometimes for storing the milpa (cornfield). In some cases, the kitchen or the fire may be inside, as in the Scottish house; however, it is also common to see cases where the kitchen appears as an extension of the main dwelling and is built adjacent to it (M. Ayllón, M. Nuño).

Casa maya contemporánea / Contemporary Mayan house
Fotografía / Photography: Vía Flickr

Regarding the furniture in the main house, according to M. Ayllón and M. Nuño: “We find hammocks for resting, a metal or wooden chest, an altar for the saints, a coat rack, a rug, a chair, and several kanché or small benches to sit on, a radio recorder, and only occasionally a sewing machine and a television.”

For the Mayan communities, these dwellings reflect ancestral values, thoughts, and beliefs that are passed down to new generations. This space is a great example of biocultural practice, where humans can collaborate harmoniously with nature, and it is also a sustainable tradition (Independiente, 2022). Furthermore, it is important to note that today, although less and less, many families still live in this type of dwelling, unlike in Scotland, where the vernacular house can almost exclusively be seen through open-air museums.

Casa maya / Mayan house
Fotografía / Photography: Shutterstock

The relationship between the vernacular housing of both Scotland and Yucatán goes beyond their material and functional similarities. Both structures demonstrate how communities have efficiently addressed basic needs, thanks to a deep understanding of the environment and the use of available local resources.

Both dwellings demonstrate how communities have efficiently addressed basic needs, thanks to a deep understanding of the environment and the use of available local resources.

The Mayan houses, with their palm (guano) roofs, reflect a direct connection with the tropical vegetation of the region. Similarly, the thatched houses of Scotland use straw, an abundant resource in the Highlands, for roof construction. This use of local materials demonstrates how societies, through their ingenuity, developed sustainable solutions adapted to their natural environment, focusing on energy efficiency and the protection of their inhabitants.

To conclude, I believe it is essential for us as architects, designers, landscapers, but above all as citizens, to become informed about the cultural heritage around us. Unfortunately, both of these types of housing are practically at risk of extinction, and it is up to us to raise awareness of the great importance of keeping the legacy of our civilizations alive in today’s world.

Solar maya
Fotografía / Photography: Shutterstock

LITERATURE CONSULTED

Ian H. H. O’Halloran. “Thatch in Scotland”, Building Conservation. Consultado el 6 de diciembre de 2024.

https://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/thatch-scotland/thatch-scotland.html.

2024. Ayllón, M. Nuño. “El sistema casa o solar y la ordenación territorial de las familias: aplicación de la teoría de sistemas a escala micro social”, Revista do Desenvolvimento Regional, vol. 13, núm. 2, mayo-agosto, 2008, pp. 261-288 Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul. Consultado el 12 de diciembre de 2024.

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/5520/552056854012.pdf

“Solar: El microcosmos de la sociedad maya”. La Vaca Independiente. Consultado el 6 de diciembre de 2024.

https://lavacaindependiente.com/solar-el-microcosmos-de-la-sociedad-maya/.