Arquitectura de madera en las misiones jesuíticas de Chiquitos (Bolivia) del siglo XVIII y sus orígenes prehispánicos y europeos

The wooden architecture of the 18th-century Jesuit missions in Chiquitos, Boliviareveals a unique fusion of pre-Columbian indigenous techniques and European Baroque styles. This study demonstrates that the timber frame structures, characterized by independent wooden porticos supporting monolithic gable roofs, originated from prehispanic communal dwellings. The missionaries adapted this technique, incorporating European joinery, triangular trusses, and ceramic tiles while retaining the native practice of ground-anchored columns—a method abandoned in Europe since the 11th century. Through a quantitative analysis of comparable buildings in Europe and South America, alongside archival research and field studies, the study defines structural typologies and traces the evolution of this construction system from its indigenous roots to its refinement in Chiquitos. This work not only advances understanding of heritage architecture but also provides critical guidance for future conservation efforts.

Rodríguez Trujillo, W. V. Arquitectura de madera en las misiones jesuíticas de Chiquitos (Bolivia) del siglo XVIII y sus orígenes prehispánicos y europeos. https://doi.org/10.5821/dissertation-2117-93458