Prospecciones en muros de tierra para generar propuesta de recuperación de color, Cuenca, Ecuador

Abstract

This paper deals with the technical process and the systematically recorded results that, in the diagnostic phase, allowed to identify the chromatic that the different historical moments reflected in the earthen walls of the old San José School, a heritage asset located in the Historic Center of Cuenca, Ecuador. Without being decisive, the declaration of this city as Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 1999 by UNESCO, underlines a greater commitment of the cultural actors to protect the material elements that are part of citizen identity, as is the San José School. The main objective consists of the proposal to recover the original color scheme of the property, which includes the adoption of traditional techniques with earth colors. This proposal is the result of a methodological strategy that includes a historical study and retrieval of photographs from city archives, specific interviews, and the execution of coves of prospecting in different architectural elements to identify the chromatic historicity of the edifice.