ABSTRACT
The Cortes buildings have all been constructed using quincha metàlica, a method pioneered by Marcelo Cortes. The original quincha is similar to wattle and daub, and uses a timber or straw wattle onto which daub is applied. The Spanish legacy is more obvious in Chile than in Argentina. The author noticed several old buildings in Santiago with Spanish influence, especially on their tiling. These Spanish influences are mixed with indigenous culture, mostly Mapuche. EcoSol architects live on the mountains around Santiago in houses made of either straw bales with a mud, clay and dung render or Leichtlehm. Cortes uses wood in other parts of Chile, where it is more readily available.
