Study of Pathological Processes in Earthen Architecture in Costa Rica: The Historic Centers of Cartago and Santo Domingo de Heredia

Abstract

The use of earthen materials in construction in Costa Rica experienced significant development, with bahareque and adobe being the predominant building systems until the early 20th century. Following the 1910 Santa Mónica earthquake, earthen construction lost prominence as a structural resource within the building industry, eventually leading to its prohibition at the national level. However, urban centers such as Santo Domingo and Cartago still retain adobe and bahareque structures as integral elements of their historic urban fabric. The research project “Seismic Earth: Analysis and Physical-Mechanical Characterization of Adobe and Bahareque Construction Systems in the Historic Centers of Cartago and Santo Domingo de Heredia as a Basis for Seismic-Resistant Adaptation”, conducted by the Schools of Architecture and Urbanism and Materials Science and Engineering, of Costa Rica Institute of Technology, implemented a series of research activities throughout 2024 aimed at identifying extant earthen architecture, documenting its presence, analyzing its construction systems, and assessing pathological manifestations. This report presents the preliminary findings regarding recurrent structural and material pathologies in earthen architecture within both historic centers, establishing correlations with the construction system elements in which they manifest. The study was conducted through field surveys, the development of inventory sheets for the documentation of construction elements and materials, and the classification of pathologies based on their underlying mechanisms—whether mechanical, biological, physical, or chemical.