Quincho Bernarda Community Center

Set within the dramatic Andean landscape between the archaeological parks of Písac Archaeological Park and Uchuy Qosqo, the Quincho Bernarda Community Center serves as the social and cultural heart of KUSKA, a network of inhabitable structures woven into the mountains of southern Peru.

Designed by Taller MACAA, this 140 m² adobe community center in Peru reinterprets vernacular Andean construction through contemporary spatial strategies. The project merges traditional earthen architecture, seismic resilience, and collective programming into a warm and flexible gathering space rooted in local identity.

Architecture for Encounter in the Andes

The word quincho originates from Argentine domestic culture, describing a space dedicated to gathering around food and drink. Here, that tradition is reimagined as an Andean communal architecture, where residents and visitors meet for cultural exchange, shared meals, workshops, and performances.

Unlike the more outward-looking residential structures within KUSKA, Quincho Bernarda is inwardly focused. It functions as a protected communal nave: a shared interior landscape that fosters dialogue, celebration, and reflection.

Exposed Adobe Construction and Seismic Intelligence

Adobe is not concealed in this project; it is celebrated as structure, texture, and spatial language. Thick load-bearing earthen walls provide thermal mass, stability, and a tactile warmth that resonates with the surrounding terrain.

To enhance seismic performance, crucial in the Peruvian Andes, the architects introduced structural arches instead of conventional lintels. These curved openings:

• Improve load distribution
• Strengthen earthquake resistance
• Integrate storage niches within wall thickness
• Enhance spatial fluidity

Curved adobe walls guide circulation and reinforce the enveloping character of the space, demonstrating how vernacular materials can meet contemporary engineering demands.

Reinterpreting the Basilica Typology

The spatial organization follows a simple yet symbolic layout: a single gabled volume reminiscent of a basilica nave. However, its religious associations are stripped away and redefined for collective use.

A central hall anchors the program, accompanied by:

• A communal kitchen
• A lounge area
• A shared dining table
• A bar connected via curved pass-through openings
• A small sunken stage

The stage replaces the traditional altar as the focal point, reinforcing the idea of culture, rather than ritual, as the organizing principle of the space. Stone steps between the nave and stage double as informal seating, creating a flexible platform for performances, gatherings, and community events.

Structural Asymmetry and Material Honesty

The gabled tiled roof rests on adobe walls and two eucalyptus columns. The ridge beam is intentionally offset from the hall’s central axis, generating subtle asymmetry. Combined with the sloping terrain, this structural shift establishes spatial hierarchy without partitions.

This strategy reflects low-tech sustainable construction in Peru, maximizing local materials while minimizing unnecessary complexity.

Terraces and Landscape Integration

Two terraces extend the communal experience outward into the Andean landscape:

• The northeast terrace, covered and positioned between kitchen and hall, captures soft morning light.
• The northwest terrace, semi-covered and aligned with the slope, acts as a lookout toward the sacred mountain Apu Sahuasiray.

The west façade incorporates colored stained glass, filtering evening sunlight into warm hues while enhancing the adobe’s thermal mass. These subtle environmental strategies reinforce passive climate control and spatial atmosphere.

Community-Centered Sustainable Design

Quincho Bernarda exemplifies sustainable earthen architecture in the Andes, integrating:

• Locally sourced adobe walls
• Eucalyptus structural columns
• Traditional tiled roofing
• Passive solar orientation
• Thermal mass performance
• Seismic-sensitive arch systems

The building demonstrates how architecture can operate as both shelter and social infrastructure, strengthening community ties while honoring indigenous construction knowledge.

Cultural Resilience Through Architecture

More than a physical structure, Quincho Bernarda is a cultural anchor within KUSKA. It transforms the basilica typology into a secular gathering hall, reclaiming architectural symbolism for everyday life.

In doing so, Taller MACAA positions adobe architecture not as nostalgic tradition, but as a living and adaptable system capable of supporting contemporary communal needs in the Andes.

All the photographs are works of  Rafael Ortiz Santos