Unraveling the Narrative of Chan Chan: Analyzing the role of Climate in Shaping its Spatial Structure and Architecture

Haftlangi, Ensieh; Khoshbakht Bahramani, Shooka

doi:10.22034/ijumes.2025.2021093.1231

Unraveling the Narrative of Chan Chan: Analyzing the role of Climate in Shaping its Spatial Structure and Architecture

Document Type : Case Study

Authors

Ensieh Haftlangi ¹

Shooka Khoshbakht Bahramani ²

¹ Ph.D. Student, Department of Architecture, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

² Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

10.22034/ijumes.2025.2021093.1231

Abstract

Throughout history, human settlements have adapted to their environments, with climate playing a crucial role in shaping urban and architectural forms. Understanding these historical interactions is vital for contemporary conservation efforts amid growing climate challenges. The preservation of historical architecture is increasingly threatened by climate change. Despite extensive studies on Chan Chan, limited research has explored how climate influenced its spatial structure and architectural evolution. This study investigates the role of climate in shaping the spatial organization and architectural development of Chan Chan, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A qualitative content analysis approach, grounded in an interpretivist research philosophy and an inductive reasoning framework, was adopted. The study employed a case study strategy, utilizing the documentary method to collect data. A three-step analytical process was followed: identifying spatial structures, categorizing climatic factors, and correlating these factors with architectural elements. The results highlight that Chan Chan’s architectural evolution was intrinsically linked to its climatic conditions. The settlement’s spatial organization reflects a sophisticated response to environmental factors, ensuring long-term resilience.The research underscores the significance of climate as a primary determinant of urban form, challenging existing narratives that overlook environmental influences in architectural history. Chan Chan exemplifies climate-adaptive design, offering insights applicable to modern conservation practices. Interdisciplinary collaboration among architects, archaeologists, and climatologists is essential to further explore these relationships, aiding the preservation of heritage sites against climate-related threats.

Graphical Abstract

Unraveling the Narrative of Chan Chan: Analyzing the role of Climate in Shaping its Spatial Structure and Architecture

Highlights

The architecture of Chan Chan demonstrates the builders selected to withstand environmental challenges. By integrating climate considerations, geographical factors, and material availability, Chan Chan’s architects achieved a balance between built and environments.
Chan Chan architecture is shaped in connection with the four elements of water, soil, plants, and air.
The arrival of warm waters from the "El Niño" current significantly alters the climate, leading to elevated temperatures that persist for several months and intense rainfall
Chan Chan was home to a civilization that was predominantly animist, with cults specifically dedicated.
The adobes, varying in size and shape, are placed seismically with gaps to allow elasticity during earthquakes

Keywords

Architecture

Chan Chan

Climatic systems

mudbrick

sustainable architecture

spatial structure

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