Across the vast landscape of Chile, from the sloped dwellings in the Los Ríos Region to the ancient churches on Chiloé Island, wooden shingles—unique architectural materials—are sustaining regional architectural traditions and cultural memories through recycling. These flat, thin rectangular wooden planks are not only essential elements of local buildings but also serve as a link connecting history and modernity, ecology and humanity.
Wooden shingles are widely used in buildings in southern Chile, often for exterior walls, roofs, and interior decorations. Through an overlapping installation technique, they effectively resist rain and cold winds. Historically, Alaska yellow cedar was the preferred material for making wooden shingles due to its high moisture resistance and ease of processing. However, overlogging led to the endangered status of this species, prompting Chile government to impose a ban on felling live trees in 1976. This ban spurred industry transformation: today, the development of synthetic wooden shingles is on the rise, with fiber-cement materials and recycled materials from old buildings emerging as new options, infusing sustainable vitality into traditional craftsmanship.
In contemporary Chilean architectural practices, the innovative application of recycled wooden shingles has become a highlight. Both Casa Totoral designed by LAGAR Arquitectos and Casa Abovedada created by Edward Rojas Arquitectos adopt recycled wooden shingles for exterior wall decoration. These designs not only preserve the endangered woodworking craftsmanship but also strengthen the community bonds forged by wooden structures. Beyond Alaska yellow cedar, tree species such as lenga are also used to produce wooden shingles. Projects like House No. 4 by Staudt Arquitectura and Casa Sombrero by SAA architecture + territory have narrowed the distance between residents and local architectural traditions through diverse material selection in the latest architecture design.
The inheritance of wooden shingles extends beyond material application; it also carries the continuation of cultural identity. The exterior wall restoration project of Lobito Marino Kindergarten in the Aysén Region has enhanced the value of woodworking craftsmanship through technical training and practical operations, providing traditional support for high-quality construction. These practices have triggered in-depth reflections on ecological materials within the industry, urging architects to comprehensively consider maintenance costs, sustainability, resource protection, and recycling potential.
From MM House to Hostería Mawín, and from Casa Cuatro Aguas to Vodanovich House, a series of contemporary Chilean residential projects demonstrate the diverse possibilities of wooden shingles in architectural design. By means of demolition and recycling, designers have breathed new life into old wooden shingles, enhancing architectural value through facade reconstruction. These explorations not only respond to the global demand for sustainable architecture but also raise a profound industry question: in the global context of varying climatic, geographical, and economic conditions, the future development paths and technical substitution directions of traditional architectural materials deserve continuous exploration.
The practice of Chilean wooden shingle houses proves that the recycling of architectural materials can not only reduce environmental impacts but also serve as a carrier for cultural inheritance. Amid the collision of tradition and innovation, these wooden shingles, bearing regional memories, are offering unique insights from the South American continent for the sustainable development of the global architectural industry.
