THE 'PATIO', AN INTERMEDIARY SPACE. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRADITIONAL RURAL AYMARA LIVING IN SOCIAL HOUSEHOLDS OF RESIDENT FAMILIES OF ARICA, CHILE

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to show how, despite the migratory and/or mobilization processes lived by the Aymara population of Northern Chile, it is possible to find particular properties of the traditional rural living space in families beneficiaries of Social Housing Programs in the city of Arica, considering that such programs do not incorporate the cultural variable and, thus, do not respond to the specific needs of the ethnic group under study. In order to expose the foregoing situation, a central space of the traditional Aymara housing, the 'patio', is analyzed, showing its re-interpretation within the new reality of city life. A qualitative methodology centered in case studies was employed, using as the main techniques observation, semi-structured interviews, review of bibliographic documentary sources, photographic records and planimetry.