Sacred Spaces Tucume

Bjørnådal Arkitektstudio

Project description

Rais de Raja is an ecological temple merged in the forest with a sight to the holy mountain of La Raja. The site is surrounded by pyramids built by the pre-hispanic Mocheculture and the Incas. Sacred Space Tucume was an architect workshop exploring prehispanic architecture, ecological building methods and sacred spaces. During the workshop we created a a temple located on a historical site by the ancient pyramids of Tucume, Peru. The project is a collaboration between Escuela Profesional de Arquitectura - USMP Filial Norte, Museo de sitio Tucume en Lambayeque og Bjørnådal Arkitektstudio The site is occupied by trees and by a sandy desert surrounding the mountain La Raja. Around this mountain the mocheculture built their pyramids. La Raja is constructed by local building techniques and materials as adobe and cana brava. These are old materials even used in the old pyramids. These materials along with an understanding of climate creates a healthy and comfortable environmental space. La Raja is a temple organised by sacred principles handed over by the local priests and shamans. First we have the altar where negative energy is dispelled and sacrificed to the holy mountain La Raja. The second altar is a place of praying for positive forces to enter your life. The shaman is seated by the altar which houses sacred objects - including a stone picked from the holy mountain itself. The temple has a straight view to the mountain top. An adobe wall creates a sheltered space for the ceremonies while a natural roof of branches protect from the equatorial sun.