The homes surrounding San Cristobal de Las Casas Mexico contain such a variety of building styles that I can’t help but to be reminded of the childhood story of the Three Little Pigs.
“The first little pig built his house out of straw because it was the easiest thing to do.”
It’s not exactly straw, sticks and bricks but it certainly goes back to the basics. The simplest form of housing that I have encountered is that of mud bricks (this is the version that I relate to the little pig’s straw house). It’s exactly what it sounds like mud and debris formed into bricks. The framing made from sticks instead of 2×4’s. I’m pretty sure that it wouldn’t meet the US building requirements but it serves it’s purpose here.
“The second little pig built his house out of sticks. This was a little bit stronger than a straw house.”
The second type of home is made of wooden planks with a tin roof. There are no windows in this version below but there is plenty of gaps between the planks to allow light to filter in as well as provide some cross ventilation.
“The third little pig built his house out of bricks.”
The third form of housing is made from true concrete bricks. If you look closely in the photo below, you can see a pile of bricks off to the left.
In the story of the Three Little Pigs, it’s indicated that the first two pigs that built their houses of straw and sticks were lazy. I don’t relate this to the people here in the least bit. I think that they are very industrious, hard-working people. Simply using what they have available to it’s maximum potential.
The diversity in the building of the homes surrounding San Cristobal de Las Casas is abundant. Each determined by parameters unknown.