Earlier this year, Chilean architects and professors Luis Pablo Barros and Gustavo Sarabia from the

Federico Santa Mara University released a book (in Spanish) titled "Sistemas Constructivos Bsicos"
(Basic Construction Systems)." The book aims to be a tool to help architects translate their plan diagrams
into tangible architectural works, as well as to help students learn the knowledge necessary to build what
they plan.
The main teaching objective here is for students to gain sufficient
knowledge to allow them to select a suitable and coherent construction
system for each of their projects. At the same time, the students can use
this to draw generic templates, to describe with precision the position and
construction sequence of the building elements to be used.

Below are 17 diagrams from the book showing templates for basic building systems using handcrafted
processes, which are ideal solutions for low-rise buildings (up to four floors). The details collected here
depict local Chilean construction, and thus show designs which respond to challenges such as seismic
activity and the topographic complexity of the coast of Chile. Though currently only available in Spanish,
ArchDaily hopes to work with the authors to provide English translations in the future. In the meantime,
these templates may still be an important reference document for architects all over the world.

1. Generic section for a 1-story building (from the chapter on Layout and Excavations).

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 Courtesy of
Luis Pablo Barros and Gustavo Sarabia
2. Retaining wall for living space (from the chapter on Foundations).

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 Courtesy of
Luis Pablo Barros and Gustavo Sarabia
3. Improved quincha wall (from the chapter on Raw Earth).

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 Courtesy of
Luis Pablo Barros and Gustavo Sarabia
4. Balloon frame wall filled with adobe brick (from the chapter on Raw Earth).

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 Courtesy of
Luis Pablo Barros and Gustavo Sarabia
5. Post-tensioned rammed-earth wall (from the chapter on Raw Earth).

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 Courtesy of
Luis Pablo Barros and Gustavo Sarabia
6. Adobe wall (from the chapter on Raw Earth).

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 Courtesy of
Luis Pablo Barros and Gustavo Sarabia
7. Steel-reinforced masonry wall (from the chapter on Masonry).

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 Courtesy of
Luis Pablo Barros and Gustavo Sarabia
8. Concrete frame wall with brick infill (from the chapter on Masonry).

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 Courtesy of
Luis Pablo Barros and Gustavo Sarabia
4. Balloon frame wall filled with adobe brick (from the chapter on Wood).

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 Courtesy of
Luis Pablo Barros and Gustavo Sarabia
10. Timber shear wall (from the chapter on Wood).

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 Courtesy of
Luis Pablo Barros and Gustavo Sarabia
11. Mixed wood and steel wall system (from the chapter on Steel).

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 Courtesy of
Luis Pablo Barros and Gustavo Sarabia
12. Metalcon / Volcometal wall system (from the chapter on Steel).

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 Courtesy of
Luis Pablo Barros and Gustavo Sarabia
13. Covintec wall system (from the chapter on Mixed Construction Systems).

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 Courtesy of
Luis Pablo Barros and Gustavo Sarabia
14. Structural insulated panel (SIP) wall (from the chapter on Mixed Construction Systems).

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 Courtesy of
Luis Pablo Barros and Gustavo Sarabia
15. 3-layer wall system, part 1 (from the chapter on Horizontal Platforms).

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 Courtesy of
Luis Pablo Barros and Gustavo Sarabia
16. 3-layer wall system, part 2 (from the chapter on Horizontal Platforms).

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 Courtesy of
Luis Pablo Barros and Gustavo Sarabia
17. Window section (from the chapter on Doors and Windows).

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