MouradianR :)
palapas
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Perhaps no other form of architecture so perfectly communicates "vacation" than a palapa. Webster's Dictionary defines them as an open sided construction with a thatched roof, but along the beaches of central North America palapas include forms ranging from simple umbrella-like structures to houses made out of sticks covered with mud and stucco. All feature the ubiquitous palm frond roof. Palapas dot many of Mexico's beaches where they are generally designed and built by the "palaperos" - locals trained in the art of thatching with palm. Rumor has it that the best fronds are harvested by the light of a full moon. Not only the material but the slope of the roofing material is critical, with 45 degrees considered the best angle to avoid leaks. Some historians believe that palapas have over a 2,000-year history in Mexico.
Palapas should be considered a viable form of environmental building, because they employ locally harvested (not forested) material that resists weather fairly well without the use of chemical sealants. It has been discovered that the highest quality roofs are tied together with strips of palm, not twine or ropes which rot quickly. Another plus - the thatched roof becomes home to many little creatures such as geckos, which can be heard rustling in the eaves.
palapas
all rights reserved
Perhaps no other form of architecture so perfectly communicates "vacation" than a palapa. Webster's Dictionary defines them as an open sided construction with a thatched roof, but along the beaches of central North America palapas include forms ranging from simple umbrella-like structures to houses made out of sticks covered with mud and stucco. All feature the ubiquitous palm frond roof. Palapas dot many of Mexico's beaches where they are generally designed and built by the "palaperos" - locals trained in the art of thatching with palm. Rumor has it that the best fronds are harvested by the light of a full moon. Not only the material but the slope of the roofing material is critical, with 45 degrees considered the best angle to avoid leaks. Some historians believe that palapas have over a 2,000-year history in Mexico.
Palapas should be considered a viable form of environmental building, because they employ locally harvested (not forested) material that resists weather fairly well without the use of chemical sealants. It has been discovered that the highest quality roofs are tied together with strips of palm, not twine or ropes which rot quickly. Another plus - the thatched roof becomes home to many little creatures such as geckos, which can be heard rustling in the eaves.