How did indigenous building traditions continue to influence Latin American architecture during the colonial period?

During the colonial period, indigenous building traditions persisted in Latin American architecture primarily through decorative craftsmanship rather than a structural synthesis with European models. Because the conquest was marked by violence, the two traditions remained distinct, yet indigenous influence became deeply embedded in the spirit and execution of architectural ornamentation.1

Indigenous Influence on Decorative Style

The most significant contribution of indigenous cultures was the development of a unique, two-dimensional decorative style often referred to as "Mestizo". This style is characterized by:2
* Bilevel Relief: Rather than traditional sculptural modeling, artists used techniques involving drilling into surfaces to create screenlike, dense relief designs. This approach mirrored pre-Columbian stone- and wood-carving traditions found in regions like Mexico, Bolivia, and Peru.23
* Planar Treatment: Indigenous influence is evident in the flat, planar quality of decorative carvings and plasterwork, which often featured animistic renderings of vegetation and motifs that diverged from European realism.12
* Integration of Motifs: In some instances, indigenous artists incorporated their own traditional designs, such as looped borders, into colonial frescoes and murals, blending them with European-inspired religious imagery.3

These traditions were most successfully expressed in provincial centers where indigenous populations remained significant, allowing local artisans to adapt European Baroque and Renaissance models into a distinct, culturally mixed architectural language.2