Theory: Interaction between Constructed Mass and Topology

Mayan architecture is known for buildings that mimic the surrounding ground conditions. However, in Puuc architecture and specifically at the site of Uxmal, the buildings not only mimic the ground conditions, the buildings are built as a direct response to the slopes and hills in the topography of the site. Puuc "is derived from the Maya term for 'hill'" (wikipedia.org). To solve the problem of building on sloping hills of the Uxmal site, the Maya designed and built structures that were a part of the natural landscape.