Theory: Orientation

Many Mayan Ruins are oriented in a skewed manner mostly due to the interruption of the natural environment on their living space.

The Uxmal site however has a consistent pattern or slant throughout it's site. This slant is due to the alignment to the Uxmal's people highly revered deity Venus. Venus appears due south, and thus the entire site is oriented due south, regardless of an encroaching forest.

This carefully planned orientation throughout the entire layout of the site shows how heavily influenced the Maya were by their religious beliefs and practices.

Theory: Influence of Topography on Mayan Architecture

The entire Uxmal site is surrounded by a large and heavy forested area. The natural landscape acts as a barrier or gate around the site of Uxmal. Many of the buildings were built based on Mayan religious beliefs and practices, such as orienting towards the south where Venus is, as well as having large palaces and temples for the king and then for the Mayan people.







The issue of an encroaching landscape did not seem to hinder the Uxmal people at all in the construction of their buildings. They simply built into the landscape. Over head shots or side views of the site depict this idea of building with nature instead of having nature conform to us. This method of building when taken in aerial view makes it appear as though the Uxmal site is almost completely isolated from outside invasion or disruptions.

Theory: The Constructed Landscape

Uxmal’s buildings and structures are very integrated with the landscape. For this reason, the Mayans did very minimal changes with the original landscape while constructing the site; and each of the buildings were constructed accordingly to the topography. However, this elevation diagram shows the study of constructed landscapes, and its intentions were to accompany the buildings and structures of Uxmal. From the relationship and the integration between the buildings and the constructed landscape suggests horizontal movements throughout the site, and also several verticality of the edifice of Uxmal.

Theory: Uxmal Topography

Although Uxmal covers less area than important Mayan sites such as Chichen Itza, "the architectural effect of [Uxmal] is more imposing because its six largest groups are concentrated in a relatively small area and their effect is more immediate" (294, The Ancient Maya, Morley).

Theory: Uxmal as a "Calculated Wangle"

A common theme among Mayan architecture is their use of astronomy for their placement of buildings. Uxmal is unique in that the entire site sits fourteen degrees off of north. This site could have been chosen as a method to help the studio better understand the "calculated wangle" and how it can be used to create relationship between two seemingly unrelated things (i.e. architecture and astronomy)

Theory: Addressing the Topography of Uxmal

Uxmal is located on the Yucatan peninsula in Central America. Unlike most other Mayan sites, Uxmal is not near a body of water, making it difficult to civilize. The Mayans invented a cistern that could hold the rain water they gathered to be utilized later. There was no need for an irrigation system because they were situated in a deep, bowl-shaped basin with rich soil that survived on rainwater. The Mayans that lived in Uxmal predominantly worshiped the god of rain, Chaac, believing that he would protect their land by keeping it moist and fertile. The developed area of Uxmal is 16.5 hectacres, but Uxmal in its' entirety covers at least 10 square kilometers. The bulk of Uxmal is wide, grassy fields, but is surrounded by dense forest. Uxmal is located within the hilly, Puuc portion of the Yucatan. Instead of leveling the land, they embraced the topography and related it to the significance of the occupant. They designed their buildings to coexist with the natural landscape, making this ruin all the more unique.

Theory: Topography

Being apart of the Puuc region, Uxmal is in a hilly area. Therefore the buildings in Uxmal had to address the terrain in construction and design. Uxmal uses the natural lift of the topography to raise the structures to greater heights. The Uxmal ruin is 150 acres with residential areas beyond that. The site is a grassy savanna surrounded by forest. From the images above one can see how the Uxmal responds to the topography.

Bender chose Uxmal due to the terrain and how the structures must then address the topography.

Theory: Geography as a Challenge

Geographically speaking, Uxmal is not located near any sources of water. Typically, ancient civilizations were built near bodies of water in order to create an irrigation system, allow for drinking water, and to aid transportation. To cope with the terrain, the Maya built underwater cisterns called chultunes - which held up to 6,000 gallons of water - to collect rainwater (which was also sparse), but this did not solve the issue of transportation.

Despite the challenge, Uxmal flourished during its time and was one of the largest cities at around 25,000 people. The terrain is incorporated within the construction of the city, rather than being altered to fit it. Overcoming obstacles that exist naturally within a site is a challenge even today, and it is impressive that Mayans could create such a well-preserved area that interacts harmoniously with a site regardless of difficult conditions.

diagram of Yucatan peninsula, depicting isolation of Uxmal

Theory: Hierarchy within urban structure

The Mayans relied heavily on the cosmos and supernatural to inform them of certain aspects of their own civilization. The site of Uxmal is situated within hills and mountainous terrain on the Yucatan Peninsula. Its directionality is informed not only by the terrain that envelops at times the structures within the city, but by the constellations and astrological information the Mayans saw as beneficial for the site.

Uxmal retains a core relationship with its surrounding topography. An axial gesture down the city anchors the entire city and allows for circulation of movement as well as significance. This anchor is organic in nature and holds to the cities angle, which is due north 14 degrees. As a result, what is in registration with the axis is connected through the vast plaza at the south side of Uxmal. The plaza is a counterbalance for the mass that is being enveloped by the topography. It acts as an itinerary.

Similarly, the interior spaces that are created from the axis are directly effected by the topography. In the governors palace, the entrance is in the east side, unlike in the Nunnery, where the entrance is on the south. This signifies that a shift in circulation may have occurred and all the systems working together within Uxmal are beginning to weave and open new thresholds for later development. (i.e. the cemetery group is a continuous expansion since the birth of the city.)