Unraveling the Narrative of Chan Chan: Analyzing the role of Climate in Shaping its Spatial Structure and Architecture

Throughout history, human settlements have adapted to their environments, with climate playing a crucial role in shaping urban and architectural forms. Understanding these historical interactions is vital for contemporary conservation efforts amid growing climate challenges. The preservation of historical architecture is increasingly threatened by climate change. Despite extensive studies on Chan Chan, limited research has explored how climate influenced its spatial structure and architectural evolution. This study investigates the role of climate in shaping the spatial organization and architectural development of Chan Chan, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A qualitative content analysis approach, grounded in an interpretivist research philosophy and an inductive reasoning framework, was adopted. The study employed a case study strategy, utilizing the documentary method to collect data. A three-step analytical process was followed: identifying spatial structures, categorizing climatic factors, and correlating these factors with architectural elements. The results highlight that Chan Chan’s architectural evolution was intrinsically linked to its climatic conditions. The settlement’s spatial organization reflects a sophisticated response to environmental factors, ensuring long-term resilience.The research underscores the significance of climate as a primary determinant of urban form, challenging existing narratives that overlook environmental influences in architectural history. Chan Chan exemplifies climate-adaptive design, offering insights applicable to modern conservation practices. Interdisciplinary collaboration among architects, archaeologists, and climatologists is essential to further explore these relationships, aiding the preservation of heritage sites against climate-related threats.