Date of Submission
Spring 5-12-2026
Degree Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Architecture
Department
Architecture
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Dr. Sang Pil Lee
Abstract
Peru’s cultural identity has been fading away over the years across generations. Globalization, modernization, and migration have accelerated this disconnection, slowly leaving behind the traditions, stories, and practices that once shaped the nation’s identity. Although several museums in Lima display artifacts or cultural narratives from the different regions, no space immersively represents and unifies Peru’s three regions. In response, there is a need for a space where locals can celebrate their roots and tourists can learn the nation’s history and culture. This thesis proposes a cultural-historical educational center designed to revive cultural identity, strengthen collective memory, attract tourism, and support local economic development. Las Tres Regiones celebrates Peru’s three diverse regions, Costa, Sierra, and Selva (Coast, Highlands, and Amazon) through immersive exhibition spaces, culinary learning, textile and craft workshops, educational spaces, and gathering spaces. The center also integrates Quechua, one of Peru’s Indigenous languages, through bilingual signage and programming. This inclusion will support the revitalization of a native tongue at risk of disappearing. These spaces will form an experiential journey that reconnects Peruvians to their roots and showcases Peru’s rich culture to tourists. The design process will use phenomenology, cultural resilience, and narrative architecture to explore how architecture can evoke Peru’s cultural identity through its design. These frameworks will guide decisions on materiality, light, texture, smell, sound, and the movement throughout the space. The research methods include the use of traditional materials and architectural theory on place and sensory experience, spatial sequencing, and symbolism. Ultimately, this thesis argues that architecture can function as a cultural interface, reconnecting people across generations with Peru’s heritage and culture, while supporting tourism, empowering local artisans, and strengthening the nation’s identity. Through an experiential, regionally grounded design approach, Las Tres Regiones demonstrates how architecture can become a platform for cultural continuity and economic vitality.