Consequences of urban design in indigenous areas. The case of the Comcáac

Abstract

This article examines the transitional process experienced by the Comcáac (Seri) people as they shift from a nomadic lifestyle, sustained by the haaco hahéemza (or “arched house”), to forms of urban housing imposed upon their settlements.

Based on historical analysis, field observation, and interviews with the community, the study highlights the physical and symbolic properties of the haaco hahéemza, a traditional dwelling that effectively met the Comcáac’s climatic and cultural needs while also reinforcing their identity. In contrast, urban-style houses often become uninhabitable without air conditioning, fragment communal life, and disrupt the organic bond with the natural environment. Moreover, the introduction of grid layouts and the imposition of basic services reflect urban-centered logics that generate internal conflicts and alter sociocultural dynamics.

In conclusion, a clear tension arises between the official objective of “modernizing” these settlements and the Comcáac’s nomadic heritage, which calls for design solutions that remain sensitive to their worldview. The study advocates for the recovery of constructive and planning strategies capable of reconciling functional improvements with the preservation of cultural identity.