A double-jamb, exterior niche at the temple of
Huaytará, one of several settlements with fine
architecture found along the road that connected
Cuzco with the Pacific coast. Adriana von Hagen.One of the reasons Inca architecture is so readily recognizable is that it was
designed by specialists who produced state-approved designs. Architects who
came from the elite of Inca society and skilled contractors oversaw construction.
Before ground could be broken, landscape and architectural models were made
to visualize the new areas that were to be developed and new complexes that
were to be built (see Planning, Settlement). These models were brought to
authorities, including the Inca ruler himself, for approval, ensuring that the final
project properly represented state directives. The architects and contractors then
implemented the designs with the large labor force available to the state (see
Labor Service). The simplified repertoire of buildings, materials, construction,