Traditional Vernacular Architecture Research Articles

The renewable energy sources impact on vernacular architecture’s ability to be built sustainably: case study of Rumah Gadang

Rumah Gadang has the physical appearance of traditional architecture and was founded on human interaction with the environment. The natural resources of each area in Indonesia are said to have the greatest environmental effect on traditional vernacular architecture. Rumah Gadang is prominent for its ability to successfully combine elements of sustainability with a variety of other factors, including the environment, aesthetics, and social character. However, only a few studies discuss sustainability elements combination within Architecture Nusantara, Rumah Gadang. Therefore, this study will aim to reveal how these elements affect the sustainability of Rumah Gadang and how they contribute to the development of regional architectural styles. The qualitative method was used in this study with literature studies followed by descriptive analysis. The result of the study indicates two things, 1) The nature of these elements’ characteristics in Rumah Gadang fit with social, and environmental sustainability standards. 2) The descriptive analysis reveals that the impact of the variations in natural energy sources on these elements’ characteristics in Rumah Gadang is reflected in its physical appearance. The findings shown that Rumah Gadang’s architectural elements, including the Gonjong roof, wall linings, raised floor, openings, and stone foundation, respond to renewable energy sources based on sun, wind, and humidity factors. Rumah Gadang fulfills three pillars of sustainability: Social sustainability is achieved through traditional values and Minangkabau culture, while economic sustainability is achieved through regionally produced materials and construction methods. Lastly, the primary goal is to offer thermal comfort with minimal waste, making environmental sustainability the most crucial outcome component.

The Past and Future of the Vernacular Cultural Landscapes of Johar Valley, Uttarakhand, India

Nowhere is the inextricable linkage of nature and culture more apparent than the Johar Valley of the Indian Himalayas. For centuries, the inhabitants of the valley’s small, remote high-altitude villages have followed a life closely integrated with seasonal cycles and natural landscapes. The villages retain a unique traditional vernacular architecture and planning reflecting environmental sensibilities. However, geopolitical shifts following the 1962 Sino-Indian War disrupted traditional livelihoods, leading to partial abandonment of upper-altitude villages and leaving traditional vernacular stock to natural elements. Growing ecotourism has renewed interest in these villages, while construction of a road is opening the valley for development. Johar Valley now stands at a major crossroads for preservation planning; yet very little work has been conducted to understand its cultural landscapes, nor to consider the confluence of pressures it faces, nor to imagine its possible futures in this context. In this article, I begin this process by detailing the indigenous village planning and traditional architecture of Johar Valley. I describe the threats facing it, and explore a possible future that draws on the example of National Heritage Areas from the United States in tandem with other homegrown approaches to promoting community-based tourism.

Analysis of Passive Strategies in Traditional Vernacular Architecture

Vernacular architecture constitutes a rich source of information and ancestral knowledge and could become a key resource for sustainable development. Its passive design strategies effectively respond to local climatic and weather conditions, using locally sourced materials for the construction of its supporting structures and enveloping elements, as well as spatial organization and the incorporation of a buffer area (courtyard) that optimize the use of renewable resources. This qualitative study analyzes a traditional housing typology with a central courtyard located in the Historic Center of Azogues, Ecuador. In situ monitoring was conducted to evaluate the case study’s interior thermal comfort in different building spaces. Using the open-source software Open Studio and EnergyPlus, a simulation model was built to assess the annual thermal performance of the house. Field records were used to verify the effectiveness of the strategies that responded to the location’s climatic conditions. The analysis of the passive strategies used in the selected house included natural ventilation, solar protection, and thermal insulation, which depended on various aspects of the building, such as its location, the internal space’s arrangement, and the design of openings (doors and windows), among others. The thermal simulations revealed that the traditional house located in the Historic Center of Azogues was well adapted to the local climate, although the interior thermal comfort was not entirely satisfactory.

Assessment of Indoor Thermal Condition on Traditional Vernacular Masjid: A Case Study on Masjid Kampung Laut, Malaysia

Traditional vernacular architectures in Malaysia include public buildings such as a masjid were designed with the tropical climate in mind and have proven to be an excellent example of providing indoor thermal comfort to the occupants. It is a naturally ventilated building being greatly influenced by the building designs. In traditional vernacular architecture, the roof is the main building enclosure that contributes to the total heat gain. Hence, the research aims to assess the indoor thermal condition of Masjid Kampung Laut, Kelantan, the first traditional vernacular masjid in Malaysia. Data were collected using the method of field measurement to evaluate the indoor comfort level of the masjid, in terms of indoor air temperature, air velocity, and relative humidity. The results demonstrate that the average indoor air temperature is acceptable and Masjid Kampung Laut responded favorably to the local climate. However, it is believed that with an increase of 0.4m/s to 1.2m/s of air movement, will further enhance indoor thermal comfort. Therefore, the findings can guide further thermal comfort prediction studies for other naturally ventilated buildings. Several other potential passive design strategies for roof design are proposed in this study to achieve acceptable indoor thermal comfort conditions for the masjid in Malaysia.

Unravelling the impact of courtyard geometry on cooling energy consumption in buildings

At present, the energy used for air conditioning in buildings in urban areas accounts for over 36% of total global energy consumption. Energy efficiency has become a critical factor in the urban planning of cities worldwide. Courtyard buildings in hot cities are a prime example of the approach used in traditional vernacular architecture to mitigate the effects of extreme weather. However, given the challenge of guaranteeing accurate modelling of microclimates within these courtyards, their impact on energy demand in buildings has been routinely overlooked by energy certification tools.This work examines three empirical case studies selected in Seville city (Spain), where temperatures during the summer months are extreme. The case studies selected display distinct geometric variations, and the primary objective of the research is to assess the influence of this geometric factor on the cooling energy demand of the building indoors. To achieve this, a validated methodology combining experimental and numerical data was implemented to evaluate the energy performance of buildings with courtyards. Different simulations were conducted to detect the impact of individual courtyard features. The results show a reduction in cooling demand of 8–18% depending on the geometry of the courtyard. Analysis was also carried out on the influence of the floor level and the orientation of adjacent rooms, revealing differences of 15% and 22%, respectively. The main conclusion of the research is that the use of courtyards as functional devices, paying particular attention to their geometry, is a key factor in the cooling energy demand of buildings.

Study on Vietnamese Design Methods of Traditional Vernacular Architecture and Discussion on Their Technical Origins

ABSTRACT This paper presents the last remaining typical categories of traditional vernacular architecture of Vietnam including the “Dinh” (communal hall) and the “Nha Ruong” (vernacular house). Even though their owner is from the same ethnic group as the Vietnamese, they are unique indigenous in the regional vernacular architecture originating from different technical origins. In this study, we mainly focused on the viewpoint of architectural technology. Through a series of site surveys, interviews with the traditional master carpenters, studying the carpentry tools and design methods, prototyping analysis of the remaining vernacular buildings, and doing the experimental model studies, the designing methods of traditional vernacular architecture of Vietnam and their potential technical origins have been determined. In addition, this study also defined the acculturation phenomenon in architecture that happened between the Vietnamese and the Chams during the 16th — 19th centuries in the middle region of Vietnam. The study results are expected to enhance academic education in the field of architectural history and to help architects and students to create new architectural products accommodated to modern social life, refining and inheriting the quintessence of architectural heritage to enrich the cultural identity in the architecture of Vietnam and Southeast Asia, as well.

A Review of the Geometric Proportions of Shaping a Courtyard of Traditional Architecture in Relation to Human Scale, Tripoli, Libya

Since ancient times, courtyards have played a vital role in architecture, particularly in domestic architecture. Over time, the existence of vernacular architecture has made beauty and harmony; these have always been important components of traditional Libyan architecture. Studying traditional vernacular architecture is key to maintaining vernacular architecture knowledge; this is because these principles, such as modular design, geometry, and proportions, are detectable characteristics of the tradition. Architecturally, proportion is an aspiration of the implementation of design grammar that encloses shapes of structure. A good impression upon the beholders builds in relation to different elements of space, such as a scale of geometric shapes, patterns, organisation, and the hierarchy of space relationships, to achieve aesthetic dimensions, in part and as a whole. In this article, the study searches for a modular, or proportion, that rules the geometric design of traditional houses in Libya. This is conducted through examining the geometry of typical traditional houses and the golden section method to find if a certain proportional relationship existed. From this perspective, the vision relied on studying the form suitability; in addition, it involved an analysis of the elevation as well as the interior courtyard proportion in relation to the building area. The outcome of this research is to find the aesthetic values that could generate a good design of domestic architecture; and to prove whether they are a perfect match with the proportion system and modular design used in traditional houses. The study employs the quantitative method, which includes archival documents, direct observation, and on-site documentation. The study involved an in-depth examination of the proportioning and geometrical principles used in traditional houses and courtyards. Their respective roles in creating harmony and beauty are discussed in this paper.

Deep Beauty at the Functional Level:A Case Study of HarSukh Mansion, Lahore

There is growing apprehension about the well-being and substantiality of our planet due to global warming, rising energy consumption by the building sector, and depletion of natural resources. Architects and designers are in pursuit of the methodsthat may prove useful to limit the negative impacts of the buildingsector in order torespondto the changing needs of contemporary times. In Pakistan, along with the use and development of technologically advanced approaches, the revival of traditional vernacular architecture is seen as a way to achieve a sustainable future. In this study, the HarSukh Mansion, designed by the renowned traditionalist architect Kamil Khan Mumtaz, was evaluated based on the functional level of the Deep Beauty framework. In addition to examining the pragmatic needs of the users with respect to the building architecture, the case study also investigated the fundamentals of sustainable living, including modern passive energy strategies, recycling of natural resources, use of locally available building materials, and various traditional design elements and strategies. The analysis determined that Deep Beauty in architecture can be used to build a sustainable future for the building sector.
 Keywords: Deep beauty, energy-efficient, functional beauty, lifestyle, self-sufficient, sustainability, traditional architecture

Traditional Vernacular Architecture of Kumaon: The Case of the Hill Towns of Munsiyari, Uttarakhand

Munsiyari is a region located at an altitude of 2,200 meters in the hilly state of Uttarakhand, India. The eponymous town is surrounded by twenty-two villages mostly inhabited by Bhotiya tribes, who once formed a community that traded with those crossing from India to Tibet, though this trade came to an abrupt end with the 1962 Sino-Indian war. Owing to the region’s prosperity, the villages exhibit a very interesting typology of hill architecture. This architectural identity is also a manifestation of a geographical and cultural response to a difficult terrain. Our study was carried out as part of the preparation of a dossier for inventorying the Kailash sacred landscape with the aim of documenting the present state of the traditional vernacular heritage of the selected indigenous community for the UNESCO nomination of the wider region. That thorough documentation process was used as a means of analyzing local vernacular heritage and its current situation, and with a view to offsetting the rapid transformation of the past two decades.

Assessment of Vulnerability of Earthen Vernacular Architecture in the Iberian Peninsula to Natural Risks. Generation of an Analysis Tool

ABSTRACT Earthen architecture is an essential part of the architectural and cultural heritage of the Iberian Peninsula. Both at monumental and vernacular level, this architecture has adapted to the diversity of the territory, the different geographies and climates, the variety of materials available and the cultural diversity which have led to a great wealth of constructive variants of this architecture. The RISK-Terra Project was born in this context, funded by the Spanish Ministry for Science, Innovation and Universities, aiming to contribute to the study of this heritage scientifically researching and analysing the natural, social and anthropic threats to earthen vernacular structures, as well as deterioration mechanisms and transformation dynamics currently observed in this type of architecture in the Iberian Peninsula. The research presented in this text has been carried out within the framework of the RISK-Terra Project, with the main objective of developing an analysis tool for application to any element of traditional architecture or earthen vernacular architecture, assessing the degree of vulnerability to the sudden action or continued presence of natural risks (earthquakes, floods, extreme weather events).

A Sustainable Approach for the Refurbishment Process of Vernacular Heritage: The Sesga House Case Study (Valencia, Spain)

The refurbishment of traditional vernacular architecture is currently of interest for the conservation of heritage, historic landscape and cultural landscape, as well as for its potential benefits in the field of environmental sustainability. The carefully selected materials and techniques used in the refurbishment of a traditional dwelling in Sesga (Valencia, Spain) maintain the local construction techniques while causing the least possible environmental impact, saving on transport and transformation and construction energy. This article uses LCA to showcase this contribution, examining three scenarios: the first option is the refurbishment of the case study using natural traditional materials and techniques; the second presents a hypothetical refurbishment using widely used industrial materials; and a third option looks at the demolition of the existing building and the addition of a new construction with widely used industrial materials. This comparison has shown where and why the first option is, broadly speaking, the most sustainable option in environmental, sociocultural and socioeconomic terms.

The spatial and environmental characteristics of Vietnamese vernacular houses in Vietnam's French colonial public buildings

PurposeThis paper focuses on the evolution of and changes in French colonial architectural designs over time in terms of the use of vernacular architectural features of Vietnam.Design/methodology/approachIt first examines the underlying principles of spatial compositions behind traditional vernacular architecture, thus revealing vernacular architectural values that have survived from the past. Styles of vernacular houses differ by region; thus, their unique spatial characteristics are analyzed by selecting the typical houses in each region. The study also illuminates ecological features and technical norms tailored to the local climate and Vietnamese traditional architecture. It examines how local and regional characters of vernacular houses affect the developments and changes in the French colonial public buildings in Vietnam, forming an identity that represents an eclectic Indochina style with the adaptation of local discourses on climate.FindingsThe Vietnamese have developed unique architectural styles that are inextricably linked to their identities, cultures, climates and livelihoods – for example, vernacular houses. Although at the beginning of the colonial period, the French imported their styles, decorations and details, which were foreign to the Vietnamese, later, they perhaps realized that such direct import was no longer suitable for the natural and socio-cultural situation of the colony. Toward the end of the colonial period, it is noticeable that French colonial architects gradually started using local design principles.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough many existing buildings can be further added for the discussion, we limit a few cases, due to the length of the paper.Social implicationsThis paper proves that toward the end of the colonial period, colonial architecture in Vietnam became increasingly localized, adapting to the local environment and climate. The buildings during the period were gradually associated with Vietnamese culture and sentiment.Originality/valueAlthough few papers deal with the vernacular architecture in Vietnam with regard to local climate and regional characteristics, there are no paper that related the vernacular Vietnamese houses to influence the French colonial designs in Vietnam. Therefore the paper has value and significance.

Evaluation of Ecological Design Principles in Traditional Houses in Mersin

Purpose Advances in technology and rapidly developing built environment lead to increased energy consumption and depletion of natural resources while harming the environment. The concept of ecological architecture emerged to generate solutions to these problems and various characteristics of traditional architecture, such as use of local and natural materials, energy saving etc. became important for contemporary ecological architecture. This paper addresses, from an ecological perspective, vernacular traditional architecture in Mersin, which has rapidly grown into a metropole from a 19th century Mediterranean port town. This study focuses on the ecological design components among traditional Mersin houses. The objective of this study is to reveal the relationships between vernacular traditional houses of Mersin and ecological architecture and to serve as a guide and reference for architects to design and construct in a way that they do not harm the natural environment and ecological balance by learning from vernacular architecture. Design/Methodology/Approach For the case study, 30 traditional houses located in Mersin old city centre, have been chosen to be inspected in terms of storey height, structural system, materials used for the construction, roof shape and materials, topography, selection of orientation, vegetation pattern, building form, spatial organisation, building envelope, use of renewable energy sources, sanitary installation and circulation systems. Yes and no scaled checklists were used to assess 30 traditional houses to identify the components of their ecological status and the quantitative data drawn from these checklists were used for the analyses of the urban texture. Findings It is observable from the analysis that traditional vernacular architecture of Mersin has various qualities that are compatible with ecological design criteria of our day. Research Limitations/Implications 30 traditional houses which have not been restored, have been chosen in Mersin old city centre. Originality/Value The results presented in charts and diagrams are aimed to serve as design recommendations in today’s architectural practice in the area and as an ecological pattern in sustainable development projects performed in the future.

A comparative case study of volcanic-rock vernacular dwelling and modern dwelling in terms of thermal performance and climate responsive design strategies in Hainan Island

ABSTRACT The volcanic-rock dwellings are a special kind of traditional vernacular architecture with high value of research, which located in the north of the Hainan Island in China. In order to clarify the thermal mechanism differences between volcanic-rock dwellings and modern dwellings in Haikou, the main factors affecting the thermal comfort of dwellings are analyzed through investigations of indoor thermal environment in the Yangshan lava area of Haikou. The results show that the volcanic-rock dwelling can achieve 10 h (from 23:30 to 9:30 the next day) with air temperature under 28.7°C in a comfortable thermal indoor environment without air-conditioning cooling equipment, while the rooms on the ground floor of modern dwelling can achieve 1 h around sunrise, and the room on the top floor is completely outside the thermal comfort zone. Temperature difference between exterior and interior of volcanic-rock wall and wooden window can reach a maximum of 6.7°C and 2.8°C respectively, which shows that the envelope of volcanic-rock dwelling has a good thermal insulation performance. It is necessary to inherit the space prototypes and climate-adaptive strategies of traditional residential buildings when designing a new building, which play a significant role on providing a comfortable indoor thermal environment.

Traditional Vernacular Buildings, Architectural Heritage and Sustainability

The article is focused on vernacular dwellings in different parts of Europe: southern Italy and Lithuania that have their own traditions. The authors note that the attitude towards traditional vernacular architecture has largely changed due to ongoing research in this domail. Nevertheless, despite persistent continuity of traditional architecture, vernacular architecture was affected by the rise and development of modernist ideology that neglected the realm of tradition. The authors discuss some tyoes of vernacular buildings and their relation to local landscape, especially focusing on the traditional vernacular dwelling of Kuršių nerija (coastal regionbordering with Curonian spit and the Baltic Sea. This region was originally an area of fishermen villages and though some of the settlements ceasedf to exist there are a number of vernacula houses that belong to architectural heritage. The issues of dwellings, authenticity, survival and protection as well as some ambiguous issues of sustainability of traditional dwellings arer discussed. The authors conclude by suggesting that multiple assesment perspective should be employed while dealign with vernacular buildings suggesting that buildings of this type can perform functions extending the tourist consumption.

Identifying and documenting the Traras mountains(Northwest-Algeria) rural heritage architectural features: an architectural survey.

In the extreme northwest of the Algerian territory the Traras Mountain the vernacular architecture of the houses is facing natural and human threats. with its loss, a synthesis of traditional rural life, imminent. This article is aimed at identifying and recording the characteristics of traditional vernacular architecture in housing to safeguard the knowledge and promote community awareness with respect to this architectural resource, thereby providing a context for future conservation work. The study involved an architectural survey to identify and document the architectural resources of the Traras mountains vernacular rural buildings. The survey included collection of relevant historical and geographic information, building description and analysis together with other data relating to spatial and functional organisation, construction methods and materials. The final product of this study is a conservation‑support plan detailing all the characteristic features of the Traras mountains rural vernacular buildings.

TRADITIONAL SPATIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERSINFLUENCING INNOVATIVEARCHITECTURAL INTERVENTIONS: CASE STUDY OFDARIYAH GOVERNORATE

Traditional and vernacular architecture have always been responsive and sensitive to spatially and functionally socio-cultural and environmental conditions. Spatial configuration of architectural elements served a purpose such as alleviate harsh environmental conditions, respect concept of privacy, and accommodates e sociocommunal activities. The evolving contemporary architecture has grown far from the traditional architecture leaving behind sensitive design solutions that enhanced the spatial and environmental experience. The aim of this paper is to learn from traditional vernacular spatial production, notably the Saudi Najd architecture, in order to enhance contemporary architectural practices and experience. The paper aims to discuss the use of innovative technologies inspired from traditional and vernacular spatial and functional practices in contemporary architecture interventions. The research will investigate: (1) Elements of the Najdi traditional vernacular architecture that improves the spatial and environmental conditions of the architectural space; (2) The use of SMART technologies and innovative design method such as parametric design, smart façade, and innovative construction materials to reinterpret vernacular architecture heritage elements and environmental approaches to provide a spatial environmental heritage rooted design solutions.

PARAMETERS OF SOCIOCULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY IN VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE

Abstract. Throughout the last decades, the human being has begun to be aware of the wear and tear of our planet derived from a wild exploitation of the territory and an irrational use of resources. Since the 80s, and especially from the publication from the Brundtland Report, governments and societies have been in need of reflection on the construction of a more sustainable future. Since architecture consumes a large part of the energy generated, construction professionals have also been in need of an effort in this regard. Soon, some architects found at the traditional vernacular architecture an example of sustainable buildings because this architecture brings together the three principles on which it is based: environmental, sociocultural, and socioeconomic sustainability. This paper focuses on sociocultural sustainability, which is often relegated to the last level because it is not easy to exhibit that knowledge and tradition are also resources to conserve. Throughout the following pages, some of the parameters of sociocultural sustainability that found in vernacular architecture will be analyzed. Starting from the work carried out by the VERSUS team, we will try to value aspects such as the preservation of the cultural landscape or the constructive cultures.

The Efficiency of Using Different Outer Wall Construction Materials to Achieve Thermal Comfort in Various Climatic Zones

The traditional vernacular architecture that is based on natural construction materials such as clay and stone is the most effective way to achieve thermal and climatic comfort inside different architectural spaces. Despite their efficiency, these natural materials are deficient when building large-scale and high-rise buildings. These materials also need periodic maintenance to protect buildings from construction collapse, especially clay structures.After the industrial revolution, the architectural movement shifted towards high-rise and large-scale buildings through using artificial materials such as cement, steel and glass. These materials demonstrate mass production and quality in implementation, but they are not sustainable in terms of thermal comfort in most climate zones across the world.It would thus seem sensible to integrate the two types of construction materials, by using a skeletal system for the building made of concrete or steel, which guarantees the structure, and by using natural materials like clay or stone for the outer walls, which assures thermal and climatic comfort in the indoor spaces.The aim of this paper is to analyse a new construction method that combines the two different construction materials – natural and artificial – to discover which outer- wall material is more effective in terms of thermal comfort in different climatic zones by using simulation programs.The study constrains the concrete skeletal structure system and tests the efficiency of using different outer-wall construction materials to achieve thermal comfort in three different climatic zones.

Plantation: Modern-Vernacular Housing and Settlement in Ottoman Palestine, 1858-1918

The Palestinian vernacular is a key site for evaluating the messy dynamics between modern and vernacular architecture, suggesting a need for the re-conceptualization of the social and political implications of “vernacular” and its uses in historiography. This article explores the relationship between vernacular and modern dwelling environments by conducting close architectural analysis of certain key examples in Palestine following the Ottoman land modernization of 1858. The modernization of land ownership, cultivation, and registration produced a new built environment of wealth extraction and peasant dispossession that I identify here as “plantation.” Focusing inquiry on Acre and Jaffa’s plantation landscape, I examine rural mansions together with “back of the big house” worker dwellings and agricultural structures, which were all part and parcel of this landscape of extraction. I examine the architectural history of the Mazra’a and Hammed plantations and identify two housing forms as alterations of Palestine’s traditional-vernacular architecture: serf hut and landlord mansion. I show that plantation dwellings, created from the 1860s onwards, involved a change to construction methods and building materials found on-site or imported, and resulted in single-standing structures in campus settlement layout, where mud huts and multi-room mansions distinguished serfs from landlords. The plantation decomposition of the courtyard house typology produced a modern-vernacular built environment, calling into question the Manichean divide between “modern” and “vernacular” as two distinct and opposing frameworks. Pointing to the plantation as a modern vernacular—rather than aboriginal—typology, this article identifies the plantation as the materialization of the fragmentation of Palestinian society by modernity, a dynamic producing two opposing Palestinian national archetypes: a landed elite nationalism aiming to replace the Ottoman Empire, and a movement for land reform for dispossessed local peasants.