Study Of Vernacular Architecture Research Articles

Social Cluster and Heritage Memory: A Study on the Space Perception of Zhaozhou Basin Horse Caravan Vernacular Architecture

Located in Dali, Yunnan, the Zhaozhou basin is home to many precious architectural heritages, particularly the historical horse caravan architecture. These buildings face the challenge of renewal and transformation. It is of great significance to explore the local population’s awareness of the architectural heritage of the horse caravan in order to protect the architectural heritage and facilitate rural revitalization. This study reviews the related research on “space perception”, establishes a theoretical framework of space perception under the architectural dimension, and develops hypotheses. The social cluster of typical settlements in the Zhaozhou basin is selected as the research object, and empirical analyses are carried out using SPSS and AMOS software. An analytical framework model of empirical research is constructed to evaluate the space perception of the current social population. The results of the reliability and validity tests of the questionnaire show that the CR is greater than 0.7 and that the AVE is greater than 0.5. The value of the structural equation model fitting index χ2/df is 1.863, which is less than 3. The model test results show that research hypotheses H1–H5 are supported; that is, space perception has a significant positive impact on cognition and local identity, cognition has a significant positive impact on local identity and space function, and place identity has a significant positive impact on space appeal. This study demonstrates the relationship between space perception and the architectural remains of the horse caravan, and it analyzes the human psychological perception behind the material space. The findings support the need for further conservation of the horse caravan architecture. This study further deepens the theory of space perception and its application in the study of vernacular architecture, which can provide a research path for the protection and development of vernacular architectural heritage.

A Study of Vernacular Architecture of Tamil Nadu

This research study examines the rich legacy of vernacular architecture in Tamil Nadu, India, with an emphasis on its historical relevance, architectural features, and sustainable practices. Tamil Nadu's vernacular architecture has a wide spectrum of forms, from major Dravidian temples to simple the village houses. These structures provide not just functional needs, but also represent the communities' cultural identity and religious values. Furthermore, vernacular architecture in Tamil Nadu is highly sensitive to the local environment, with buildings planned to maximize natural ventilation, lighting, and thermal comfort. Traditional building materials like lime, timber, and terracotta are supplied locally, reducing environmental effects, and encouraging sustainability. Focusing on historical documents and academic research this study investigates the cultural, socioeconomic, and environmental influences that have impacted Tamil Nadu's vernacular architecture throughout the centuries. It also examines the current relevance of traditional architectural techniques in the context of growing urbanization and industrialization, highlighting the importance of maintaining and incorporating indigenous knowledge into sustainable development initiatives. Through case studies and comparative research, the article emphasizes the adaptability of Tamil Nadu's vernacular architecture, as well as its potential contributions to modern architectural discourse and sustainable design practices. Keywords- Vernacular, architecture, climate responsiveness, sustainability, Tamil Nadu, South India, courtyard, Chettinad.

Traditional and Vernacular Architecture in Bali

The study of Bali's traditional and vernacular architecture requires a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to reveal the complex expressions of this culturally diverse island. Influenced by Hindu, Buddhist and indigenous beliefs, Bali's architecture is closely interwoven with its lush landscape, characterised by terraced rice fields, volcanic mountains and a tropical climate. The theoretical foundations are based on vernacular architecture and emphasise the importance of indigenous knowledge, local materials and cultural, social and environmental factors. The study focuses on the classification and functions of more than 20,000 Hindu temples or "pura", which reflect the island's deep cultural roots and rituals based on the Balinese calendar. An examination of small villages such as Pengotan reveals a nuanced architecture with sacred and profane zones clustered around temple areas, residential areas and cemeteries. The concentration of family units in sacred spaces and the meticulous adherence to the luan concept reveal the intricacies of traditional Balinese architecture. However, the preservation of this architectural heritage is being challenged by rapid modernisation and a booming tourism industry. The influx of tourists, which has increased from 2.5 million in 2010 to 14 million in 2017, poses a threat to Bali's traditional building practices and materials. The environmental impact of increasing waste and inadequate infrastructure, exacerbated by the growing number of foreign visitors, requires sustainable planning. The government's ambitious goal of creating '10 new Balis' to double the number of tourists raises concerns about environmental protection and proper waste management. The methodological approach of this study is deeply rooted in vernacular architecture and aims to decipher the nuances and preserve Bali's architectural heritage. Balancing the demands of modernisation and tourism with the need for environmental sustainability is critical to the protection of the heritage.
 
 Index Terms— Vernacular Architecture, Bali, Tourism, Traditions

Re-exploring Vernacular Architecture from The Lens of Regenerative Thinking: A Case Study Gharb Sohail Village in Egypt

Vernacular architecture has always been a source of inspiration for architects worldwide. It has offered meaningful solutions to many contemporary global challenges. On the other hand, the notion of sustainability is undergoing a paradigm shift towards regenerative sustainability, which has gained considerable interest in the last decade among academics, architects, and building professionals due to its holistic, integrated, and creative approach to real-world sustainability practices. Accordingly, the study attempts to answer the question of how far vernacular architecture has applied regenerative sustainability principles. So, the research aims to investigate the manifestations of regenerative thinking within the selected case study, focusing on the principle of whole-systems design integration. The research adopted a qualitative methodology that began with a thorough literature review to explore the distinction between regenerative sustainability and the conventional concept. In the analytical part, Gharb Sohail village was selected as a case study of vernacular architecture in Egypt to be analyzed from the perspective of regenerative sustainability. The findings revealed that vernacular architecture applied regenerative thinking significantly through its integration with the entire system because it is created by and for the context in which it is built and is considered a part of the ecosystem. The study makes a profound contribution by deeply exploring regenerative sustainability applications within the built environment and by offering affordable design techniques that help architects and urban planners, particularly in developing countries, create a resilient and regenerative built environment while conserving their cultural, social, and economic particularities.

Review: The Masjid in Contemporary Islamic Africa

Review: <i>The Masjid in Contemporary Islamic Africa</i>

Burkina Faso through Its Traditional Architecture: A Century of Research on Built Vernacular Heritage

The study of traditional habitats aims to recognise their values and preserve them within the necessary transformations of societies. In the context of Burkina Faso, the great variety of issues related to habitat together with the cultural richness of the country, resulted in a complex nucleus of knowledge, the unity of which had not been fully considered. With the objective of providing an integrated overview and identifying thematic trends of current relevance, the literature review involved the collection, comparison, and synthesis of works of different origin, scale, discipline, theme, and intention. As well as offering an orderly compilation, the analysis traces the history of the existing literature, revealing how its evolution mirrored the progress in vernacular architecture studies in international terms and adopted an increasingly practical approach. Furthermore, the review demonstrates the widespread academic and institutional interest in linking the development of the country to its cultural heritage, and the valuable documentation work resulting from this interest. Finally, a reflection is raised on the evolution of knowledge, its aspirations, potential impact, and usefulness, which could be of use also in other contexts.

The Mycenaean Settlement on Tsoungiza Hill. By James C. Wright and Mary K. Dabney (Nemea Valley Archaeological Project 3). Princeton: American School of Classical Studies at Athens 2020. Pp. 1240. $150. ISBN 978-0-87661-924-7 (cloth).

<i>The Mycenaean Settlement on Tsoungiza Hill</i>. By James C. Wright and Mary K. Dabney (Nemea Valley Archaeological Project 3). Princeton: American School of Classical Studies at Athens 2020. Pp. 1240. $150. ISBN 978-0-87661-924-7 (cloth).

Accreditation Requirements and the Global History of Architecture

Accreditation Requirements and the Global History of Architecture

Vernacular architecture in eastern Senegal:Chaînes opératoiresand technical choices

Architecture is an important component of cultural identity, but knowledge regarding construction techniques using local materials is gradually disappearing, and this subject has rarely been studied in sub-Saharan Africa. This ethno-archaeological study of current vernacular architecture and its evolution during the past three centuries in eastern Senegal therefore brings innovative results that are interesting on different levels. In relation to West Africa, the authors aim to provide new knowledge useful for archaeologists lacking references for interpreting past remains, as well as an archive for historical and heritage studies. More widely, the study constitutes a reference for the description of various mud-building techniques and an attempt to understand the mechanisms explaining their transformations, which should concern all scientists interested in vernacular architecture, in Africa and beyond.More precisely, this article accounts for the variability of techniques used for constructing walls and roofs of dwellings in the Faleme valley among different ethno-linguistic groups, while considering the environmental, cultural and socio-economic factors at play. The authors’ methodology is based on a description of the chaînes opératoires of construction, interviews, mapping and statistical analysis. The patterns observed facilitate a discussion on the evolution of techniques, environmental adaptations, the transfer of knowledge and the role of history in material culture dynamics.

Living Architecture: Re-imagining Vernacularity in Southeast Asia and Oceania

ABSTRACTSoutheast Asia and Oceania have a long tradition of outstanding scholarship that studies the rich and diverse vernacular architectural heritage of the region. Up until the early twenty-first century, this work tended to focus on traditional forms of vernacular architecture, emphasising their regional distinctiveness and analysing the ways in which they reflected social and cultural structures. However, recent decades have seen rapid and fundamental social, economic, and environmental changes in the region that require new perspectives on the design, use, and meaning of vernacular architecture. Processes like population growth, urbanisation, globalisation, climate change, migration, natural disasters, conflicts, and the internationalisation and commercialisation of architectural practice have exerted increasing pressure on vernacular architectural traditions. In recent decades more dynamic and active approaches to the study of vernacular architecture have emerged that attempt to challenge the dichotomies inherent in earlier definitions and representations of the vernacular. Those approaches raise interesting and indeed fundamental questions about the way the vernacular architecture of the region has been represented in the past; about the validity of those representations; and ultimately about how relevant they are in the here and now. Indeed, they call into question the validity and relevance of the concept of vernacularity itself.

The Gyre Narrows, Again: Vernacular Buildings, Vernacular Landscapes, and Environmental History

The Gyre Narrows, AgainVernacular Buildings, Vernacular Landscapes, and Environmental History Michael J. Chiarappa (bio) While in graduate school, I listened to Henry Glassie’s lectures on Ireland’s vernacular landscapes and read about them in greater depth in his book Passing the Time in Ballymenone: Culture and History of an Ulster Community. Those familiar with this work know that its ethnographic depth is largely attributable to Glassie’s intimate immersion in the vernacular landscape. But since its publication thirty-eight years ago, I have often been struck by what I see as one of its most overlooked contributions to those who study every day buildings and everyday landscapes— its ecological resonance. Whether he is describing the repair of thatched roofs, the burning turf fires in houses, or the spatial logic of farmsteads nestled amidst undulating hills and the nearby lough, each feature assists in calibrating the bodies of Irish men and women to the biological rhythms and physical constraints of nature. When Charles W. Joyner— a historian and folklorist— assessed Passing the Time in Bally menone, he titled his review essay “The Narrowing Gyre,” inverting the frayed societal sensibility William Butler Yeats expressed in the line “the widening gyre” from the poem “The Second Coming” to praise Glassie’s ability to intellectually reconcile disciplines, a step in getting us to the heart of buildings’ uses and meanings.1 Joyner pointedly identified nature in this enterprise, citing a line from one of Glassie’s endnotes: “For I begin at texts [material and nonmaterial], at forms created by the people themselves, and move through them to the culture and the environment, and swing from the culture and the environment back to the texts . . . attempting to gain some understanding of the world as viewed from Ballymenone.”2 Such sentiment emerged from the influence of a line of thinking shaped by geographers and historians who made environment central to their inquiries of cultural landscapes: Carl Sauer, Fred Kniffen, E. Estyn Evans, and W. G. Hoskins. Perhaps most telling, Glassie’s ecologically-charged handling of Ballymenone’s wrought setting conveys a place that breathes, “where environment is inherently useful, and the human task is to discover through work the logic of its construction,” where organic, biological cognizance is honored in the measured crafting of “smooth meadows, trim hedges, trees in a line, crisp white houses arranged on a green field: the landscape of farmwork is a work of art.”3 But for me, the “narrowing gyre” was only beginning to take shape as I sought greater insight into how I might find congruence between the fields of vernacular architecture studies and environmental history. Coinciding with Glassie’s handling of landscapes in Ulster— and critically influenced by it— Robert St. George’s essay, “ ‘Set Thine House in Order’: The Domestication of the Yeomanry in Seventeenth-Century New England,” although rarely acknowledged as such, framed the treatment of vernacular architecture in terms that squarely connected with the concerns of American environmental historians. For St. George, the seventeenth-century New England landscape emerged from a view of nature deeply dialectical in scope— a divinely held notion of the “immanence and utilitarianism” contained in God’s earthly bounty. Belief in the perfectibility of nature forged a paradoxical [End Page 1] view that runs through the American vernacular landscape to this very day, one where, in St. George’s examination, the yeomanry embraced “the philosophical conservation of resources” and, at the same time, “their sanctioned exploitation.” Glorifying God’s design of nature meant understanding it. Collapsing disciplinary boundaries, St. George noted that “man learns the most about nature and God’s universe when he alters it” through artifice, and that “Puritans legitimized their mission as they symbolically broke open their landscape. As a result, the yeoman could improve his lands, build miles upon miles of stone walls, and turn trees into towns, while still heeding the words of his minister as he urged the detailed study of nature.”4 Such interpretation of vernacular landscape redounded with the emerging tide of American environmental history scholarship, and, perhaps not surprising, corresponded with another work dealing with the same region— William Cronon’s Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology...

Traditional Settlement Morphology from the Perspective of Thermodynamic Architecture Theory: Taking Two Villages in the Iberian Peninsula as Examples

The form of rural settlements is not determined by a single factor, but by various factors. With a particular focus on settlement morphology and natural energy, this study introduces thermodynamic architecture theory to discuss the relationship between rural settlement morphology and environmental energy, starting from the analysis of the relationship between rural settlement morphology and building density, building order and settlement boundary dispersion, trying to provide a reference for the updated design of traditional settlements. The first part of this paper explains the research method of settlement form based on thermodynamic architecture theory from the theoretical level trying to construct the analysis framework of settlement form typology based on energy concept. The second part introduces the coupling between thermodynamic energy concept and morphology from the methodological level. The relationship between the three energy correlation factors of intensity, order and dispersion and settlement morphology is studied. In this paper, two settlement cases are quantitatively analysed by simulation and mathematical analysis. In conclusion, it proposes a new perspective for the morphological analysis of rural settlements, which provides a feasible framework for further research on energy utilization and microclimate comfort of settlements. This study also provides a preliminary concept for the integration of the buildings type and thermodynamic study of vernacular architecture in the future.

A vulnerability index formulation for the seismic vulnerability assessment of vernacular architecture

The valorization and preservation of vernacular architecture, as well as traditional construction techniques and materials, is a key-element for cultural identity. Conservation efforts are often mainly focused on historical constructions and monuments. Furthermore, more detailed and sophisticated seismic vulnerability assessment approaches typically used for monumental buildings require time, cost and resources that are not commonly assigned to the study of vernacular architecture. Earthquakes come unexpectedly, endangering in-use vernacular architecture and the population who inhabits it. That is why simplified methods for the seismic vulnerability assessment of vernacular architecture are of paramount importance. The present paper presents a new formulation for the vulnerability index method particularly adapted to the characteristics of vernacular architecture: Seismic Vulnerability Index for Vernacular Architecture (SVIVA). The vulnerability index method has been used extensively in the literature using different formulations that were always defined based on empirical knowledge acquired through post-earthquake damage observation and expert judgment. The SVIVA formulation is developed by means of an analytical process instead of the traditional empirical approach. The process included an extensive numerical modeling campaign that allows adapting the method to the characteristics of vernacular architecture by gaining a deeper quantitative knowledge on their seismic behavior.

Adaptation of heritage architecture in Al Asmakh, Doha: insights into an urban environment of the Gulf

SUMMARY: This paper examines the continuing legacy and occupation of Doha’s vernacular architecture of the early oil period, drawing on techniques from architecture, contemporary archaeology and anthropology. Historical and contemporary inhabitation is examined, as well as the experiences of today’s resident migrant communities. The ongoing significance of Al Asmakh’s vernacular architecture within Qatar’s heritage discourse is considered. Particular attention is given to adaptations undertaken by today’s multinational residents, and the role they play as custodians of Qatar’s architectural heritage. This is a companion piece to the study of vernacular architecture by Eddisford and Carter (2017).

El palomar de Manolo. Estudio de caso de arquitectura vernácula desde el paradigma cultural

espanolTradicionalmente, el estudio de la arquitectura vernacula ha tenido un enfoque eminentemente constructivo y tipologico. Frente a ese paradigma comprensivo materialista y formalista, este trabajo propone un estudio de caso desde una perspectiva decididamente cultural. Se aplica a un palomar de la Tierra de Campos, pero no a un palomar tipico. Se trata una arquitectura hibrida, en uso y reconstruida con materiales industriales. La investigacion demostrara la importancia de los estudios contextuales y la necesidad de centrar la investigacion en el factor humano, pues es a este al que remiten los valores que recogen los atributos de la arquitectura vernacula. Igualmente, revelara que los palomares en Tierra de Campos tienen una tradicion y significado historico muy diferentes de los que se han venido considerando. Se pretende, en fin, la comprension mas integral posible de una arquitectura vernacula en orden a los fundamentos (culturales) que definen su especificidad como tal y como patrimonio. EnglishTraditionally, the study of vernacular architecture has had an eminently constructive and typological approach. Faced with this materialist and formalist paradigm, this paper proposes a case study from a decidedly cultural perspective. It is applied to a dovecote in Tierra de Campos, but not a typical one. It is a hybrid architecture; in use and rebuilt with industrial materials. The research will show the importance of contextual studies and the need to focus research on the human factor, because this is what the values that reflect the attributes of vernacular architecture refer to. Likewise, it will reveal that dovecots in Tierra de Campos have a tradition and historical significance very different from what has been thinked. It is intended, definitely, to reach the most complete understanding possible of a vernacular architecture through the (cultural) bases that define its specificity as such and as a Heritage.

Revitalization of Traditional Architecture Towards Sustainable Development of the Skadar Lake Area

Abstract Traditional architecture is one of the most important segments in the preservation and development of cultural identity. The Lake Skadar region abounds in examples of vernacular building activity that provide the clearest evidence of the creation of settlements and houses as a result of adaptation to natural environment. The study of vernacular architecture on the shores of Lake Skadar is related to the identification and potential evaluation of its local traditional features, as ecological building forms which express the principle of sustainability. Within the framework of research on vernacular architecture of this area, analysis is undertaken with the aim of defining guidelines for revitalizing traditional settlements in this region. In this respect the emphasis of this work is on recognizing the potential and possible directions in revitalization of cultural heritage of traditional settlements in keeping with the principles of sustainable development.

Methodology for Informed Design of Sustainable Tourism Accommodation in Chile's 9th Region the Gateway to Patagonia

Lying between Chile's agricultural Central Valley and the wilds of Patagonia, the micro region of Araucanía Andina, is seeing a rise in both national and international tourism. With its snow-capped volcanoes, national parks, native forests and indigenous Mapuche culture, the region offers a wide range of activities to the Special Interest Tourist. The development of winter sports facilities and the growth in Northern Hemisphere visitors during the austral winter is extending the season, in what was previously predominantly a destination for Chilean summer holidaymakers. The tourism infrastructure must therefore respond to provide comfortable, energy efficient, sustainable accommodation during both the cold wet winters and short hot summers, meeting the expectations of an ever more demanding international market. The government funded research project “Sustainable Construction System and Energy Efficiency for Special Interest Tourist Infrastructure in the Araucanía Andina,” FONDEF Regional D10R1003, aims to provide the knowledge needed by the local tourist industry to achieve this goal. This paper presents the methodology and outcomes of the project, including the study of local vernacular architecture, post occupation evaluation of existing infrastructure, bioclimatic analysis, environmental and technical assessment of insulation and construction materials, digital simulation of proposals and the construction of physical test cells. The resulting proposal is a system of timber-framed walls, insulated with sheep's wool, finished externally with a ventilated façade. It is hoped that this prefabricated system, in conjunction with best practice guidelines for construction and management, should enable a sustainable future for the region's tourism. At the same time, the methodology provides a replicable template that has already been applied in other regions of the country.

The Intangible Sustainability on Tangible Flexibility: A Case Study of Vernacular Architecture in Shangjiayang Village, Taishun, China (1814 -1949)

Shangjiaoyang is a small village in Zhejiang province whose residents are from one family --- Tsang's family initially. The first generation of these residents were moved from Fujian province (Min region) about two hundred years ago. With time passing, both the layout and the architectural style of the village have transformed, but still, the memory or the spirit, the intangible aspects are kept. It is an important factor that makes the village still survive by now. This paper focuses on how this kind of intangible sustainability has been achieved. At first, it describes the reason and the approach of their resettlement to show how the village was founded. Then it discusses its following development during different times via illustrations about the layout of settlement, the form and function of architecture. Finally, the paper suggests the strategy that the tangible changes appearing on this village modeling the locality, which could inspire the contemporary constructions.

The Radosavljevic family homestead in Mladenovac

By way of a contribution to the study of vernacular architecture and the so-called Šumadija type of farming homestead, once typically found in the villages around Mladenovac, the paper presents the drawings and photographs of the homestead of the Radosavljević family in the village of Koraćica, Municipality of Mladenovac. The extensive documentation created in the process of preparing a heritage des­ignation proposal may prove useful in further research.

From Trees To Timbers: A Comparative Study Of Timber Quantities In Houses

It is over 40 years since Oliver Rackham published his paper in VA 3 on the quantities of timber in Grundle House in Suffolk and the number and sizes of trees it consumed. His methodology is often quoted, but seldom re-used; surveys of only two other houses have been published. To these is now added 1 Coppard’s Bridge, an open-hall house of 1473d in the Low Weald of East Sussex, allowing comparison of four house types and their timber requirements to demonstrate the transition in methods of conversion of trees to timber during the medieval and post-medieval periods. This analysis, based on Oliver Rackham’s enduring work, marks his passing in February 2015 and his contribution to vernacular architecture studies.