Vernacular Techniques Research Articles

MODERNIST HERITAGE OF KARACHI: AN ARCHIVAL OF A COLLECTIVE MEMORY FROM AN ART DECO LENS

“To look at emotion and desire in architecture is not to discount the simple fact that most buildings have a practical purpose. But that practical purpose is rarely pursued with perfect detachment or indifferent calculation. To build and to inhabit are not small actions, and it is hard to undertake them with coolness.” Rowan Moore's text ‘Why We Build’ talks about desires shaping and giving form to the spaces we inhabit (Moore R. 20213). Practicality is always underlined by a necessity that gives rise to a desire. In my grandparent's house from the ’50s, all the interior spaces of the house were clustered around a sehen1. The spaces were connected by a seamless concrete floor, commonly present in most houses built in the ’50s and ’60s. This had a very practical purpose to it. Every summer the whole house was hosed down with water. Because of a seamless floor that connected all the rooms to the lounge and the lounge to the sehen, water could easily flow outside into a drain in the sehen. It proved to be sustainable in many ways as it lowered the temperature of the whole house for most of the day. There is a very simplistic desire behind a concrete floor. Domestic spaces of such a typology are nostalgic and a part of a collective memory of houses and apartments from the 50s and 60s. Many houses in Karachi within areas like North Nazimabad, P.E.C.H.S., and Bahadurabad are examples of a regional language that developed in these two decades. When it comes towards nostalgia and memory we often find the built spaces that preserved a memory were heritage from the colonialist period. A built reminiscent of power and dominance. But there is another kind of collective memory that talks about the simplistic details shared earlier. This detail is a part of a typology that speaks to another kind of heritage. A heritage that we reclaimed in post-colonial times. Using the lens of Art Deco homes, the paper studies the transformation of a global movement into a local aesthetic. By recording the narrative of the inhabitants of these structures, this research can create a conversation about the sensitivities we have towards these vernacular techniques that developed a modern and brutalist-inspired heritage for the city of Karachi. The city’s heritage is more than the colonial architecture found in the old town. These modernist structures present another kind of heritage, unique to the architectural vocabulary of Karachi, and represent a climatic sensibility that developed over the 20th century, building a modernist identity of Karachi’s architecture. Keywords: Modern Architecture, Art Deco, Post-Colonial, Collective Memory Nostalgia

Interpretation of Vernacular Techniques in Interior Space: A Case of Himalyan Region

Interpretation of Vernacular Techniques in Interior Space: A Case of Himalyan Region

Review of "lightened slipstraw ceilings" as a cultural practice in the vernacular roofing of Aymara houses in Arica and Parinacota, Chile

This article reviews the slipstraw ceiling technology known in the Aymara language as "caruna.” The study was made in Aymara homes at more than 4,000 meters above sea level in the town of Tacora, in the region of Arica and Parinacota, Chile, as part of project 49204, financed by the National Cultural Heritage Service. It aims to recover this vernacular technique as an alternative to industrialized materials that have modified Andean housing and the quality of life in extreme climates over the last 25 years. Samples of materials used in this technique, reproduced by a local craftsman, were collected and analyzed in the laboratory to determine their thermal properties and workability. The energy performance of three homes in Tacora was also monitored to compare the results obtained with those of the laboratories. The findings revealed that the mud mold used in this ceiling technique is predominantly made from clay with medium compressibility and low thermal conductivity, which makes it apt for insulation in cold desert climates. Lightened clay and straw ceilings stand out in the local culture thanks to the availability of material resources and ease of installation. This study highlights the importance of preserving traditional knowledge, respecting ancestral knowledge, and improving the thermal performance of homes in the northern mountain range of Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, highlighting its relevance for developing sustainable and culturally relevant housing solutions.

Bamboo Construction Inspired by Vernacular Techniques for Reducing Carbon Footprint: A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Whilst upcoming innovations on digital technology and renewable energy can have a significant impact on the reduction of operational carbon emissions in the construction industry, readily available fast-growing building materials like bamboo are already proving reductions in the embodied carbon of dwellings above 60% when compared to traditional brickwork in Colombia. This paper presents a like-by-like comparison of the environmental impact of a conventional clay brick house (CBH) and a bamboo house for social housing in Colombia, which was built using adapted vernacular technologies. The bamboo house uses bamboo species Guadua angustifolia Kunth as the main structural support for the light cement bamboo frame (LCBF) system, a.k.a. ‘cemented bahareque’, whilst the CBH combines clay bricks and steel for the load-bearing walls. Traditionally built Guadua angustifolia Kunth bahareque (GaKB) houses are a key part of the vernacular architecture in the ‘coffee cultural landscape of Colombia’ (CCLC) recognised by UNESCO. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to calculate the carbon footprint of the houses following four phases: (1) definition of objective and scope; (2) inventory analysis; (3) impact assessment; and (4) interpretation of results. The results show that the carbon footprint of the GaKB house accounts for about 40% of the CBH, i.e., the GaKB generates a carbon footprint of 107.17 CO2-eq/m2 whilst the CBH results in a carbon footprint of 298.44 kg CO2-eq/m2. Furthermore, from a carbon balance calculation, the carbon footprint of the GaKB house is further reduced to about 36% of the CSB house. LCA results for the built GaKB house demonstrate that vernacular housing projects that preserve cultural heritage can also be resilient and climate-neutral. This paper sets a precedent for the establishment of targeted government policies and industry practices that preserve the cultural heritage and vernacular technologies in the CCLC region and in other emergent economies worldwide whilst promoting future-proof and net-zero carbon construction.

What are the concerns with New European Bauhaus initiative? Vernacular knowledge as the primary driver toward a sustainable future

The revolutionary aspect and core values of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) are highly praised, but the initiative's success can only be judged by its approach to defining those values. The local climate plays an inextricable role in informing vernacular architecture, as do other physical, social, economic, and cultural determinants. On the NEB initiative website, it states that the NEB "calls on all of us to imagine and build together a sustainable and inclusive future," with inclusive defined as "encouraging a dialogue across cultures, disciplines, genders, and ages." Such a high-level vision is positive and encouraging, but the detailed action plans outlined in the NEB concept paper presented in June 2021 to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, fell short of real evolutionary thinking about how to integrate vernacular knowledge. The NEB concept paper stated, "Both frontier technologies and vernacular techniques must be equally embraced. Advanced and emerging technologies must be balanced by other locally accessible tools, techniques, and strategies." The fundamental problem with such a statement is that it positions "vernacular techniques" at the other end of "frontier technologies," indicating that vernacular techniques are not "advanced and emerging." On the contrary, we believe that vernacular (or indigenous understanding) is the more advanced scientific knowledge in understanding the symbiotic relationship between the built environment and the natural environment.Hence, it should play a leading role in all climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Chinese Gazettes on the Margins of Book History: Movable Type, Wax Stereotypes, and Vernacular Techniques in Late Imperial China

Chinese Gazettes on the Margins of Book History: Movable Type, Wax Stereotypes, and Vernacular Techniques in Late Imperial China

PORTRAYING THE ETHNOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE OF THE TEA WORKERS' COMMUNITIES IN SYLHET: A MORPHOLOGICAL APPROACH

The historic tea estates are part of the cultural landscape of Sylhet and attract numerous tourists. However, most tea-workers living in these areas have lower social profiles and, to some extent, are isolated from mainstream society. The tea-workers communities have diverse ethnic backgrounds, mainly from the neighbouring country - India and different parts of Bangladesh. Initially, within the Tea estates, they were settled in housings developed as 'labour lines', and later those areas were modified and expanded by the communities. There are issues related to space crisis, municipal services, and other amenities such as health care and education in their housing areas, but their settlement patterns have inherent traditional features crafted by the vernacular adaptations. This study aims to identify and analyse their settlement areas' ethnographic landscapes and understand the relationships between their housing morphology and socio-cultural beliefs. We have selected three different communities from the three (03) major tea estates, i.e. Lakkatura, Malnichara and Khadimnagar estate. We developed a conceptual framework incorporating principles from ethnographic landscape and spatial morphology. For ethnographic analysis, we have investigated the socio-cultural profiles (including ethnic origin, demography, financial status, community participation and socio-cultural activities), housing policies and vernacular techniques through field surveys and secondary sources. For morphological analysis, we have adopted McCartney, 2018's framework that helped characterise the study areas' spatial dimensions. Finally, we have developed a typological understanding from the combined approach that outlines the ethnographic landscape of the selected tea-workers communities in Sylhet. Cross-cultural investigations in future can further explore how ethnic landscape changes with migration movements and aid in the planning and policy-making of informal settlements.

Green energy and environmental sustainability on Vernacular Architecture. The case of Ayllus of Atacama Desert and stilt houses of Chiloé

The main objective of this study is to explore the development of vernacular techniques capable of facilitate a green and sustainable architecture today’s. An ayllu in San Pedro de Atacama and a stilt house in Chiloé are selected as a comparative case, since (1) both are part of the vernacular architecture of its respective place, (3) both cases belong to extreme regions of the country, with both geographical characteristics totally opposite, the ayllu in the extreme north with a desert climate and the stilt houses in the country’s south with low temperatures and maritime-rainy climate, (4) both cases are works of green and sustainable architecture, wooden on stilt houses and adobe on ayllu. The methodology is carried out through three points, contamination levels (1), materiality (2) and energetic design and climate adaptation (3). It is concluded that the development of particular vernacular architecture, can introduce new logics to develop green energy and being closer to environmental sustainability, as has occurred in the palafitos and in the ayllu.

Comparative Analysis of Energy Consumption in Traditional and Modern Buildings in Village Sapni, a Village in Kinnaur District Located in Western Himalayan State of Himachal Pradesh

High altitude regions of district Kinnaur in western Himalayan State of Himachal Pradesh, due to its high altitude topographical and cold climatic conditions, remains under snow for around six months in a year. Most of these areas receive snowfall around 5 – 7 feet on annual basis. Such extreme climatic conditions have made the life of local habitants difficult. The indigenous people have developed climate responsive architectural styles. Such type of vernacular architecture is based on utilization of locally available resources such as wood, mud and stones etc. The houses have been designed as per set principles of vastu shastra and utilize solar energy to optimum level in attaining a level of thermal comfort. It has been observed that such house based on vernacular techniques of housing are found to be energy efficient and comfortable throughout the year in comparisaon to modern cement concrete buildings. One such study of traditional and modern houses at village Sapni, District Kinnaur has been presented in this paper and it has been concluded that the traditional building is consuming less energy (about 50%) to that of modern building at the same site and location.

Traditional Architecture as a Typological Basis for Ecological and Sustainable Architectural Design from a Climatic Perspective. The Colonial Houses of the Central Valley; Santiago, Chile.

The present study aims to explore the Colonial House in the central valley of Chile, as a typological basis for an ecological and sustainable architectural design, mainly in relation to passive climate conditioning strategies, thinking about the minimization of external agents that take care of this. The city of Santiago is selected as a case study because it is a highly urbanized area, implying constant challenges about sustainable urban development. Regarding the object, these are traditional constructions with local materials and vernacular techniques, therefore they are related to the material heritage of the area and present proven climatic strategies that can be extrapolated to establish them within a contemporary context. The methodology is carried out through a constructive analysis of a typical house to understand the decisions taken and how they influence the habitability of the building. This will be complemented with the study of secondary sources and the comparison with contemporary examples to explore the application of the referenced strategies. It is concluded that traditional typologies allow the development of new proposals associated with sustainable logics due to the constructive and climatic understandings that vernacular notions imply.

PRESERVATION OF RAMMED EARTH STRUCTURES THROUGH TRADITIONAL METHODS: CASE STUDY

This paper describes the research carried out around a high heritage value construction, the Torre Muza de Benifaió in Valencia (Spain). The tower is a defensive building from the Spanish Arab period, built during the 11th and 12th centuries AD. When the studies began, it was abandoned, in a dilapidated state, and slight information was known. Therefore, following extensive and multidisciplinary work was the starting point to recognizing the critical aspects of its history, damage, and current condition. Particularly noteworthy is the specific characterization of the traditional rammed earth construction system and the materials that made it up. All this was performed based on historical research, laser 3D scanning, and complementary characterization studies (physical, chemical, and mechanical) with the vision of the whole and surroundings. With all this, it was possible to determine the recovery of the walls following the same construction technique, although differentiating their specific execution. These preliminary studies allow a respectful consolidation and recovery of the construction and ensure the compatibility and integration of the materials and the intervention. This paper remarks on the importance of multidisciplinary preliminary studies to develop proper preservation of vernacular techniques and heritage architecture.

PRESERVATION OF RAMMED EARTH STRUCTURES THROUGH TRADITIONAL METHODS: CASE STUDY

This paper describes the research carried out around a high heritage value construction, the Torre Muza de Benifaió in Valencia (Spain). The tower is a defensive building from the Spanish Arab period, built during the 11th and 12th centuries AD. When the studies began, it was abandoned, in a dilapidated state, and slight information was known. Therefore, following extensive and multidisciplinary work was the starting point to recognizing the critical aspects of its history, damage, and current condition. Particularly noteworthy is the specific characterization of the traditional rammed earth construction system and the materials that made it up. All this was performed based on historical research, laser 3D scanning, and complementary characterization studies (physical, chemical, and mechanical) with the vision of the whole and surroundings. With all this, it was possible to determine the recovery of the walls following the same construction technique, although differentiating their specific execution. These preliminary studies allow a respectful consolidation and recovery of the construction and ensure the compatibility and integration of the materials and the intervention. This paper remarks on the importance of multidisciplinary preliminary studies to develop proper preservation of vernacular techniques and heritage architecture.

Local seismic culture in Iranian vernacular architecture: evidence from Yazd earthen architecture

Iran, located in one of the most earthquake-prone regions of the world, has experienced a very large number of destructive earthquakes that brought about considerable loss of human life and economic consequences. The country possesses a vast number of monumental and vernacular built heritages that are constantly threatened by earthquakes. As vernacular techniques for dwellings comply with the needs, comfort, utility, and functionality of people, it is expected that endemic earthquake-resistant techniques make an essential contribution to Iranian vernacular architecture. The city of Yazd presents a unique and rich vernacular for earthen construction within Iranian architectural heritage, which has resulted in the recognition of the historic fabric of the city as a World Heritage Site since 2017. Considering the importance of exploring different local seismic cultures worldwide, this paper introduces an essential part of Iranian local seismic culture by recognising and classifying the vernacular earthquake-resistant techniques used in the earthen architecture of the city of Yazd. The techniques were collected by surveying the historic fabric, using data available in the literature, and interviewing traditional builders and local conservators. Next, the seismic influence of each technique was evaluated using examples from the performance of adobe constructions during the 2003 Bam earthquake.

Mud jaalis of Surguja: A tribal narrative from Chhattisgarh

Modern construction industry demands for adaptation of sustainable construction materials and practices to control its adverse effect on the environment. One of the answers to such issue is moving back to indigenous techniques and natural construction materials. The vernacular architecture teaches different methods of construction which can be adapted in modern contemporary practice as well. The tribal belt of Chhattisgarh in India still exercises different vernacular techniques in construction of their houses. They are largely dependent on availability of local materials such as mud, husk, stone, lime, bamboo, and timber for any type of construction. The paper discusses the material and manufacturing of one of the key elements of the tribal architecture of Surguja district in Chhattisgarh called “Jaali” a perforated screen. The study investigates the usage and construction technique of mud based jaali used in openings of rural houses. The study explores orientation and architectural details of the jaali to comprehend the same in contemporary practice. Further the temperature of indoor and outdoor is recorded manually to understand the actual difference and benefits of jaali usage.

The Excavation, Recovery and Analysis of an Early 19th-Century Shipwreck from the Solent, Hampshire

The remains of a 19th-century barge were found in the Solent whilst undertaking pre-construction geophysical survey works as part of the Interconnexion France-Angleterre 2 cable route (IFA2) project. Investigations culminated in the excavation, recording and recovery of the remains of the wreck. Although no documentation or records of its loss have been found at the time of writing, the remains highlight the importance of vernacular shipbuilding techniques that were applied by independent shipbuilders scattered along this stretch of coastline.

Bahareque as a Sustainable Construction System: Analysis of Unit Prices

The bahareque is a form of vernacular construction that, with the help of modern materials with adequate techniques and knowledge, constitute an alternative to provide housing solutions. Despite this, the lack of knowledge and technical processes in relation to costs, gives rise to a research problem. Thus, this document presents a set of technical strategies based on the Cost-Benefit analysis of using bahareque as a raw material and structuring a unit price analysis tool to guide construction professionals. The study had a qualitative and quantitative approach, surveys were applied to the population and professionals in the construction area that allowed to approach the reality of the construction system in the city of Cuenca-Ecuador. It is evident that people know about the construction system, but show some resistance to its application because they are unaware of the advantages and disadvantages of the vernacular technique. With the cost analyzes carried out, it is concluded that a typical house of 130 m2 has a cost of $ 36,387.72 dollars; which, starts from concrete foundations, which support a reinforced masonry assembly that raises the wooden frames, associated with meshes that erect the walls with mortar and finally covered with roofs with a mixed material of wood and tile fired with clay.

Strategizing Alternative Visual Artworks Medium through Upcycle Textile

This research aims to provide a procedural process of recycled textiles as an alternative medium in visual artwork. In this study, recycled textiles are not processed to become fibers. However, textile waste will be segregated, selected, sorted, cut and combined as new materials through vernacular techniques. The study is divided into a Recycled Textile Analysis Innovation (RTAI) and a Recycled Textile Production (RTP) for visual artwork adapting from Multiple Creative Talent by Calvin W. Tylor. The significance of this study will be showcased through the 'Lestari Perca' exhibition to promote awareness in recycling textile through art-making. Keywords: Recycle textile; Alternative Medium; Visual Artwork; Fine Art eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6iSI6.3043

Learning from vernacular settlements. The role of traditional mitigation measures in Amalfi Coast

Vernacular settlements are mostly made up of buildings whose exceptional stability is testified by their survival over the centuries, even under natural and anthropogenic wounds. The unesco site of the Amalfi Coast shows a vast repertoire of cases to learn about the surviving examples of vernacular techniques and their structural qualities. It is possible to appreciate constructive protection measures that highlight the ancient actions to ensure the built environment's safety. This research aims to represent an effort in the knowledge of the traditional mitigation measures, often considered simply as local architectural elements, analyzing a large number of protective devices on the Amalfi Coast, to take the right actions in the future recovery, conservation, and maintenance operations.

From Soil to Domes: Vernacular Architecture and Construction Techniques in Esfahak, South Khurasan

ABSTRACT This article examines construction techniques of earthen vernacular architecture, with a particular focus on traditional construction processes of mud brick vaults and domes in contemporary Iran. The village of Esfahak, in South Khurasan, is selected as a case study due to its unique historical circumstances, traditional buildings and construction methods, and recent restoration activities carried out by villagers. The village was damaged by an earthquake in 1978 and abandoned for 30 years until a group of Esfahakis decided to restore their ruined earthen houses. This marked the start of an intergenerational exchange that allowed young villagers to train alongside old masters in a process of rediscovery of long-time abandoned construction techniques. The old village has been reconnected to the lives of current residents, while the reconstructed buildings continue to bear witness to the millennial knowledge and skills of erecting vaults and domes from the plateau’s arid soil. This article is based on fieldwork research on building sites and interviews with craftsmen in Esfahak, combined with a review of existing literature on traditional and historical construction techniques in the Persian world.

Ovalbumin as natural organic binder for stabilizing unfired earth bricks: Understanding vernacular techniques to inspire modern constructions

Cement and hydrated lime are usually effective for stabilizing unfired earth but they lead to a significant CO2 footprint. In the search for sustainable, efficient alternatives, old and vernacular techniques may provide ways of replacing such mineral binders. The example of the use of chicken egg white protein (ovalbumin) to improve earth construction materials is addressed in the present case study. It was used to stabilize two soils with different mineralogical compositions. Addition of 2 wt% and 4 wt% ovalbumin strongly increased both the dry and wet compressive strengths (water resistance) of the soils. For these properties, ovalbumin was a more efficient stabilizer than cement or hydrated lime. Concerning hygrothermal properties, the thermal conductivity of the soils did not change with stabilization, while the moisture buffer value decreased slightly but remained at least “good” according to the Nordtest criterion. Microstructural analysis can explain the efficiency of earth stabilization using ovalbumin by the formation of a gel that fills the microcracks in the soil and strengthens it by gluing them up.