Vernacular Architecture Research

Vernacular Architecture

Vernacular architecture as a means of promoting sustainable design and building practices is a topic in which I am very interested. Historically, non-colloquial architecture communicated the wealth and power of the occupant because of the expense and difficulty importing foreign materials, methods, and craftspeople. As architecture moved to promote international design and prove that any type of structure could be built, using any type of materials in any location, regional architectural traditions and identities were considered less valuable, or in some cases, lost completely. Now as architects and designers are more aware of and concerned with resource conservation and sustainability, there is a trend toward reinvestigating colloquial methods and materials and that, somehow, these are inherently sustainable. While it is true that many of these methods are more environmentally sustainable, it is a mistake to assume that vernacular architecture is wholly sustainable.

When deciding on vernacular architecture’s level of sustainability it is as important to consider social conditions as it is building traditions. The built environment needs to respond to the things that make us human and not become limited by an architect’s or designer’s inability to consider those needs. Therefore, social sustainability is an important consideration when discussing the overall sustainability of a built environment. And social considerations can often be evident in vernacular architecture, however, in some cases, may need updating. That being said, vernacular architecture can offer solutions for sustainable building practices while preserving, or in some cases, reinventing regional identities.

Vernacular architecture is dependent on regional/local materials that are built in response to specific geographical, climatic, geological, and social conditions. By studying vernacular architecture, designers and architects can make informed design decisions about orientation, siting, and plantings that will help to create more sustainable methods of building, as well as employ methods or aesthetics that are reminiscent to the region.

References

Cromley, E. (2008). Cultural Embeddedness in Vernacular Architecture. Building Research &

            Information. 36:3, 301-304.

Ford, M., El Kadi, H., & Watson, L. (1999). The Relevance of GIS in the Elevation of Vernacular

            Architecture. Journal of Architectural Conservation. 5:3, 64-75. doi: 10.1080/13556207

            .1999.10785252

Foruzanmehr, A. & Vellinga, M. (2011). Vernacular Architecture:Questions of Comfort and

            Practability. Building Research & Information. 39:3, 274-285. doi: 10.1080/09613218

            .2011.562368

Heal, A., Paradise, C., Forster, W. (2006). The Vernacular as a Model for Sustainable Design.

            The 23^rd Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture.

Tiny Houses

Tiny House Studio Project

I am excited about the first studio assignment for this semester. The assignment is to design a 500 sq. ft. house that is easily replicable for a co-housing community in Franklinville, NC. The design must incorporate sustainable technologies and building practices to ensure that the project has a minimal lifetime footprint; from its inception to the structure’s end-life. The entire project will be a challenge, as there is a great deal of research that must occur in order to make appropriate design decisions. Perhaps most challenging, however, will be to be mindful of waste during the design process. As designers who need to design in an age of decreasing resources and increasing environmental concerns, it is imperative that we think about sustainability in the physical work that we do and not only in the structures and interiors that we create. This is an idea that I have not thought about before but, as challenging as it may be, it will be a priority for this project.

I am a firm believer that reviving or developing vernacular architecture is a major component of the green building movement and a key ingredient in sustainable design and building practices. For this project I intend to research the colloquial architecture of the past in the Piedmont of North Carolina, in which Franklinville is located. I also plan to pay special attention to the site, its orientation, climatic patterns, elevation, and its indigenous flora and fauna. I will also be interested in any gardening/planting traditions that may have been common to Franklinville and/or Randolph County that could be incorporated into the site’s design.

My goal is for my 500 sq. ft. design to easily accommodate two adults and possibly one child. Ideally, I want my design to be easily modified into a (slightly) larger space (700-1000 sq. ft.) to more easily accommodate a larger family.

I am currently in the “information-gathering” phase of my research and am a little overwhelmed by how much there is to learn. I would like to utilize a new skill that I learned last semester, developing a programming document, to sift through my research and help to inform my design decisions. I am enthusiastic and eager (if overwhelmed) to learn as much as I can. There is a lot to do!