Vernacular architecture, also referred to as traditional or regional architecture, is essentially the simplest form of architecture. Adhering to the basic human need for shelter, vernacular architecture produces energy-efficient buildings regionally. The style seems to have been long forgotten with the advent of the industrial revolution and globalisation.
Contemporary architecture has come a long way from what we began with. Although we moved away from the traditional architectural style because of its limitations and picked up on the opportunities that technological advancements presented us with, we need not discard every aspect of the regional architectural style.
We can learn from and adapt many features of vernacular architecture, especially the regional contextualism that creates sustainable buildings. In this article, we will explore how vernacular architectural elements can create sustainable buildings when incorporated into contemporary architecture.
What is Vernacular Architecture?
Vernacular architecture simply means indigenous local architecture that involves using locally sourced materials in response to the regional climate. Vernacular architecture is the simplest form of architecture that addresses the basic needs of human shelter. It also resonates with social values and gives the architecture a regional identity.
Structures are built-in perfect harmony with the natural environment, considering parameters like geography, topography, site, climate, etc. Local artisans build these structures using local techniques. This regional architecture style invariably creates green buildings with low energy requirements.
What is Contemporary Architecture?
Contemporary architecture is the architecture we see today. It can be a mix of several design styles. Contemporary architecture cannot have a rigid definition as it is constantly changing. However, it is primarily a derivative of the modern style of architecture.
High-rise buildings with little to no ornamentation and a focus on the function of the building, instead of the form are the key features of contemporary style. Additionally, the style focuses on the use of modern materials and construction techniques. The contemporary architecture style produces high-tech and futuristic buildings that may or may not respond to the climate of the region.
Globalisation allowed us to use materials from anywhere across the globe, but it resulted in non-regional, generic buildings that often have no regard for the context in which they are situated. It has also led to a loss of character and culture in the built environment.
The difference between vernacular and contemporary architecture is that vernacular architecture focuses on local materials, regional climate, and human shelter while contemporary architecture focuses on the use of modern materials and construction techniques.
Characteristics of Vernacular Architecture
Vernacular architecture is referred to as traditional architecture. The ‘architecture before the architect’ was simplistic, aiming at providing shelter. It evolved as civilizations grew and slowly took on social and cultural roles.
A few defining characteristics of vernacular architecture are as follows:
01. Regionalism
Vernacular architecture is essentially regional architecture. The buildings belong to the region they’re situated in, which means they are site-specific. It is not possible to place them anywhere else. Every site has a set of parameters that will have to be considered while designing a form. The most important of them all is the regional climate and land topography. It is the vernacular architecture that responds to the climate of the region. The importance of vernacular architecture lies in its response to the region’s climate, fostering sustainable and climate-conscious building practices.
A Bhunga house in Kutch responds perfectly to the hot and dry climate of the region. The circular form, the heightened roof, and the small size of the fenestrations all contribute to making the space ambient and keeping the interiors cooler than the exteriors. The house works perfectly in that climate.
02. Materiality
The use of locally sourced materials is another defining feature of Vernacular architecture. The materials used are in their raw form. The structures also adhere to local building techniques that the local artisans use. Vernacular structures are made using mud walls or mud bricks, stone, wood, thatch, clay tiles, and other natural materials.
The Kath-Kuni houses in the Himalayan region, for instance, use wood and stone. The locals craft these houses themselves; the knowledge is passed down from one generation to another. Wood and stone are interlocked in layers to make the walls, which are then topped by a slate roof. These structures stand tall with typical plans. Their materiality speaks for their identity, with soft wooden tones against the cold stone, hard material against the soft, and smooth against the rough textures.
03. Sustainability
Vernacular architecture is essentially sustainable, as the buildings are contextual. The embodied energy required to make the buildings is less as the materials are locally sourced, and they also respond adequately to the climate of the region. Passive strategies are used in vernacular architecture, making it more environment-friendly.
For instance, courtyards in houses, particularly in hot and dry climate zones induce air flow, thus ventilating the building. Other examples of passive strategies include roof overhangs to shade the space, thereby reducing heat gain. The presence of openings on the opposite walls induceccross-ventilation Thus, the design of vernacular architecture produces green buildings.
An enticing example of sustainability is St.Andrews Girls Hostel in Gurugram. It features a distinguished exterior and a free-standing façade enriched with hollow pigmented concrete blocks and bricks. The double skin façade creates a semi-permeable layer that helps in shading and controlling the temperature between exterior and interior environments. Additionally, the hostel design allows students to move freely within the environment, which focuses on thermal comfort and functionality to become a zero-energy design.
04. Cultural Appropriation
Vernacular architecture is a product of people, places, and cultures. Since it is unique to a specific region, it creates a sense of identity for the place. Vernacular architecture becomes a part of the cultural identity of the people of the region. It fosters their connection with the land and validates their cultural practices.
People get a sense of belonging to the region because the architecture unifies the imagery of the region. Vernacular architecture also responds to the social needs of people, which in turn makes it part of the culture.
Consider the example of Nalakettu houses in Kerela. The courtyard is at the heart of the design, with rooms around it to form a square plan. These houses were created that way to house generations of large joint families that share the common rooms. The courtyard acts as a common space where family gatherings and celebrations take place. Culture and vernacular architecture are interdependent as they influence and impact each other.
Why did we move away from Vernacular Architecture?
Despite the several advantages of vernacular architecture, as needs changed, we drifted away from the traditional architectural style. The vernacular architecture style comes with a set of limitations:
01. Structural Constraints
Using local materials in raw form supported only two-to-three storey structures. Going higher meant using thicker walls and larger sections, which in turn made the building less efficient.
02. Time for Construction
Local artisans and craftsmen make vernacular structures. The techniques used to build also vary regionally, and only a limited set of people are skilled at them. As only a few people possess the knowledge and skill set to build vernacular structures, the time for construction is significantly high.
03. Invention of Modern Materials
These limitations overpowered the advantages of vernacular architecture, and with the invention of modern materials, the world shifted towards contemporary architecture.
Why have Architects started turning towards Vernacular Techniques?
After World War II, there was an urgent need to relocate the displaced population, and rebuild cities. Hence, the world shifted to modernism. This entailed high-density mass housing projects, high-rise commercial complexes, and large-scale industries. Technological advancement and new-age materials made this kind of architecture possible. However, modern architecture missed an essential point of consideration: the environment.
By the first decade of the 21st century, Contemporary architecture had consumed more than half of the world’s resources. It has also significantly contributed to greenhouse gas emissions and the multitude of waste-generation processes.
To tackle this, we have now come up with sustainable architecture practices. These aim to reduce the impact the built environment has on the planet. Green building certifications are given to buildings that use alternative techniques to minimise the negative consequences. Sustainable architecture not only tries to have a smaller carbon footprint but also takes into consideration the life cycle of the building. It promotes the use of renewable energy sources like solar power and wind energy to create net-zero buildings.
There are many architectural firms like Biome Environmental Solutions, Auroma Group, Kamath Design Studio, Footprints E.A.R.T.H., Made in Earth, and many more that are harnessing traditional/ vernacular architecture to build the homes of the future with sustainability in mind. Sustainable architecture encourages the use of features of vernacular architecture like contextuality and its collaboration with modern construction techniques.
Merging the Two Styles: Vernacular and Contemporary
The result of merging the two styles, i.e., vernacular and contemporary architecture, creates contemporary vernacular architecture that is true to its roots yet manages to satisfy today’s needs. Incorporating vernacular elements in design allows us to re-establish the connection with the region while reducing the harmful impact buildings have on the environment. From the use of local materials to adopting passive design strategies, a lot can be borrowed from traditional architecture. Hence, we can use vernacular architecture as a model for contemporary design.
Examples of Contemporary Vernacular Architecture
The following case studies give a distinct account of the applicability of vernacular traditions to create a contemporary architecture that forms contemporary vernacular architecture.
01. Gavião Viewpoint Amazon Lodge, Novo Airao, Brazil by Atelier O’Reilly
Located in Nova Airão, along the banks of Rio Negro in the Amazon forest, this hotel is a paramount example of contemporary vernacular architecture. The design takes inspiration from traditional wooden boats. It looks like an inverted boat elevated with the use of stilts. This allows ventilation, thus reducing internal temperatures. The structure is also well integrated with the surroundings.
The use of indigenous plant species for landscape, rainwater harvesting, the use of solar energy, waste management and composting, effluent treatment, and the involvement of local craftsmen are a few features that make this building sustainable. The built form rests on the landscape, however, it has a minimal impact on it.
Several studies have been conducted on this contemporary vernacular structure that amalgamates traditional boat-building techniques with modern technologies like solar electric energy. The results of the climate study of insolation, rainfall, ventilation, relative humidity, etc. indicated the structure is regional and thus sustainable.
02. Caring Wood, Kent, the United Kingdom by James Macdonald Wright and Niall Maxwell
The Caring Wood home is a contemporary vernacular structure that embodies the spirit of an English Country home. It is a family home for three generations of the same family. Situated in Kent, UK, the site was formally woodland. Thus, restoring the lost glory of the land became an important aspect of the design, which had two categories: architecture (of the house and the estate, the manager’s cottage), and landscape.
The terrain is hilly, so the architects James Macdonald Wright and Niall Maxwell decided to create structures that were ‘off the hill’, instead of merely placing them on the hill. The plan consisted of four wings arranged in a pinwheel shape around the central courtyard. One of the most striking features of the design is the cluster of oast roofs, the form makes a bold yet complementing statement against the backdrop of lush hills.
The structure adopts a few elements from Kentish vernacular architecture that are evident in its material palette and site configuration. The roof has handmade peg tiles from Sussex, and the other materials are locally sourced. The ragstone is from Maidstone, the terracotta floor tiles are from Ashford, and the coppiced chestnut cladding is from Lewes.
The central courtyard enhances thermal comfort. The oast roofs culminate with skylights, creating lightwells and luminous interiors. The use of vernacular materials in conjunction with modern techniques and the revitalization of the site make this contemporary vernacular structure sustainable.
03. Pearl Academy of Fashion, Jaipur, India by Morphogenesis
The Pearl Academy of Fashion in Jaipur by Morphogenesis is an environmentally responsive passive habitat. Situated in the hot and dry climate of Jaipur, the design of this institute is such that it combines contemporary architecture with traditional passive technologies.
The whole institute is above ground, with a central sunken courtyard that acts as a natural thermal sink. The water body in the central space cools this atmosphere through evaporative cooling, during the day. At night, the heat trapped in the floor releases, making the temperature ambient.
Enveloped in double-skin walls, the building uses features of vernacular architecture. The outer layer has perforated screens, which is a reinterpretation of the traditional jali. These, along with drip channels that run along them, reduce the temperature of the incident wind, thus passively cooling the building.
The design of the institute also incorporates other features of Rajasthani architecture, like shaded courts and step wells that form recreational and communal zones for the students. This contemporary vernacular building successfully achieves self-sufficiency using modern materials and traditional climate-responsive techniques.
04. Brick House, Wada, Mumbai, India by iSTUDIO
An example of contemporary vernacular architecture in India is the Brick House in Wada, Mumbai. Climatology governs the Brick House amidst the rural settlements of Wada, Mumbai. Laurie Baker’s architectural style inspired the structure. The form of this contemporary vernacular design is organic, with walls merging into the roof. The spaces inside seamlessly blend into one another and are bound by the central courtyard, which also houses the water body. This ensures thermal comfort within the space through the method of evaporative cooling.
The massing of the structure shades the courtyard, keeping it cool. The material palette is mostly natural, consisting of mud bricks, stone, bamboo, tree trunks, terracotta pots for filler slabs, and wood. The size and orientation of the fenestrations aid cross-ventilation within the structure.
The use of a jali curved wall further enhances the thermal comfort within the space. Eco-friendly technologies creating dynamic spaces have resulted in this cost-efficient contemporary vernacular home.
05. Chrirath Residence, Pala, India by Wallmakers
Chirath Residence is a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional Kerala architecture. The client wanted it to be an expression of a new light or a new outlook on age-old traditions. The architect thus decided to break the roof, allowing maximum light inside the structure.
The house is mostly made of recycled waste and mud, making it truly sustainable. Innovative techniques used to make this contemporary vernacular home include shuttered debris walls, ferro cement shell roofs, terracotta tile jali, refurbished wood for furniture, window grills made of scrap reinforcement bars, etc.
The design also incorporates features of climate-responsive architecture like a pond for evapotranspiration, passive cooling, and rainwater harvesting tanks. This deconstructed traditional house utilises the good and tweaks it to make a contemporary statement.
Vernacular architecture has several advantages that have diminished with the advent of globalisation and the invention of modern materials. Traditional methods are now coming back into the limelight because of their climate-responsive approach and low impact on the environment. This traditional wisdom, combined with modern construction technologies, paves the way for a sustainable future. Surely, Contemporary vernacular architecture is our blueprint for a sustainable future.
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Author Bio
Saili Sawantt – She is an Architect and Interior Designer by profession. Writing is what she treats as her passion. She has worked as an Architectural Writer, Editor, and Journalist for various design as well as digital portals, both national and international. Formerly she has also worked with Godrej Properties Limited (GPL) Design Studio, Mumbai, due to her keen interested in learning about Sustainability and Green buildings. Apart from this, she runs her blog ‘The Reader’s Express’ and is a practicing Architect & Interior Designer.
