When asked the question ‘What is vernacular architecture?’, there will be varying answers. And most of them are likely to be right. There is no set definition for what might be classified as vernacular architecture. There are, however, multiple parameters that are considered when categorising a particular building or style as vernacular architecture. These include material, construction technology, culture, and climate considerations. According to Amos Rapoport, the author of ‘House, Form and Culture’, the characteristics of vernacular buildings are “lack of theoretical or aesthetic pretensions; working with the site and micro-climate; respect for other people…and for the total environment;…”.
Material and climate in vernacular
One of the main aspects when deeming a building as vernacular is whether or not the construction material is of local origin. The use of local materials intricately connects the building with the land. There is a certain beauty in the scenery where the building becomes one with the land and its background as compared to the starkness that is created when using imported materials. In the book ‘Vernacular Architecture’, Henry Glassie states that there is a satisfaction that emerges when local materials are used. The process of cutting wood or gathering thatch for a roof creates a self-satisfaction in a person that cannot be obtained when sourcing tin or some other metal that is mined somewhere and processed in some factory where the resident of the building has no connection with the process.
Vernacular architecture is a part of tradition in a region’s culture. There is a set general form and general set of rules that are followed from generations with few modifications to the individual’s taste. Through trial and error over the generations, the local people understand how to best use the material resources that they have. They understand the way to use it. How best it can shield from the blazing sun or how some other material can insulate the residents to prevent them from having frostbite in the freezing cold. When shifting from local to industrialised materials, there is a loss in that knowledge. It becomes about the current trends and aesthetics just in looks. All knowledge of climate consideration is lost and there is no protection from external forces. In fact, more often than not, there may be adverse effects due to this shift. Let us take a look at some of these materials that were used to their advantage in vernacular architecture.
Adobe
In many parts of North America, local constructions used what are called adobe bricks. Adobe bricks are bricks made from a mixture of water, dirt and plant productions from the surrounding locations of the construction site. The exact materials used in the mixture and construction techniques for building vary upon the exact location in North America. For example, in a house in the Michoacán state of Mexico, the foundation uses volcanic stones that are abundant in that region. The roof is a timber truss framework with shingles. Another house that is in New Mexico USA, uses logs and grass with a thick layer of mud coated in adobe plaster as the roof. Adobe is easy to source and offers high thermal mass becoming a valuable asset for vernacular construction. In the modern day, where we are losing the traditional cultures of society and an increase in independence, modifications are being made to these buildings where concrete is mixed in with adobe or different plasters are used for lesser maintenance as compared to the needed yearly wash of adobe plaster.
Thatch
Thatch is a material that is primarily used for roofing. Thatch has a long history dating back to ancient times, with evidence of its use found in archaeological sites across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Thatch roofs were common in many cultures due to their ability to shed water effectively and provide insulation in both hot and cold climates. While there are numerous advantages to thatch like being a renewable source that is easily available and rapid to grow, it also requires regular maintenance which many people of today’s age find hard to do. Thus replacing the roof with metal shingles, corrugated sheets or such that are more durable and require less maintenance but offer no protection against the climate.
Bamboo
A plant that is found throughout the world, bamboo is a commonly found material in vernacular architecture buildings. While it can be found in a multitude of places around the world, Southeast Asia is where it is most prominent. It is used not only in vernacular buildings but also in many of today’s modern buildings as well. The types of bamboo found are different depending upon the region. The local climate and geography influence the varieties of bamboo found locally. Depending upon the variety, there is a change in the construction techniques used. Bamboo is a renewable source that offers flexibility as well as high compressive strength.
Culture and tradition in vernacular
Hierarchies and social relationships of a community come together to shape the structure and form of vernacular architecture. There is much that can be learnt about a community through the arrangement of spaces in a house. Or even the arrangement of buildings in relation to one another. Almost always there is a certain hierarchy that is present. Importance is given to religious buildings or buildings that belong to people with power. This can be seen in the scale or/and materials used. Materials that are less abundant are reserved for buildings of more prestige. The scale of these buildings is also much larger than those of the surrounding buildings making its presence more distinct. The arrangement of spaces such as the inclusion of a granary within the house could tell us that the community is more agriculture-oriented. The presence of no clear distinctions between spaces could tell us that it was more common for people to spend time outdoors than indoors or that the need for privacy wasn’t as necessary as it is in today’s world. Scholars around the world have done fieldwork in multiple places to gain knowledge about various types of buildings and the intricacies in the connections between buildings, culture, geography and other related variables.
In the vernacular settlements of Nirmand, Himachal Pradesh, India, the ground floor of the house is used to keep cattle. The door to this floor is the main entrance of the house. The clusters formed by dwellings in the village make shared private courtyards that serve as multifunctional spaces. They are used for sunbathing on cold days, outdoor cooking, festive gatherings, etc. Most of the village people’s functions are conducted outdoors while they use the indoors for cooking and sleeping.
Situated near a cliff, the Dogons make best use of the high plateau, cliff face and the plains below. They live with the landscape deeply connected to their lifestyle. The community is made up of houses, granaries, altars, sanctuaries and meeting places. Various typologies like the male granary, female granary and punulu (a house for menstruating women), show us a peek into the lifestyle lived by these people.
References:
- Rapoport, A. (1969). House form and culture. Englewood Cliffs, Nj: Prentice-Hall.
- Glassie, H.H. (2000). Vernacular architecture. Philadelphia: Material Culture ; Bloomington.
- Auroville Earth Institute. (n.d.). Taos Pueblo, USA. [online] Available at: https://dev.earth-auroville.com/taos-pueblo-usa/ [Accessed 15 July. 2024].
- Azevedo-Salomao, E.M. and Torres-Garibay, L.A. (2016). Vernacular Architecture in Michoacán. Constructive Tradition as a Response to the Natural and Cultural Surroundings. ATHENS JOURNAL OF ARCHITECTURE, 2(4), pp.313–326. doi:https://doi.org/10.30958/aja.2-4-4.
- malawiarchitecture. (n.d.). The Project. [online] Available at: https://www.malawiarchitecture.com/the-project [Accessed 25 Apr. 2024].
- Bhatt, F. (2023). Conserving continuously evolving cultural landscape case: vernacular settlement of village Nirmand, Himachal Pradesh, India. International Seminar on Vernacular Settlements, [online] 12, pp.398–412. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378653885_Cohabitation_of_people_and_animals_in_vernacular_settlements_Insight_from_Indonesian_villages.
- Centre, U.W.H. (n.d.). Cliff of Bandiagara (Land of the Dogons). [online] UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/516/#:~:text=The%20architecture%20of%20the%20Dogon [Accessed 25 Apr. 2024].
