In a world where trends change every day, vernacular architecture is a style anchored to tradition and history. It serves as a constant inspiration to architects across the globe. Read on to learn more about it.
What is Vernacular Architecture?
An architectural style that evolves from the needs of the region—rather than individual tastes, current trends or aesthetic considerations—can be termed as vernacular. It develops organically and is shaped by indigenous cultures, climatic conditions, geographical features and locally available materials. Vernacular architecture can loosely be defined as architecture of the masses.
What are the Typical Features and Benefits of Vernacular Architecture?
Since vernacular architecture is unique to each location, architectural features evolve locally over time. However, a few typical characteristics persist in vernacular structures of every region.
Material Usage:
The style emerged from the basic need for shelter for survival, thus leading to the use of locally available and easily accessible materials, such as soil, stones and wood from the same site.
Cost:
Materials are generally sourced from the site itself, and local community members function as labourers in constructing vernacular structures. This results in a drastic reduction in overall cost.
Effect of Environmental Conditions:
Site topography, terrain and vegetation are major factors that influence building orientation and built forms, while passive design strategies such as shading devices (for rain and sun), insulating elements and wind-catchers are developed to withstand local micro-climates.
Functionality and Adaptability:
Vernacular structures develop mainly from the specific needs of the community, with functionality being the core aspect. They evolve to accommodate the growing and changing needs of the community.
Cultural and Historical Basis:
Predominantly based on wisdom gained from generations past, vernacular structures are representative of local history and traditions. They arise from the specific needs and cultural ethos of the people who use it and adapt to accommodate their growing requirements.
Sustainability:
Although the term ‘sustainability’ originally emerged during the late 20th century, its principles have been adopted in vernacular structures for centuries. Built forms with reduced carbon footprints, which are in close proximity to nature, make these structures a seamless blend of history and eco-conscience.
What are the Limitations of Vernacular Architecture?
Although vernacular architecture presents a seemingly ideal style to combat sustainability, there are certain limitations which can hinder its practical development.
Loss of Historical Knowledge:
Since vernacular architecture evolves over multiple centuries, knowledge of a lot of essential methodologies that made such structures successful in the past, may be lost over subsequent generations, resulting in inefficiency.
Labour Requirements:
Technological evolution has resulted in faster, machine-intensive construction, while vernacular architecture is still heavily dependent on manual labour. Difficulty in finding skilled labour is also caused due to the labour-intensive methodologies of this style.
Urban Development:
Rapid urbanisation has led to difficulty in sourcing local materials and extensive transportation is often required to bring materials from outer fringes of cities to the actual construction site, thereby increasing cost. Size of plots have also drastically reduced, rendering obsolete some of the methodologies that were historically developed to maximise natural sunlight and ventilation.
Vernacular Architecture Through History
Throughout history, architecture has provided an accurate means of recording significant historical events, giving an insight into local culture and traditions prevailing through different eras. Houses, religious structures, cultural centres and industrial buildings are representatives of these cultures which have survived the political turmoils of various centuries. In India, these structures were built based on their climatic zones and terrain conditions.
A map showing the six climatic zones of India
Image source: https://www.saurenergy.com/solar-energy-articles/mono-vs-poly-a-climatic-study-in-cold-zones
Traditional Houses of Kerala:
In Kerala, residences are shaped by halls arranged around a central courtyard to combat the warm and humid climate. Known as nalukettu (4 halls), ettukettu (8 halls) and pathinaarukettu (16 halls), these homes feature sloping tiled roofs, thick brick or masonry walls and semi-open verandahs designed to alleviate heavy rains and hot summers. The principles of Vastu Shastra—an ancient Indian philosophy based on science and allocating optimised orientations to every room—guide the basic design of these houses.
Dhajji Dewari Construction in Kashmir:
Another representative of historical vernacular architecture is the Dhajji Dewari construction based in Kashmir. Timber frames infilled with brick or stone, packed with mud mortar and finished with mud plaster, characterise this construction technology that helps battle the cold and dry climate in the region. Timber frames combined with stone foundations and symmetric forms ensure that these structures are earthquake resistant.
Hindu Temples:
Ancient Hindu temples were also designed differently based on their geographical locations – Nagara (North India), Dravida (South India) and Vesara (Central India). While the core principles of Vastu Shastra were kept intact in all three styles, they differed from each other in their planning and form. Nagara temples featured curvilinear towers above their garbhagriha (inner sanctum) and Dravida temples were crowned with pyramidal structures, while Vesara temples were a blend of the other two. Temples like the Brihadeshwara temple in Thanjavur (built in the 11th century) are considered to be architectural marvels, with their construction techniques being analysed even today.
Historical vernacular built forms bestow us with ancient knowledge gained through centuries of trial and error and serve as a guiding factor for new age architecture.
Vernacular Architecture Today
Globalisation, combined with the evolution of architectural styles and construction technologies, has led to a paradigm shift in contemporary architecture. However, vernacular methods and principles continue to inspire numerous modern day designs due to their inherent quality of sustainability.
Auroville Township Southern India:
Auroville is one such experimental township in Southern India, where buildings are designed in coherence with their natural environment. Integration of rainwater harvesting systems and domestic waste treatment plants, with the use of local resources such as mud blocks and rammed earth, has helped create truly sustainable communities.
The Rajkumari Ratnavati School in Jaisalmer :
The Rajkumari Ratnavati School in Jaisalmer, designed by Diana Kellogg Architects, also uses vernacular principles to create a modern and functional structure. Jaalis and structure made with locally hand-carved Jaisalmer sandstone, combined with solar panel canopies and the elliptical form of the building, enable maximum airflow in the hot and dry region, while ensuring a reduced carbon footprint.
Pioneers of Vernacular Architecture in Contemporary Practice:
Prominent architects like Hassan Fathy, Laurie Baker, BV Doshi, Anupama Kundoo and Chitra Vishwanath (Biome Environmental Solutions) are paving the way forward for young architects, with their designs serving as prime examples of vernacular architecture adapted to fulfil contemporary urban needs.
Architecture for Tomorrow
Today’s architecture is increasingly defined by mass produced structures that are highly derivative of global trends. This is leading to the production of buildings resembling glass boxes, that are neither sensitive to the local climate nor reflective of regional cultures.
Invoking a sense of character, identity and singularity, vernacular structures keep the cultural and historic significance of a region alive, while also giving a boost to local economies through employment. With the rising threat of global warming, vernacular architectural design—combined with contemporary construction technology—can play a significant role in creating a more sustainable tomorrow for future generations.
FAQs
One of the most famous examples of vernacular architecture is the traditional Japanese minka, characterized by its wooden construction, steeply pitched roofs, and open interior spaces designed to adapt to the climate and lifestyle. Other notable examples include the Adobe houses in the American Southwest, Tudor-style cottages in England, and rondavels in Southern Africa, each reflecting local materials and cultural practices.
The principle of vernacular architecture is to use local materials, traditional building techniques, and design methods that respond to the environmental, cultural, and social conditions of a specific region. It emphasizes functionality, sustainability, and harmony with the local context, often reflecting the accumulated knowledge and practices of the community.