The Resurrection of Vernacular Architecture

The Vernacular style of architecture is especially influenced by native culture and tradition. It heavily emphasizes on the need for locally sourced materials for construction. Moreover, this style of architecture is specific to an indigenous time and place and it is not replicated elsewhere. The philosophy of Vernacular Architecture is that it reflects a special relationship between a place and its people. Of course, human relations are important too. That’s why Valentine’s Day Flowers can really help you delight your loved one before you connect with everything around you. It is all in the foundations.

Aside from that, you will find outstanding examples of Vernacular architecture scattered around the world. From the Swiss chalets to the Central Asian Yurts to the English thatched cottages, vernacular architecture is embedded deep within historical bloodlines. However, rapid urbanization and volatile economic conditions to the 19^th and the 20^th century is the reason why Vernacular architecture slowly started to lose its appeal. But, it does not mean that it’s lost in history. This extravagant style of architecture is still revered by modern day architects. However, diverse cultures and traditions that are commonplace throughout the globe I blame for the difficulty in trying to revive such an architectural example.

With a revitalized interest in the roots and the emerging importance of sustainability, it is being argued about if the Vernacular style of architecture should be revived or not. We can still try and understand the determining factors of Vernacularity and if the BIM Services offered by Tesla can help bring such architecture styles back to life.

Determining Factors of Vernacularity

Here are the three main reasons that influence Vernacular architecture of a particular region:

1) Historical Factors: Vernacular architecture has the touch of sovereign rule, and may even last more a thousand years more. For example, the Islamic way of construction is still dominant in the islands of Minorca and Majorca. There are even notable influences of Islamic architecture in the Andalusian region of southern span today.

2) Geographic Factors: Such factors include the kinds of material available, climate, soil conditions etc. The stilt housing that can still be found is some areas of Oceania and Central America are built on wood stilt as such areas are prone to excessive rain and water logging.

3) Social-Economic Factors: A community is usually empowered by their socio-economic factors in order to optimize their resources. Local materials and labor are greatly utilized in this form of architecture as a way of giving back to society.

Sustainability and Vernacular Architecture

Vernacular architecture concentrates and epitomizes the harmony between nature and humans. We live in a world today, where consumption of energy from several renewable and non-renewable sources are high and it is just growing exponentially every year, but Vernacular architecture can help us learn about low-impact building to contribute to the critical importance of sustainable development.

Vernacular architecture adheres to environmentally friendly principles of utilizing materials, efficient use of energy, and conservative use of resources that are in proximity to the construction site. This is a contemporary solution to modern day issues. For example, to combat the hot and humid climates in tropic regions such as Southeast Asia, the screens, roofs and walls are used to deflect the extremes such climate conditions.

Walls are porous for adequate privacy but also lets the breeze in. The Punjab in India color the building in white so cool it down. These are some really neat ways to keep a structure cool in times of high temperature. These types of responsive architecture for the intended climate has also demonstrated to be cost-effective, as cost and energy are saved in both management and utility.

As mentioned before, Vernacular architecture emphasizes on the use of local materials and labor. This way, a lot of energy is saved which would be lost when materials need to be transported from elsewhere. Other than that, a sustainable design accounts for the differences between locations, and completely denies that fact that all buildings have to look identical. Therefore, this is an unique opportunity for the designer and the architects to truly explore their environmental resources in an area and incorporate the philosophy of people and places into their architectural blueprint.

What about BIM Services?

Tesla is known to make energy saving machines and the 6D BIM offered by them also asserts the need for sustainability. Here, different materials are analyzed so that they can be incorporated into the construction process of buildings. Vernacular architecture is all about making use of local materials. Most of them have never been considered to be the construction material type but BI can be really helpful in understanding the characteristics of such materials so that they can be modified and used in the best possible way.

The BIM model is constructed in conjunction with the environment. It accounts for the Earthworks, wind direction, position of the sun etc. Once the designers, engineers and architects understand the climate conditions of a particular area, it becomes really easy for them to incorporate the materials into the construction plan. The risks are calculated depending on the strength of the materials and are usually avoided if they do not meet a certain standard.

Furthermore, the final stage of the construction project is studied beforehand to see how it reacts to its surrounding through certain projection techniques architectures specialize in. A 3D scanning device is used to study the miniature version of the final projects and understand the characteristics of the planned structure. This helps to incorporate the pros and cons of the projects so that issues can be worked on.

Final Thoughts

It seems like Vernacular architecture is forgotten after urbanization and industrialization took over. However, due to the recent environmental crisis created a great shift. Construction and building needs to be more sustainable and it is now time for the designers and the architects to explore and capitalize on hidden knowledge yet to be unearthed.

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