VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE. . . . . . .

Farheen Bano

Ve r n a c u l a r Ar c h i t e c t u r e
DEFINITIONS. . . . . . .
The term vernacular is derived from the Latin vernaculus, meaning "domestic, native,
indigenous. Hence it means native science of building.
The shape is usaully studied to answer the climate limit conditions: for istance the Arabic house answers to the daily
temperature range and the strong solar radiation using raw earth bricks covered by white quicklime. And the same typology
was developed in central America by Indios and in Mediterrean area.
To protect from the intense rain in the tropical climate the hut shape was developed using wood, piling structure, wattle
and broad sloped roof made by leaves. The same hut is present in Madagascar, Carabeans and Polynesia.
Vernacular architecture is a category of architecture based on localized needs
and construction materials, and reflecting local traditions.
Ve r n a c u l a r Ar c h i t e c t u r e
DEFINITIONS. . . . . . .
The term "vernacular architecture" in
general refers to the informal building
of structures through traditional
building methods by local builders
without using the services of a
professional architect. It is the most
widespread form of building.
Vernacular architecture stems from the belief that architecture is a balanced
combination of
logical knowledge,
divine inspiration and
common sense
RURAL HOUSE, VENETO, ITALY
Architecture without architects
Ve r n a c u l a r Ar c h i t e c t u r e
DEFINITIONS. . . . . . .
It is based on :
localized need,
construction materials, and
local traditions.

Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental,
cultural, technological, and historical context in which it exists.

It is an epitome of place to which it belongs. It cannot be imported from elsewhere.
The architecture of the people, By the people and
for the people.
- OLIVER
Ve r n a c u l a r Ar c h i t e c t u r e
SOME FAMOUS WORDS. . . . . . .
It is a building designed by an amateur without any training in
design The function of the building would be the dominant
factor, aesthetic considerations, though present to some small degree, being
quite minimal Local materials would be used as a matter of
course, other materials being chosen and imported quite exceptionally
-RONALD BRUNSKILL

"Folk building growing in response to actual needs,
fitted into environment by people who knew no better than
to fit them with native feeling"
-FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
Ve r n a c u l a r Ar c h i t e c t u r e
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND. . . . . . .
Architecture designed by professional architects is usually not considered to
be a vernacular as process of consciously designing a building makes it non-
vernacular
Many modern architects have studied vernacular buildings and claimed to
draw inspiration from them, including aspects of the vernacular in their designs
In 1946 Egyptian Architect Hassan Fathy who was appointed to design the
town of New Gourna ,studied traditional Nubian settlements and technologies
and incorporated traditional mudbrick vaults of Nubian settlements in his
design. Though this attempt failed due to socioeconomic reasons but the
attempt is considered to be first recorded event.
Thereafter Srilankan architect Geoffrey Bawa pioneered the regionalism in
architecture of south Asia .Similarly Charles Correa , Balkrishna Doshi ,Raj
Rewal and so on are found taking references and inspiration from vernacular
architecture in their design.
Ve r n a c u l a r Ar c h i t e c t u r e
SYNONYMOUS TERMS . . . . . . .
ancestral or traditional architecture
primitive or aboriginal architecture
indigenous architecture
folk, popular, or rural architecture
ethnic architecture or ethno-architecture
informal architecture
the so-called "anonymous architecture" or "architecture without
architects;"
non-pedigree architecture
eco-friendly architecture