A new vernacular architecture that recognize the architectural achievements of its culture and, at the same time, alleviated its technological defects (becoming more in-tune with the contemporary needs of its inhabitants) it’s a real possibility, and it may provide a solution to the recent and future catastrophes that may impacted the region.
…little is gained by romanticism or special pleading, and nothing is gained by overlooking the limitations, the defects, the structural and climatic failures of vernacular means while striving to document the success. P.126
This ‘new vernacular’ will focus on these 4 basic principles:
1-Elite vernacular (Great tradition): tradition developed and passed on thru generations. ‘…embody the greatest intellectual and aesthetic achievements of the culture-reflective and self-conscious’ p144
I.e. The use of adobe construction and/or stone construction and slate roof seams to be a ‘great’ tradition of social stature.
2-Folk vernacular (little tradition): Younger than the elite vernacular, folk vernacular is non-reflective and unselfconscious. In most cases folk vernacular is the resulting effect of cultural or Intra-cultural diffusion of building techniques and technology.
I.e. It is evident that western building influence in Nepal has had a rippling effect on the outskirts communities. Now in popular use, corrugated, galvanized sheet metal its part of the folk tradition of communities such as Sanfe Bagar .
3-New vernacular: Application of contemporary/western technological knowledge to the vernacular architecture of the area.
I.e. The application of research such as that conducted by the Seismic Area Building Experts (SABE) on adobe walls reinforcement in seismic zone. The use of western knowledge on how to protect the structures against monsoon season.
4-levels of spatial resiliency: see installation leaf named conceptual model/installation or go to
http://studiowikitecture.wikidot.com/forum/t-29525/spatial-resiliency#post-74758
Repetition of a new-vernacular:
The concept of repetition came from the idea that most craftsmen of vernacular architecture “used neither drawn plans nor written calculations:’ their entire technological knowledge was based exclusively on memory and was reduced to the repetition, in practical action, of a few basic models…” p.150 Thus, given that adobe construction has a repetitive nature to it as well, I am proposing a building bay or module which can be used to compose any building layout. The modular design will allow us the flexibility to adapt to site conditions yet unknown.
Dimensions of the module:
Leght:5 meters
Width:3.5 meters
Height: 3 meters
Width of wall: 0.5 meters
2L Models:
OPEN: this could be seen as the day-by-day ‘setting’. I tried to focus on the idea of a building bay that could be spatially porous, welcoming inhabitants and passer-by’s to come in. The module provides two urban spaces that seem to be common on this region: a covered pathway and a covered sitting area.
CLOSED/PROTECTED: this collapsed ‘setting’ protects the structure thru the monsoon season or any catastrophic event that may take place.
EXTENDED/RESILIENT: This could be seen as the ‘epidemiological setting’ providing extended shelter to accommodate large quantities of patients. The light partitions (possibly made out of a combination of bamboo and/or canvas) could be retracted or expanded on demand. (The wall beyond the modular unit was used as a way to provide a terminus to this extended ‘setting and is not part of the modular unit’)
Reference and some terminology from: “built to meet needs: cultural issues in vernacular architecture” by Paul Oliver
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