Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize a method of construction which uses locally available resources to address local needs. It tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it exists. It has often been dismissed as crude and unrefined, but also has proponents who highlight its importance in current design. In contrast to planned architecture by architects the building knowledge in vernacular architecture is often transported by local traditions and is thus more but not only based on knowledge achieved by trial and error and often handed down through the generations rather than calculated on knowledge of geometry and physics. This of course does not exclude architects from using vernacular architecture in their designs or being firmly based in their regional vernacular architecture. For the similarities to "traditional architecture" see below. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... In large construction projects, such as skyscrapers, cranes are essential. ... This article is about biological evolution. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The word culture, from the Latin colo, -ere, with its root meaning to cultivate, generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. ... History is often used as a generic term for information about the past, such as in geologic history of the Earth. When used as the name of a field of study, history refers to the study and interpretation of the record of human societies. ... ConTeXt is a document preparation system based on the TeX typesetting system. ... All Saints Chapel in the Cathedral Basilica of St. ...

Two-story outhouse in Gays, Illinois

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1104x1928, 548 KB) Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1104x1928, 548 KB) Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Outhouse near Crabapple Lake, USA, with chipboard walls, and a fiberglass ceiling This article refers to an outhouse, privy or kybo that is an old type of toilet in a small structure separate from the main building which does not have a flush or sewer attached. ... The Gays water tower Gays is a village in Moultrie County, Illinois, United States. ...

Derivation and Definition

The term vernacular is derived from the Latin vernaculus - a slave quarter at the back of the master's garden - In terms of language, vernacular refers to language use particular to a time, place or group. In architecture it refers to that type of architecture which is indigenous to a specific time or place (not imported or copied from elsewhere). It is most often used to apply to residential buildings.^[1] Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... Wiktionary has related dictionary definitions, such as: slave Slave may refer to: Slavery, where people are owned by others, and live to serve their owners without pay Slave (BDSM), a form of sexual and consenual submission Slave clock, in technology, a clock or timer that synchrnonizes to a master clock... A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. ... The word indigenous is an adjective derived from the Latin word indigena, meaning native, belonging to, aboriginal; and has several applications: Indigenous peoples, communities and cultures native or indigenous to a territory; Indigenous (band), a Native American blues-rock band; In biology, indigenous means native to a place or biota... A residential area is a type of land use where the predominant use is residential. ... Buildings are combinatorial structures on which groups act; the theory of buildings was introduced by Jacques Tits and expounded in Kenneth S. Browns excellent monograph Buildings. ...

The term is not to be confused with so-called "traditional" architecture, though there are links between the two. Vernacular architecture may, through time, be adopted and refined into culturally accepted solutions, but only through repetition may it become "traditional." Traditional architecture can also include temples and palaces, for example, which would not be included usually in the rubric of "vernacular." In Japan, for example, not all pre-modern architecture is "vernacular," which would usually refer only to rural buildings and structures. In the US, vernacular architecture might refer to a so-called craftsman bungalow, fashionable in the nineteenth century, even though the bungalow as an architectural form did not originate in the US. "Vernacular" might even refer to a building like the 1848 Duncan House in Cooksville, Wisconsin despite the fact that the white man was not indigenous to the continent. All in all, the use of the term "vernacular" can be quite ambiguous. The word temple has different meanings in the fields of architecture, religion, geography, anatomy, and education. ... The quintessential medieval European palace: Palais de la Cité, in Paris, the royal palace of France. ... Look up Structure in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... United States may refer to: Places: United States of America SS United States, the fastest ocean liner ever built. ... A row of bungalows in Virginia A bungalow (Gujarati: , Hindi: ) is a type of single storey house. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1848 (MDCCCXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Cooksville is a village in McLean County, Illinois, United States. ... Official language(s) None Capital Madison Largest city Milwaukee Area  Ranked 23rd  - Total 65,498 sq mi (169,790 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 310 miles (500 km)  - % water 17  - Latitude 42°30N to 47°3N  - Longitude 86°49W to 92°54W Population  Ranked... Animated, colour-coded map showing the various continents. ...

Literature

An early work in the defense of vernacular was Bernard Rudofsky's 1964 book Architecture Without Architects: a short introduction to non-pedigreed architecture, based on his MoMA exhibition. The book was a reminder of the legitimacy and "hard-won knowledge" inherent in vernacular buildings, from Polish salt-caves to gigantic Syrian water wheels to Moroccan desert fortresses, and was considered iconoclastic at the time. Rudofsky was, however, very much a Romantic who viewed native populations in a historical bubble of contentment. Rudofsky's book was also based largely on photographs and not on on-site study. Bernard Rudofsky (April 13 1905 - 1988) was an Austrian-born American writer, architect, collector, teacher, designer, and social historian. ... Bernard Rudofsky trained in Europe and built a house in Brazil before moving to the US and writing Architecture Without Architects. ... General Electric GE90-115B fanblade, on display at MOMA. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. ... Wieliczka is a town (2005 population: 18,590) in southern Poland in the Kraków metropolitan area, and situated (since 1999) in Lesser Poland Voivodship, previously (1975-1998) in Kraków Voivodship. ... Literally, iconoclasm is the destruction of religious icons and other sacred images or monuments, usually for religious or political motives. ... Wanderer above the sea of fog by Caspar David Friedrich Romanticism is an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in 18th century Western Europe. ... A photograph (often just called a photo) is an image (or a representation of that on e. ...

A more serious work is the Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World published in 1997 by Paul Oliver of the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development. Oliver has argued that vernacular architecture, given the insights it gives into issue of environmental adaptation, will be necessary in the future to "ensure sustainability in both cultural and economic terms beyond the short term." Christopher Alexander, in his book A Pattern Language, attempted to identify adaptive features of traditional architecture that apply across cultures. Howard Davis's book The Culture of Building details the culture that enabled several vernacular traditions. The Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World is a three-volume encyclopedia detailing the traditional architecture of the world, by cultural region. ... Paul Oliver is a researcher at the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development. ... Sustainable development has also been defined as the process of balancing the need of humans for economic and social development with the need to protect the natural and built environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but in the indefinite future. ... Christopher Alexander (born October 4, 1936 in Vienna, Austria) is an architect noted for his theories about design, and for more than 200 building projects in California, Japan, Mexico and around the world. ... A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction is a 1977 book on architecture. ... Howard Davis is an American architect, writer and professor of architecture at the University of Oregon in Eugene. ... The Culture of Building (Oxford University Press) is a 2000 book by Howard Davis that details the culture that enabled several vernacular architecture traditions. ...

Aalto's Viipuri Municipal Library), the first manifestation of regional modernism.

Some extend the term vernacular to include any architecture outside the academic mainstream. The term "commercial vernacular," popularized in the late 1960s by the publication of Robert Venturi's "Learning from Las Vegas," refers to 20th century American suburban tract and commercial architecture. There is also the concept of an "industrial vernacular" with its emphasis on the aesthetics of shops, garages and factories. Some have linked vernacular with "off-the-shelf" aesthetics. In any respect, those who study these types of vernaculars hold that the low-end characteristics of this aesthetic define a useful and fundamental approach to architectural design. Image File history File links VIPlibrary. ... Image File history File links VIPlibrary. ... Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto (February 3, 1898 — May 11, 1976) was a Finnish architect and designer, sometimes called the Father of Modernism in the Nordic countries. ... Auditorium of the Viipuri Municipal Library in the 1930s. ... Plato is credited with the inception of academia: the body of knowledge, its development and transmission across generations. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... Robert Charles Venturi (June 25, 1925 -) is an award winning American architect. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... Illustration of the backyards of a surburban neighbourhood Suburbs are inhabited districts located either on the outer rim of a city or outside the official limits of a city (the term varies from country to country), or the outer elements of a conurbation. ... The Parthenons facade showing an interpretation of golden rectangles in its proportions. ... In commerce, a retailer buys goods or products in large quantities from manufacturers or importers, either directly or through a wholesaler, and then sells individual items or small quantities to the general public or end user customers, usually in a shop, also called store. ... Garage - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... A factory (previously manufactory) is a large industrial building where goods or products are manufactured. ...

Among those who study vernacular architecture are those who are interested in the question of everyday life and those lean toward questions of sociology. In this, many were influenced by The Practice of Everyday Life (1974) by Michel de Certeau. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Originally published as (1974). ... Michel de Certeau (Chambéry, 1925- Paris, 9 January 1986) was a French Jesuit and scholar whose work combined psychoanalysis, philosophy, and the social sciences. ...

An architect whose work that exemplifies the modern take on vernacular architecture would be Samuel Mockbee, whose pioneering work with Rural Studio is well-regarded and widely discussed amongst practicing architects and academics alike. Christopher Alexander and Paolo Soleri have a body of work which Samuel Sambo Mockbee (1944-2001) started the Auburn University Rural Studio program in Alabama, America in 1991 with the help of fellow professor D.K. Ruth. ... The Rural Studio is a design-build architecture studio run by Auburn University which aims to teach students about the social responsibilities of the profession of architecture while also providing safe, well-constructed and inspirational homes and buildings for poor communities in rural west Alabama, part of the so-called... Christopher Alexander (born October 4, 1936 in Vienna, Austria) is an architect noted for his theories about design, and for more than 200 building projects in California, Japan, Mexico and around the world. ... Paolo Soleri (Born in Turin, Italy on June 21, 1919) was awarded his Ph. ...

Humanitarian Response

An appreciation of vernacular architecture is increasingly seen as vital in the immediate response to disasters and the following construction of transitional shelter if it is needed. The work Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations, produced by the charity Shelter Centre[1] covers the use of vernacular in humanitarian response and argues its importance. Any of a range of shelter options that help a person or population displaced by conflict or natural disaster until they return to permanent accommodation. ... Humanitarianism is the view that all people should be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve as human beings, and that advancing the well-being of humanity is a noble goal. ...

The value of housing displaced people in shelters which are in some way familiar is seen to provide reassurance and comfort following often very traumatic times. As the needs change from saving lives to providing medium to long term shelter the construction of locally appropriate and accepted housing can be very important.^[2]

Gallery

A street of British Victorian/Edwardian terraced homes. Download high resolution version (1617x1062, 345 KB)a photo of a street in Loughborough, taken from the towns Carillon tower. ...	Igloo From [1], PD image from NOAA File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...	Replica log cabin at Valley Forge, USA Download high resolution version (3008x2000, 5423 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Valley Forge Categories: U.S. history images ... Recreation of a cabin in which soldiers would have lived at Valley Forge Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, was the site of the camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 in the American Revolutionary War. ...	The Comfort Starr House, Guilford, New Haven County, Connecticut. Image File history File links Comfort_Starr_House. ... Guilford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, that borders Madison, Branford, North Branford and Durham, and is situated on I-95 and the coast. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ...
Stilt houses in Cempa, located in the Lingga Islands of Indonesia. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2592x1944, 932 KB) Photo of traditional stilt houses on the island of Cempa taken by me in July 2004 in a trip through the Lingga Islands. ... Port of Jago on the northern coast of Singkep, close to the island of Lingga. ...	A typical jungle hut in Brazilian Amazonia, made of straw and supported by stilts. It is used by rubber tree collectors. Image File history File links Barracks-amazon. ... A river in the Amazon rainforest The Amazon is a rainforest in South America. ... Latex being collected from a wounded rubber tree The Pará rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is a tree belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. ...	Payerhütte in the Ortler Alps, Italy Image File history File links Payerhütte, Ortlergruppe, Alpen File links The following pages link to this file: Alpine hut ... The Ortler Alps (Italian Ortles) are a mountain range in the central Alps of Italy. ...	Moscow Villa Hut, Victorian Alps, Australia Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1067, 687 KB) The Moscow Villa Hut File links The following pages link to this file: Alpine hut ... This article lacks information on the importance of the subject matter. ... The Australian Alps viewed from Mount Buffalo The Australian Alps is a general term for the highest mountain ranges in south_eastern Australia. ...
Yurt at the Naadym festival at Tos-Bulak Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x519, 65 KB)Photographer: Philipp Roelli (2005) released under the GFDL by creator Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Naadam (Наадам) is the national festival of Mongolia held from July 11th to 13th. ... Khuresh competition at the Naadym festival of 2005. ...	Hundertwasserhaus Waldspirale in Darmstadt Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2816 × 2112 pixel, file size: 1. ... Hundertwasser (left) 1965 in Hannover Hundertwasser 1998 in New Zealand Friedensreich Hundertwasser (December 15, 1928 – February 19, 2000) was an Austrian painter and sculptor. ... Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland (federal state) of Hessen in Germany. ...	Toda hut, Indian vernacular architecture Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x960, 648 KB) The hut of a Toda Tribe of Nilgiris, India. ... Ettayapuram Bharathi House A Toda tribal hut Indian vernacular architecture is the informal, functional architecture of structures built of local materials in a style to meet the needs of the local people. ...

See also

Residential dwellings can be built in a large variety of configurations. ... Payerhütte in the Ortler Alps, Italy An Alpine hut is a building located in the mountains intended to provide food and shelter to mountaineers and climbers. ... The Broken Angel house is a building located at 4 Downing Street in Brooklyn, NY, at the intersection of Downing and Quincy street. ... A Darbazi is an ancient form of a Georgian living room. ... Timber framing is the modern term for the traditional half-timbered construction in which timber provides a visible skeletal frame that supports the whole building. ... Hundertwasser (left) 1965 in Hannover Hundertwasser 1998 in New Zealand Friedensreich Hundertwasser (December 15, 1928 – February 19, 2000) was an Austrian painter and sculptor. ... A hut is a small and crude shelter used for dwelling. ... For the chemist and inventor, see Charles Mackintosh. ... Cathedral of Justo Gallego Martínez. ... Ettayapuram Bharathi House A Toda tribal hut Indian vernacular architecture is the informal, functional architecture of structures built of local materials in a style to meet the needs of the local people. ... Machiya are traditional wooden townhouses found throughout Japan and typified in the historical capital of Kyoto. ... Mudéjar is the name given to the Moors who remained in Spain after the Christian reconquista but were not converted to Christianity, and to a vernacular style of Spanish architecture and decoration, particularly of Aragon and Castile, of 12th and 16th centuries, strongly influenced by Moorish taste and workmanship... Oast House in Tudeley, Kent, now in residential use An oast house is an example of vernacular architecture in England, especially Kent and Sussex. ... Red ochre and yellow ochre (pronounced //, from the Greek ochros, yellow) are pigments made from naturally tinted clay. ... Braubach (Germany) Timber framing is the modern term for the traditional half-timbered construction in which timber provides a visible skeletal frame that supports the whole building. ... Trulli roofs from Alberobello. ... Watts Towers, 1765 East 107th St. ...

References

1. ^ Dictionary definitions: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vernacular, http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=88049&dict=CALD, http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/vernacular
2. ^ "NGOs criticise tsunami shelters" BBC News - 22 December 2006

December 22 is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Further Reading

• For 10 years Carl Pruscha, Austrian architect and United Nations-UNESCO adviser to the government of Nepal, lived and worked in the Himalayas (1964-74). He continued his acitivities as head of the design studio "Habitat, Environment and Conservation" at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. In 2004, he published: "Himalayan Vernacular" (Vienna: Schlebrügge.Editor)
• R.W. Brunskill, Traditional Buildings of Britain: An Introduction to Vernacular Architecture
• R.W. Brunskill, Illustrated Handbook of Vernacular Architecture, 1970.

External links

• Center for Vernacular Architecture-Bangalore-India
• Fisheries Heritage website for the conservation of vernacular fishing buildings in Newfoundland, Canada
• Vernacular Architecture Forum
• Vernacular Architecture in Inishowen, Ireland
• Vernacular Architecture Examples at GreatBuildings
• VAG, Vernacular Architecture Group
• Researching Historic Buildings in the British Isles