TOPIC
HOW CAN VERNACULAR DESIGN CAN BE INTEGRATED INTO
CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE .
Anubhuti singhal
ABSTRACT.
Architecture is not just about quilting the
site with concrete blocks or steel
columns ,it’s rather knowing about the
place considering it’s social, cultural,
and the environmental conditions .
Contemporary architecture sometimes
hides the achievements of our past.
Vernacular architecture can be defined as
the architectural form which is closely
related with our environment. .There is a
need to create balance ,a balance
between the materials ,the shape and the
nature .With the modern or new
technologies and perspective on the
mentioned values will be very helpful in
getting a purpose for understanding the
vernacular values.The vernacular
architecture which was designed
designed in direct response to the
materials which were locally available
like bamboo, mud, sticks, thatch , or
grass for the construction purpose ,that
was more energy-efficient and also zero
carbon and cheap, affordable, and also
OBJECTIVE
was easily available, and also require
very less labour . The building
construction material used today is more
synthetic, not sustainable, and hard to
reuse such as concrete and steel. The
building industry consumes immense
energy and contributes majorly to the
world’s greenhouse gas emission.
Vernacular architecture can be a very
good source for creating such design.
There are so many benefits of vernacular
architecture that its use in the
contemporary world today has given rise
to a new term called the contemporary
vernacular architectural style. This paper
will describe a series of case studies of
vernacular architecture and its benefits
from different zones which will function
as models for a contemporary
architecture model .
Keywords:
contemporary,vernacular,nature.
The objective of this research paper is to
understand how the vernacular can be
integrated into contemporary architecture
and create the balance between the
materials ,shape ,and nature .How the
modern perspectives on the traditional
building method will be helpful in
getting the understanding towards the
vernacular experiences.

SCOPE LIMITATIONS
The survey of this research will be ● Vernacular architecture faces
conducted to collect the information many difficulties which
about how the vernacular methods have compromise their bearing
been used to create the conceptual capacity into the 21st century .
contemporary vernacular projects around ● There is an absence of reshaping
the globe .This research aims at showing it into the modern forms .
that benefits of vernacular are so ● Challenges from urbanisation,
immense .that it has been used in the globalisation and the rise of new
contemporary architecture and has given cultures.
rise to new kind of style that is
contemporary architecture. METHOD
The scope of this research paper is to
estimate the significance of continuity of
The method followed for this
heritage systems of design as linkages,
survey includes the secondary
for adaptation in contemporary design
study about the vernacular in
practices.
different zones and its
The scope of the study is being limited to
implementation into the
the traditional residential building forms
contemporary architecture.Data
and the alteration of the identified
from various research papers and
linkages in the design of modern
ebooks have also been
residential building forms and
collected..There are various
assessment of the effectiveness of such
variables that are needed to be
linkages in maintaining place adaptive
understood such as vernacular and
qualities in a post-traditional built form
vernacular contemporary
that is designed and constructed .
architecture.For case studies
buildings have been selected on
basis of how age old techniques
have been implemented to create a
 modern design and case studies
about the architects have been
selected on the basis of who
practice contemporary
architecture with combining the
old techniques and culture to
create self sufficient buildings.
NEED FOR STUDY
There is a need for the development of
the sustainable future and return to the
green architecture also there is a need for
architects to embrace the cultural
building tradition ,the benefits of the
vernacular architecture are immense. It is
very beneficial in achieving the green
and sustainable architecture.So in order
to produce self-sufficient buildings and
progress in future we need contemporary
vernacular architecture .Also there is a
need of new building envelope concept
this can be done by transposing
vernacular principles to the design of
contemporary building envelopes.also
there is a need of facade as a balance
between the nature and the architecture .
INTRODUCTION
Vernacular came into play when humans
were forced to make use of all the
natural resources and protect themselves
from the harsh and drastic climatic
conditions .Vernacular architecture types
vary depending on the type of climatic,
natural and also the socio-cultural
factors. The growth of all these factors
have been transmitting the code on how
to preserve energy and other
sustainability factors.
.Age-old traditional materials such as
timber,bamboo, the mud ,the
combination of mud and the bamboo
materials are now going through revival
in that they offer more sustainability .The
large-scale use of such age-old materials
becomes necessary when affordability
and carbon footprinting are important
.These materials can be very useful
where labour intensive, and costly
materials ,such as concrete ,glass are
used on large scale.when the balance
between the nature , the sor and the
shape of the building is created ,the
vernacular architecture become the most
integrated architectural form where
shared everything with natural
environment .These traditional materials
and the old techniques transfers the
heritage value at localized and regional
level.
Characteristics of the Vernacular
Architecture:
● Orientation of the building
block : Different types
orientations of the building block
 produce thermal conditions
demanded by the building.
● Shading of the building block :
The building including the
openings, its external walls gets
exposed to the water and the sun
rays . In vernacular architecture,
the overhanging eaves helps with
this condition providing good
protection.
● Ventilation of the building : The
humidity of the building is
regulated by cross-ventilation
inside the building. It is of
primary importance for built ups
that are located in the hot and
humid climates .
● Climate Response : Vernacular
architecture includes a age old
traditional design which is climate
responsive and also it is
aesthetically pleasing. But the
traditional architecture is different
from the vernacular , they all are
interrelated to each other . It is
climate-responsive design that are
built to lower the impacts of
environment, thereby reducing
energy consumption of the
building and producing self
sufficient building .
Elements of the Vernacular Architecture
:
● Water resource : water is the
most important resource which
has to be utilized delicately . For
this there are ways like water
harvesting and recycling which
have to be acquired .
● Structural Longevity of the
building : The material that are
used for building decides the life
of the building block . The
materials that cost more than and
uses more energy and resource in
their manufacturing can be used to
get the more benefits from the
basis their recycling limit .
● Light and Ventilation of the
building : the building that are
climate responsive reduces the
consumption of air conditioning
and the artificial lighting .
● Technology used in the building
: features such as , fountains, jalis
water to cool building fabrics, etc
replaces the use of technology and
adds the sustainable features at
the macro level.
Vernacular architecture creates a
balanced relation between the dwelling,
the people living in it and the
environment while considering the
following aims of the sustainability :
● Adjusting the location potential.
 ● Preservation of the regional and
cultural identity.
● utilization minimization
protection and preservation of the
resources.
● utilizing eco-friendly materials.
● attaining the thermal comfort .
Many of the contemporary architects that
are more towards sustainability are using
these traditional techniques in original or
the modified form, to achieve the
required design .Architects are
embracing the tradition and heritage. The
benefits of this climatic responsive
architecture can be seen since ages,the
structure which is unsystematic and
which is not environmentally friendly
ultimately costs the occupant . By
following the tradition we can achieve a
net zero building and a whole
self-sufficient building .
CASE STUDIES
❖ Farmhouse,Aurulville
It is located on the road way to
Pondicherry ,union territory of India .
This small village is located on the island
which is surrounded by the backwaters
on the three sides .The village is
surrounded by the richness of the nature
that is very helpful in enhancing the
microclimate of that place . There is a
great use of the climate responsive
techniques,local materials ,which make
this place sustainable. Arulville is one of
the examples which make communicate
the local architecture used in it and the
age old techniques makes it belong to the
earth .The materials which are used are
mostly in its natural form .The bricks of
various types of classes are being used in
the roof floors and the walls .The
materials which are being used are
mostly of the baked clay which act as a
good insulating material .
 arranged around the central courtyard
❖ Archium stone radio building and also the deep canopies provide shade
, Nepal to the building . Most of the construction
is done with the locally available rock .
The courtyard is also protected by the
extreme weather climate by the outer
wall and the locally available genesis .
In the inside of the building is the stone
wall which is the glass wall that is more
contemporary for the inside space .
This building displays the perfect
balance between the contemporary and
In this built form, locally available stone traditional architecture.
is the material used in this single-level, ,
with tone of wood, which is very sparse
in this kind of zone. The choice of the
materials used responds to the needs to
❖ The brick house ,Wada,Thane
set up a harmonious condition with the By istudio architecture.
location and also to obey with the
sustainability need ,from 1992, the
Nepalese region of Mustang have been
the part of the Annapurna Conservation
Area Project , the largest and oldest
nature reserve in Nepal. The intention of
this project is to promote the
environmental conditions and also at the
same time it improves the living
standards of the local inhabitants , that
depends on controlled tourism in shield
of the vernacular culture .
This brick house have been motivated by
The building is made from the locally both the philosophies and the works of
available stones known as genesis which the Laurie Baker and Nari Gandhi. Each
has also helped the radio building to room flows into the another, leading into
merge with the surrounding .The studios the harmonious space held by the central
and the meeting room of the building are courtyard . Climatology and the solar
path, along with jalis and arched
openings have played an essential role to
introduce light and wind into each
interior space. Exposed materials, which
give the entire house a very earthy feel
and the construction techniques using
rat-trap bond, filler slabs, arches have
contributed to the low cost of the project.
This brick house is located in the middle
of the rural settlements in wada.The form
of the building is organic.Zoning is done
as per the climatic conditions .Passive
cooling techniques are used .The
material used for construction is the
locally available materials such as
brick,stone,wood , bamboo also provide
the earthly feel. Low coats and the
eco-friendly methods are used for
example the rat trap bond,brick jalis
providing ventilation and lighting and
also the built in furniture. Minimal use of
steel ,concrete has been made.
❖ Krupachhaya-A farmhouse at
paud,maharashtra,
By Anand kulkarni,Q-deisign ,pune
This structure is located near the bank of
river walki . This built form evolved
from the result of interaction between the
nature and the users and also the
economic environment. The materials
that are used are picked from the konkan
architecture. The konkan architecture
makes use of the materials like the red
laterite stone, which is commonly called
chira .There is an existing mango tree
which is adjacent to old structure that
was gifted to the client .This mango tree
was conceptualised like the focal point of
the house, this complete building was
planned around the tree in such a way
that it act like an inborn part of the
design .
There is also an open space in the form
of a thing called Kund ,also a stepped
seating was designed keeping the Mango
tree at its centre. The central Kund is
encircled by the livable spaces. Living
room is on the north side, and the dining
and kitchen on the south side and the
bed is on the west side which is
separated by a passage connecting to the
kitchen and the living room . The living
room is buffered on the east and west
side by the large padwi i.e., the
verandas.
This structure is planned around a tree
providing it a recreational and a
thoughtful space. Floors do not require
the artificial cooling methods .For
providing the insulation roofing is done
in double-layer terracotta tiles .External
areas of the building are covered with
black kadappa stone. Flooring is done
with the locally available material that is
rough shahabad stone Doors and
windows are made using from the
mango tree plank . This structure is a
perfect example of coherence with the
nature .
cost-effectiveness have been the mantra
for this house and that is why the bricks
have been used comprehensively while
being used with other materials to
provide rustic modernity. This brick
houses is associated with architecture
that is eco-friendly, stylish and also
which is cost-effective and self sufficient
building .

❖ Cape House , This has a lot to do with this British-born

Indian architect Laurie Baker’s houses,,
by Architecture and Beyond in manipulating the positions of the
Surat bricks,creating perforations in the walls,
and the curved double walls, making the
structures climate-sensitive and
energy-efficient and zero carbon
footprint . architect Nari Gandhi born in
surat is an organic genius in his use of
rock and brick,. Increasingly,
contemporary architects are using brick
in unusual ways, making it a style
statement in luxurious homes.

This building is densely built on all the

four sides with no view or natural light,
this apartment block which is for was
meant for a five family members. Each
owner had to give up a small portion of
This unconventional name of the their property to make room for a
building is derived from the fact that a courtyard. The challenge of the
huge brick ‘cape’ which holds this architects Smruti Kamat and Lester
two-story built up house as it rises and Rozario says, was “to seize our slice of
skyline and the shape .Style, the sky”.
environmentally friendly , and
 The boundary wall of the building was
turned into a sculptural surface, when
they placed burnt bricks next to mud
blocks, developing a chevron-patterned
grey-and-red boundary wall on the sides.
This building , captures the spirit of the
place, not only stands in the
surroundings but gives it an edge in a
district which is becoming a real estate
haven.
SIGNIFICANCE
Vernacular can be termed something
specific to a particular space ,The
vernacular attaches the contemporary
architecture to the green architecture
principles of constructing energy
efficient buildings and the net zero self
sufficient buildings .
By applying these old traditional
techniques any structure can be made
self sufficient .The success of the climate
responsive architecture is evident over
the course of its life, it has lessened the
costs of utilities and maintenance. A
imperfectly designed structure that do
not even consider vernacular or
environmental factors can ultimately
cost the hibitant – in addition to the
environment – more in resources than a
properly designed building.
It provides us with the perfect balance
between the material ,nature ,shape
,form.For architecture to progress we
should definitely have the knowledge of
our past and the use of the various
strategies to get optimu
m energy efficiency
CONCLUSION
Through our study we have realised that
the vernacular architecture plays an
important role in the revival of the green
and sustainable architecture .
We have studied many vernacular
contemporary architecture in different
zones and how architects have
implemented traditional techniques in
constructing self sufficient buildings.
Most of the times modern buildings are
badly designed for the existing climate
conditions leading to excessive use of
electrical equipment and energy for
maintaining the required thermal comfort
conditions in the indoors of the builtup
area . With respect to the modern
buildings, vernacular buildings tend to be
more environment responsive in many
ways.
The basic need of human being is to be
protected from all natural forces that
were the major cause for facade envelope
to evolve. Seeking to get universal
solutions we reflect on to the old
traditionally proven solutions. Such an
approach reflects the burden of the past
can easily lead to a dual complexity. The
tradition and the past are treated as fixed
event which is devoid of the progress of
being frozen in time or a random
interpretation of heritage. Indeed, there
are few of those , that are transmitting
the message of the tradition by means of
spatial elements and their individual
forms whose manifestations are not
visible on the level of genuineness . The
focus of this paper has been to address
innovations based on the existing and
proven ways of age old tradition
techniques . High life standards of
lifestyle and higher demands for the
achievement of the proper comfort levels
shows that it is not possible to provide
exact copies of vernacular principles.
The lessons about economical, simplicity
and also the practical solutions, may be
learned from vernacular architecture. The
new spatial elements introduced for the
first time in a visual environment, should
express the values of the times in which
they are being created and at the same
time this offer us a vision for the future.
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