Design enthusiast and passionate about innovation in sustainable impact.
In various regions of the world, traditional vernacular construction methods have proven to be fundamental not only in terms of environmental sustainability, but also in the quality of life of local populations. Over the years, artistic currents and architectural styles, mainly coming from Europe, have dominated design trends in cities, focusing mainly on aesthetic concepts while often ignoring the local environmental and natural context. While it is crucial to appreciate the beauty and influence of these currents, it is imperative to broaden our constructive vision.
What would happen if we proposed exploring the integration of ancestral techniques with contemporary methods to generate innovative projects?
Beyond their scale, these projects should encourage exploration and experimentation with diverse materials, thus promoting a global approach that celebrates both aesthetics and environmental sustainability..
Vernacular Architecture emerged in rural areas with less urbanization; it can be thought that cities are where its use is exploited to a lesser extent due to the rapid growth and implementation of concrete for practical purposes, etc. Which is not entirely bad, it is normal that there are new buildings and homes and cities must be rejuvenated, however, there has been an abuse of exploitation of raw materials and non-renewable resources, causing great irreparable damage to the environment.
What would happen when Vernacular Architecture was merged with modern construction methods?
You can experiment with homes with removable rustic foundations such as masonry, and carry out the construction with traditional construction methods combined with modern elements such as finishes, locks, furniture, etc. The most used materials are raw earth, adobe and rammed earth. Building with this material is simple and economical, giving greater advantage when executing environmentally responsible homes, with great versatility in shapes and curvatures in favor of a unique and innovative design. In addition to aesthetics, it benefits the technical and functional help of the material, which is durable, acoustic and thermal insulating, and achieves a better balance in the home than other construction systems..
1. The Mayan house with a strong traditional shape is made on an elliptical or rectangular base, with curved corners made of wood, stone and palm trunks. Its doors and windows in long sections give it cross ventilation. Zoning considers all basic human activity. This type of construction has lasted since the beginning of the Mayan civilization, transmitted through generations.
2. Mongolian Yurts are traditional houses that are assembled and disassembled without damaging the ground, they are light and thermal insulating that keep the cold or heat inside them. This type of housing generates the daily life of the residents, who need to move in search of favorable climatic conditions for the development of their lives in different regions.
3. The Swiss-style Chalets, of original design, are structures built with wood from the region; shelters for agricultural workers, who moved according to the demand of their livestock at the change of season. Over the years they improved the style in details such as: windows, railings, stairs and hand-carved elements, they use stones or large extensions of glass windows, popular, they connect with nature and at the same time create a romantic atmosphere, however, their execution goes beyond how welcoming they are, it responds to their environmental context; It creates a favorable climate for your experience, being in mountainous terrain complicates the transportation of external materials.
In Norway, the architect Øystein Elgsaas, member of the Voll Arkitekter Architecture office, developed the largest wooden building in the world, the Mjøstårnet: with 18 floors of apartments and 85 meters high, with 640 square meters on each floor, the total The tower is close to 10,500 square meters. The project was certified by the Council on Tall Buildings and urban habitat (CTBUH), an international organization that governs quality, safety and urban design criteria for high-rise buildings in the world. The construction system of the Elgsaas project combines form and functionality, and experiments with the (CLT) prefabrication of boards in perpendicular layers, walls up to four meters high and twelve meters long can be manufactured. It is called “the concrete of the future” due to its structural resistance similar to reinforced concrete, which it surpasses due to its flexibility and great insulation capacity; A 10 centimeter thick (CLT) wall manages to equal the insulation capacity of a 1.80 meter thick concrete wall.
A project with (CLT) requires: that design and planning prior to construction be done cautiously; quality wood and consider that the precision of the (CLT) corresponds to that of the support or foundations without causing imbalances to the building and passing the relevant quality controls. The Colombian architect Simón Vélez promotes wood and explores the types of bamboo, of which he selects one and develops new carpentry systems, implementing Guadua wood originating in Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, a persistent structural element in residential and commercial buildings.
He has designed bamboo buildings in more than 11 countries. Use traditional materials from diverse cultures in the streets of Colombia and explore the structural qualities of one of the best woods, Guadua, which absorbs atmospheric CO2, adapts to a large number of climates and reaches up to 15 meters in height with effective resistance to 4 years of maturation.
In the ZERI pavilion project, Vélez formulates a circular structure with a large roof extended along the edges, with an innovative system of joints; Multiple elements, bolts and mortar between the nodes, together achieve not only a technically well-executed structure with great capacity in its elements, but also great aesthetic qualities.
Rescues aesthetic and structural values of the material; proposes a new point of view of execution in architectural projects; popular houses with great technical, economic, environmental and aesthetic solutions. He has exhibited in the Nómada del Zócalo museum in Mexico City and in the Indian pavilion at Expo 2010 in Shanghai. Recipient of prestigious Architecture awards, such as the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2006 and the Principal Prince Claus Award in 2009, his work has inspired experimental architects around the world.
In different parts of the world, there are traditional construction techniques that can satisfy the needs of inhabitants and improve current construction standards, promoting more environmentally friendly buildings. Vernacular Architecture offers viable answers through modern structural systems and the use of local materials combined with prefabricated. As architects, we can contribute significantly by improving environmental conditions by experimenting with new techniques and fusing regional materials.
To delve deeper into this topic and discover more about sustainable construction and innovative techniques, I invite you to explore other related articles that may inspire you on your own architectural path.
REFERENCES:
- Franco, J. T. (2022, 15 marzo). Arquitectura en Bambú: la obra de Simón Vélez. ArchDaily México. https://www.archdaily.mx/mx/02-265878/arquitectura-en-bambu-la-obra-de-simon-velez
- El regreso de la Arquitectura Vernácula. (2024). UNESCO. Recuperado 22 de enero de 2024, de https://courier.unesco.org/es/articles/el-regreso-de-la-arquitectura-vernacula
- Just Crea. (2021, 26 noviembre). Arquitectura Vernácula + Diseño Paramétrico: Volviendo a Nuestras Raíces - Just Crea. https://justcrea.com/articulos/arquitectura/arquitectura-vernacula-diseno-parametrico-volviendo-a-nuestras-raices