VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE, RAR -409

INTERNATIONAL
VERNACULAR PRACTICES

AR. KANIKA VERMA APEEJAY SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING 1

 VERNACULAR

RURAL URBAN
INDIAN/INTERNATIONAL INDIAN/INTERNATIONAL

DOMESTIC AGRICULTURAL RELIGIOUS INDUSTRIAL

HILL COASTAL

DESSERT

REGIONAL

TRIBAL

VERNACULAR REVISION of PREVIOUS LECTURE

ARCHITECTURE
 SOD HOUSES, Great Plains of America
Without ample trees, and surrounded by sea of prairie grass, SOD houses
are unique American adaptation to the great plains. The use of earth to
regulate comfort within the dwelling was phenomenal, during the cold
winters of the Plains, the thick earth covering of the lodges prevented heat
loss, and in the summers the earthen walls kept the interior relatively cool.
Generally built as clustered communities, constructed preferably in and
around Valleys or ravines , closer to a water source and oftentimes a small
amount of timber would required. These locations also protected the house
from strong prairie winds, and the higher water table in these locales
provided moist sod, which was ultimately the best for building.
VERNACULAR INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL VERNACULAR ARCITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
Walls are made up of earthen clay of prairie soil cut in uniform blocks. Sod is essentially grass turf, but when used
as a building material it includes the soil directly beneath the grass that is held together by roots. Autumn is best
season for building, when the grasses had acquired strong roots, and the best day for building was after a heavy
rain or snow melt, which left the sod moist and firm; nevertheless, settlers could seldom choose their time to build.

Free from stones or brush,

the density of virgin sod laid
with the grass side facing
down, the blocks would root
to each other and lock the
system together. Each SOD
house was constructed
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differently which reflected
the resources, skill and
requirements of the family.
 Traditional Thai House

Traditional Thai house of Yisan

Village
Because of the tides, the Thai
people construct their houses with
living spaces on the first floor and
use the ground floor spaces for
storage and daytime activities.
House in Yisan Village and concrete jars for storing water
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 Traditional Thai House

Thai lifestyle and houses along waterways Traditional Thai lord’s houses
Columns are tapered and canted inward for rain and wind resistance, allowing to be transferred loads from the walls to 6
columns.
 Traditional Thai House

• Thai houses usually feature a

bamboo or wooden structure,
raised on stilts and topped with
a steep gabled roof.
• The area beneath the house is
used for storage, crafts,
lounging in the daytime, and
sometimes for livestock.

Thai houses along waterways

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 Sirince Village, Turkey

Detached House

The Street Made of Rubble Stone and

Built with Stairs in order to Reduce the
Contiguous Houses
Pitch
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 Sirince Village, Turkey

Different View
of Façades due
to Topography

Eaves Covered with Wood

Lath
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 Sirince Village, Turkey

Construction Technique: Rubble Stone Masonry on the Ground

Rubble Stone Wall Floor and Timber Frame on the Upper Floor

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ASANTE TRADITIONAL BUILDING IN GHANA
Arranged around courtyards, the buildings are constructed of timber, bamboo and mud plaster and originally had
thatched roofs. The unique decorative bas-reliefs that adorn the walls are bold and depict a wide variety of motifs.
Common forms include spiral and arabesque details with representations of animals, birds and plants, linked to
traditional “Adinkra” symbols. As with other traditional art forms of the Asante, these designs are not merely
ornamental, they also have symbolic meanings, associated with the ideas and beliefs of the Asante people, and have
been handed down from generation to generation. The buildings, their rich colour, and the skill and diversity of their
decorations are the last surviving examples of a significant traditional style of architecture that epitomized the
influential, powerful and wealthy Asante Kingdom of the late 18th to late 19th centuries. Asante Traditional Buildings
reflect and reinforce a complex and intricate technical, religious and spiritual heritage.

VERNACULAR INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL VERNACULAR ARCITECTURE

ARCHITECTURE
Morrocon - Desert Fortresses, of North Africa Fortified village – commonly
called as Kasbahs with small
windows, built high and close
to each other.
• Kasbahs are a skillful
adaptation to the harsh
climate in the hot-arid region.
• layout of the Kasbahs,
height, orientation, the use of
materials play a major role in
the temperature regulation
inside.

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ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
 Zulu Huts, South Africa
Houses of Zulu are made with mud,
grass, tree poles, and mud bricks.
They used their hands and feet to
build houses. In Zulu culture it was a
man’s responsibility to build a
house, but women also help to
build the house. The doors of
houses must face on the same
direction.

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 Seventeen large water
Hama - The City of Water Wheels, banks of the Orontes River in west-central Syria wheels continues to
operate on the River
Orontes
• Noria is a “device for
raising water”
• In Syria the water
Wheels are also known
as “the wailer” for
wailing sound generated
during the operation of
the
wooden wheels.
• water wheel was the
sole technology enabling
humanity
to harness large
amounts of energy.

VERNACULAR INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
Cases of Vernacular Architecture (Globally)

• M,Zab Valley Traditional Human Habitat, Algeria

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ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
Musgum mud huts , Cameroon

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 Musgum mud huts , Cameroon

cross section of a musgum

dwelling
A characteristic settlement form is the compound, a cluster
of units linked by walls
the domed huts of the musgum people are built in shaped
mud, a variant of cob.

cob building is the most widely used technique in the

world, since no tools are needed

– hands, earth and water are enough.

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Traditional house in Yemen
Yemenis have built their houses in a defensive way.
• Traditional houses are built of stone or mud, and are generally
high.
• The ground floor has no windows to keep unwanted visitors out.
• The higher floors often have beautifully decorated stained
windows in all colours.
• The first floor was traditionally used for storage, and higher
floors for living.
• The top floor, or mafraz, is a communal room where Yemenis
have social gatherings in the afternoon.

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Cases of Vernacular Architecture (Globally)

• Wooden Churches of Slovak Park of the Carpathian mountain area.

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ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
 Cruck Framing
Cruck building starts from a
simple principle seen in many
parts of the world. Pairs of
timbers - straight or curved -
prop each other up, when
tied together with wall plates
and a ridge-piece at the
apex. Over that main
frame can be laid
purlins,rafters and thatch on
the roof, and timber panels
filled withwattle and daub for
the walls.
Crucks were most used for
houses and barns no more
than 6m (20ft). They are
found mainly in Wales,
western England and Devon.

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Cases of Vernacular Architecture (Globally)

• Sukur Cultural Landscape

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ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
 The izba, a
traditional Russian countrysid
e home, was usually built with
ornately carved wood in
a log cabin-like structure.
While elements of the izba
are still common in rural
Russian houses, only the older
examples are referred to as
“izbas.”

VERNACULAR INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL VERNACULAR ARCITECTURE

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
 Stilt houses are
raised structures
that sit on an
elevated platform
over a body of
water. The structures
are still common in
regions of Central
America and
Oceania, especially
northeast Nicaragu
a and Papua New
Guinea.

VERNACULAR INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL VERNACULAR ARCITECTURE

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
IGLOO, ANTARTICA LOG HUT, VALLEY FORGE GOEREME, TURKEY. MARDIN, TURKEY

ORIGINAL TRULLO HOUSE,ITALY HOUSE IN JAPAN CLAY AND STONE HOUSE, NEPAL

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Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
THANK YOU

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