Addis Ababa University

Ethiopian Institute of Architecture Building Construction and City

Development EiABC
Master’s in Advanced Architectural Design (MAAD)

Contextual Design

Critiques on Kenneth Frampton’s “Critical Regionalism”

By: Daniel Asrat

Submitted to: Wossen WK
December 24, 2023
 Table of Contents

Content Page
1.Introduction ..................................................................................................................3
2. Literature Review.........................................................................................................4
The Ambiguity of the Term.............................................................................................
The Difficulty of Applying the Concept..........................................................................
The Limitations of the Concept.......................................................................................
Western Centrism.............................................................................................................
Overemphasis on Geography...........................................................................................
Coordination with other Local Movement ......................................................................
4. Discussion....................................................................................................................15
5. Conclusion...................................................................................................................16
Reference ........................................................................................................................17

2
Introduction

The advancement of mankind in technologies and civilization has greatly spread throughout
the globe. This has greatly influenced the culture, social, economic, and political aspects of
different regions. Architecture is no exception to this. In his architectural approach of Critical
Regionalism, architecture historian Kenneth Frampton advocated for a resistance to the
globalization of modernism in this process. In his essay, he attempted to discuss the effects of
modernism and different ideologies of the world on architecture. His approach has been
criticized from a variety of perspectives, and this paper will attempt to explain some of the
drawbacks of his approach.

According to Frampton the notion of critical regionalism sparked by two events: Charles
Jencks's “The Language of Post-Modern Architecture” publication and the 1980 Venice
Biennale on the anti-modern drive of the architecture section as "The Presence of the Past. “

3
The Ambiguity of the Term

The term critical regionalism, as used by Kenneth Frampton, aims to resist the influence of
global consumerist approaches on architecture. However, it has no clear framework, which
has led to it being interpreted in a variety of ways. The term has been used in other fields of
study, such as cultural studies, politics, and literature, with different meanings and
implications. In architecture, it also has different implications for how it relates to modernist
principles. Some architects argue that it is not compatible with modern principles of
functionality and universality.

Frampton argues that modernism is a universalizing force that destroys local cultures, while
regionalism is a localizing force that resists the homogenizing effects of modernity. However,
he also argues that modernism and regionalism can coexist and even complement each other.

The Difficulty of Applying the Concept

The concept of critical regionalism is an approach rather than an attitude or orientation. It

varies with specific situations and circumstances, as well as personal preferences. The
region's political and economic forces can also influence it. It is difficult for regions to resist
the forces of globalization and homogenization. It requires a careful balance between the
local and the global, as well as the development of local traditions. Therefore, it is difficult to
apply this approach.

The Limitations of the Concept

Critical regionalism is a reaction to the ideological drift between socialism and capitalism in
the late 20th century. It is a nostalgia for the pre-modern era of local cultures and traditions.
This has limitations in addressing some of the current and future challenges and contexts. The
approach does not address the current climate challenges, social inequality, or the
advancement of digital technology. Instead, it is considered as a conservative position for
innovation and experimentation in architecture.

4
Western Centrism

The idea of critical regionalism primarily began in response to western postmodernism. This
limits its applicability to other parts of the world, such as Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
These regions may have their own ways of responding to globalization. As Argentine
architect and theorist Marina Waisman wrote, "the Latin American approach to critical
regionalism is quite different from that proposed by Kenneth Frampton, or Alexander Tzonis
and Liane Lefaivre. Architecture in Latin America should be understood, she said, as
"divergence," rather than "resistance." It is less a rejection of the West or modernity but a
response to local circumstances. a development parallel to contemporary architecture in the
industrialized West.

Overemphasis on Geography

Frampton emphasizes the importance of the geographic context of a building. This

overshadows factors such as social, cultural, and economic factors that could also be
important to the identity of a place. Architecture is more than just buildings. It incorporates
public spaces, landscapes, and cities on a broader scale. It is about how people live, interact
with each other, and with their environment. The social and political dimensions of
architecture are not properly addressed in this approach.

Some systematically remote regions such as Denmark, Catalonia, Portugal, México, Japan
and Greece their relative distance from the full force of global modernization, a shelter or an
eco-niche in which regional traditions could still develop. It is this distance from "global
modernization" that somehow pushes critical regionalist architectural approaches to a
condition of ambivalence.

Resisting standardization could lead to regional division with different standards.

Coordination with other Local Movement

The importance of coordination with other local movements is not mentioned in the
approach.

5
Conclusion

The approach of critical regionalism had a significant impact on architectural thought and
practice. It helped to raise awareness of the importance of regionalism and to challenge the
dominance of modernist architecture. However, its resistance to standardization and focus on
regional context creates ambiguity. The architectural definition in this context is narrow,
focusing on buildings and cultural context. The approach is western-centric and does not
address broader socio-political dimensions of architecture.

6
References
https://www.dezeen.com/2023/11/23/bamboo-chris-matthews-interview/?
fbclid=IwAR0JWqXQZa3cJwBwEFJ70oPlIXvZheT5D9-cRewI7d92cmo5Ajc9p03NAuI# (Accessed on Dec 1,
2023)https://bamboou.com/design-vernacular-bamboo-structures-around-the-world/ (Accessed on Dec 3, 2023)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0015056881900233?via%3Dihub(Accessed on Dec 3, 2023)
https://bioresources.cnr.ncsu.edu/resources/morphological-mechanical-and-physical-properties-of-four-bamboo-species/
(Accessed on Dec 10, 2023)
https://www.archdaily.com/964059/the-arc-at-green-school-ibukun (Accessed on Dec 5, 2023)
https://bambus.rwth-aachen.de/eng/PDF-Files/Bamboo%20Connections.pdf (Accessed on Dec 10, 2023)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/14/11137 (Accessed on Dec 10, 2023)
https://www.dezeen.com/awards/2021/winners/the-arc-at-green-school-bali/ (Accessed on Dec 1, 2023)
https://dailyarchitecturenews.com/architecture/the-arc-at-green-school-in-bali-by-ibuku/ (Accessed on Dec 1, 2023)
https://archello.com/news/detail-bamboo-structure-of-the-arc-at-green-school-bali (Accessed on Dec 20, 2023)
Wurman, R. S. (1986) Bamboo: Structure and Culture Xiaobing Yu aus Yibin, China