91Ö±²¥

PhD project title:

Rehabilitating the lost spirit of vernacular architectural patterns in contemporary approaches (How vernacular architecture can reclaim its soul)

Project outline: 

Nowadays, the environmental threat is connected with climate change and the overuse of regular fossil fuels and continues in all fields, particularly in the building industry.

Over the last few decades, the concept of sustainable architecture has made critical changes to architecture by reducing the adverse environmental effects of modern buildings. One of the most highlighted areas in sustainable architecture is learning from vernacular architecture, which has methods proven by decades of experimental practices and respected the unique cultural identity of the people.

Although various researches have proven the benefits of vernacular architecture methods, the speed of its replacement with contemporary buildings has increased in recent years, particularly in rural areas of undeveloped countries. Further, the use of pre-prepared plans that don’t consider a site’s environmental, social, and architectural patterns have caused an immense number of social and ecological problems, such as overuse of energy and loss of identity.

In other words, most of the previous research works with documents and/or reports rather than factual practice. In response to this, this research aims to turn rhetoric into real action in order to prevent the destruction of vernacular architecture knowledge. This project will address a few vital questions. How can vernacular architecture reclaim its soul in contemporary approaches? To what extend does learning from the Iranian vernacular architecture address significant issues on reducing energy consumption and building a sustainable society?

Overall, this research aims to rehabilitate the spirit of vernacular architecture to find its place in modern methods and continue its adaptation to change. It will simultaneously consider current lifestyle needs, environmental issues, and traditional identity. Outcomes could address social and ecological problems by focusing on the future and initiating a new vernacular architecture studies discourse.

Primary supervisor: 
Xiang Ren

Date started: 01/02/2022

Publications: 

Research experience in research workshop Place/Displacement: Micro-Narratives in June 2021 which was funded by French Embassy in the U.K.