The changing faces of the concrete balustrade in Nigerian vernacular architecture

While a growing number of researchers have provided series of tough critiques of the typology-led heritage value assessment over the recent years, the impacts have been constrained by the continued obsession with expanding the list of the predetermined value typologies rather than escaping its limitations. While these sustained debates have provided important insights, this article argues that operationalizing these predetermined ‘one-size-fits-all’ value typologies is symptomatic of a number of shortcomings, especially in the context of capturing the pluralities of values in contextualized heritage such as vernacular architecture. It also often undermines inclusivity and participation in the valuing processes. However, rather than simply rejecting the values-based paradigm, this article proposes a conceptual value assessment framework that is informed by the theorization of vernacular architecture as a contextualized heritage. The proposed Vernacular Value Model (VVM) puts forward the ‘when(s)’ and ‘how(s)’ of amalgamating both technical and normative processes to capture the range of contextual values present in built vernacular heritage. To this end, this article posits that by drawing on such a proposed flexible framework, the conservation strategy for built vernacular heritage can be propagated as an inclusive and participatory process which captures the wide range of values for a more sustainable practices for conservation.

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Tents: a paradigm of lightness and sustainability in vernacular architecture and in Frei Otto's work

Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development ◽

10.1108/jchmsd-05-2021-0097 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Juan María Songel

Keyword(s):

Essential Feature ◽

Vernacular Architecture ◽

Soap Film ◽

Common Goal ◽

Membrane Structures ◽

Traditional Architecture ◽

Content Type ◽

Physical Form ◽

Hanging Chain ◽

The Relationship

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to explore the relationship between vernacular architecture and Frei Otto's work, searching for shared principles and specific singularities, and testing whether lightness and sustainability can be identified as a common goal.Design/methodology/approachThe study is focused on tents and yurts, as archetypal examples of traditional architecture, and membrane structures and gridshells, as two types of light structures developed by Frei Otto. A comparative analysis of their behavior, form, elements, types, materials and strength has been carried out.FindingsThe survey carried out shows that Frei Otto's innovative tents and gridshells were not based on form imitation of vernacular architecture, but rather on a thorough understanding of physical form-generating processes, driving specific materials to optimal form, like his experiments with soap film models to generate tensioned minimal surfaces or his experiments with hanging chain net models to generate compressive antifunicular lattice shells.Originality/valueThis paper highlights how Frei Otto's endeavor to get the maximum with the minimum, to achieve a lot from a little, is also a key target of lightness and sustainability, and an essential feature of vernacular architecture.

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The Recovery of the Historic Centres in the Metropolitan Area of Reggio Calabria through the Use of Bergamot

Advanced Engineering Forum ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/aef.11.514 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 514-517 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Daniele Campolo

Keyword(s):

Vernacular Architecture ◽

Point Of View ◽

Waste Materials ◽

Historic Buildings ◽

Agriculture Sector ◽

Environmental Disasters ◽

Innovative Methods ◽

Inadequate Care ◽

Innovative Techniques ◽

Soil Consumption

The abuse of land is devastating our country: environmental disasters (landslides, floods, mudslides, etc.) are becoming more frequent because of the abandonment of agricultural lands and an inadequate care of the land, particularly in the inland areas. But Calabria, and the province of Reggio Calabria, in particular, has agricultural vocations that makes it unique in the Italian panorama and there could be development opportunities for the region, not only in the agriculture sector but also in the recovery of the historic centers with an innovative use of waste materials coming from the production of bergamot, or citrus, for the restoration of historic buildings and vernacular architecture. From a metropolitan city point of view, we must put an end to the soil consumption in favor of the recovery and the enhancement of endogenous resources, utilizing innovative techniques and innovative methods we can diversify the use of existing resources to make them more productive.

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A Review for Research on the Sino-West Hybrid Style Buildings in Early Modern China

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.671-674.2285 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 671-674 ◽

pp. 2285-2289

Author(s):

Jing Luo ◽

Wei Min Guo ◽

Ying Huang

Keyword(s):

Early Modern ◽

Vernacular Architecture ◽

Modern China ◽

Detailed Review ◽

Related Research ◽

Modern Times ◽

Research Findings ◽

Early Modern Times ◽

National Style ◽

Early Modern China

Given the research findings concerning the Sino-west hybrid style buildings in early modern China are abundant but are lack of systemic pectination, this paper analyzes the related research findings from an integrative and classified perspective, especially makes a detailed review on the early modern vernacular architecture, which possess the characteristic of local evolution, and the national style of Chinese buildings in early modern times. Furthermore, the paper points out deficiencies in previous researches in the early modern Sino-west hybrid style buildings, and puts forward the urgent problems must be solved.

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