Vernacular architecture introduction

General Introduction to Vernacular Architecture
With courtesy to all source of information

1. XAR 602
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
UNIT-01 -INTRODUCTION
Definition and classification of Vernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture as a process
Survey and study of vernacular architecture; methodology
Cultural and contextual responsiveness of vernacular architecture: an overview
Lecture and Presentation by:
Prof. Joseph Fernando, PMIST
Ar. S. Bala Hari Krishnan, Asst. Professor, PMIST

2. WHAT IS VERNACULAR?
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

3. WHAT IS VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE ?
The term Vernacular is derived from the Latin word vernaculus,
meaning “domestic,native,indigenous”
Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of
construction which use locally available resources and traditions to
address local needs.
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE IS SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
-By the people and for the people
-Using locally available resources
-Using available techniques and skills
-Climatic response
-Cultural and Traditional aspects
Resources –Material, Construction techniques and Human resources
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

4. WHAT IS VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE ?
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE refers to those buildings made by common
buildersin an informal way, rather than by architects using design
methodologies.
Only 10 percent of the buildings in which we live or work are designed
by architects, and a huge 90 percent of the world’s architecture is
vernacular.
It can be contrasted against polite architecture which is characterized
by stylistic elements of design intentionally incorporatedfor aesthetic
purposes which go beyond a building’s functional requirements.
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

5. According to R.W. Brunskill
“…a building designed by an amateur, without any training in design; the
individual will have been guided by a series of conventions built up in
his locality, paying little attention to what may be fashionable. The
function of the building would be the dominant factor, aesthetic
considerations, though present to some small degree, being quite
minimal. Local materials would be predominantly used and other
materials being chosen and imported quite exceptionally.”
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

6. UNDERSTANDING VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE TO GENERATIONS
In contrast to planned architecture by architects, the building
knowledge in vernacular architecture is often transported by local
traditions and is thus more –but not only –based on knowledge
achieved by trail and error and often handed down through the
generationsrather than calculated on knowledge of geometry and
physics.
To satisfy their requirements and needs which always impart a character
or an image to that particular region. In other words, we can call
“ARCHITECTURE OF LOCALE”
It is an evolution over a period of time. The architectural expressions of
vernacular architecture will be guided by set of conventions or
principles built up in the society for a longer period.
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

7. CHARACTERISITICS OF VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
•It is place specific and responds to its society and environment
•The traditional knowledge on which it depends upon is
developed progressively and applied to suit the requirements of
the place and time. Hence it is open ended.
•It is a spontaneous outcome of a society. Hence there are not
theories or principles involved in it.
•Ordinary people along with the traditional craftsmen are the
decision makers and executers hence there are no sophistication
involved in it.
•Hence it implies that vernacular architecture is environment
friendly, sustainable and reflects the aspiration of the place and
the people.
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

8. THE NEED OF VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
•Environmental pollution, global warming, sustainability and
energy efficiency are the issues threatening the society today.
Study of vernacular architecture would provide us with valuable
information on these areas.
•INSPIRATION FROM VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE –Regionalism
and critical regionalism are two of the popular movements in
architecture practised world wide today. Architects practising
these movements draw inspiration from the vernacular
architecture of their place of practise.
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

9. SOLUTION TO HOUSING SHORTAGE THROUGH
VERNACULAR ARCHITECUTRE
•Eventodayonlyaround10%ofthebuildingsconstructedare
designedbyarchitects.Evenindevelopedcountries,thisnumber
doesnotgobeyond30%.Thismeansthatthepoorpeopleeither
constructtheirresidencesthemselvesorwiththehelpofalow
costbuilders.
•Manyhousingexpertsbelievethatthispractisecouldbeutilizedto
theadvantageofsolvingthehousingshortage.Thatispoorpeople
couldbeencouragedtoconstructtheirhousesadoptinglowcost
vernacularmodelswithsimpletechnology.Inordertoimplement
theseschemesgovernmentornon-governmentalagenciesformed
housingsocietiesofinterestedpeopleandprovidedthemwith
loansandtechnicalguidance's.
•Manysuchschemesarebeingcarriedoutinpooranddeveloping
countriesincludingIndia.Thesuccessrateoftheseschemesare
high.
•Thehousingshortageofpooranddevelopingcountriesare
enormous.Thefundsandthetechnicalinputsrequiredtosolve
thisproblemisalsoenormous.Inthiscontextsolvingthehousing
shortagethroughvernacularapproachprovideshope.
•ThisapproachIsknownasmodernvernacularapproach.
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

10. VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE-AN INSPIRATION
GOEFFREY BAWA is considered the pioneer of regional modernism in
South Asia. Along with him, modern proponents of the use of the
vernacular in architectural design include CHARLES CORREA,
BALAKRISHNA DOSHI, SHEILA SRI PRAKASH –INDIAN ARCHITECTS and
MUZHARUL ISLAM and BASHIRUL HAQ, internationally known
BANGLADESHI ARCHITECTS.
These architects have used vernacular architecture as an inspiration for
innovations in environmental and socio-economically sustainable design
and planning.
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

11. FACTORS INFLUENCING VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
1.CLIMATE
2.MATERIALS
3.CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES
4.SKILLED LABOURS
5.CULTURE AND TRADITION OF A SOCIETY
6.CUSTOMS AND BELIEFS
7.LIFESTYLE OF THE PEOPLE
8.HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE REGION
9.FOREIGN INVASION
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

12. 1. CLIMATE
•Construction of Courtyards
•Opening in the Buildings
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

13. 2. LOCALLY AVAILABALE MATERIALS
•Kerala –Wood usage
•Assam –Bamboo usage
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

14. 3. CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES
•Bhungahouse of Kutch, Gujarat
•Bamboo reinforced wattle and daub construction
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

15. 4. SKILLED LABOURS
•Usage of Lime in the Buildings of our region
•ThachuShastraof Kerala
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

16. 5. CULTURE AND TRADITION
•Zarookaor Jarokha–projected balcony cum window
•Usage of coloursand Mirrors in Rajasthanihouses
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

17. 6. CUSTOMS AND BELIEFS
•Thulasimaadamof particular community
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

18. 7. LIFESTYLE OF THE PEOPLE
•Kerala –Traditional thinnaihouses –‘Balcoa’ or ‘Bolcaum’
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

19. 8. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
•Meandering pathways of Thanjavurfor the purpose of defence
•Fort architecture of Rajasthan –People of Rajasthan still people
design their houses with Watch holes.
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

20. 9. FOREIGN INVASION
•Pondicherry –Influence of French style of architecutre
•Fort cochin –Influence of Portugese
PMIST; Date: 16.12.2019

21. CLASSIFICATION OF VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
CHRONOLOGICALLY TIME WISE
Tribal Architecture –Pre-literate
Pre-Industrial Vernacular –Up to Industrial revolution
Post-independent Vernacular –After Industrial revolution
Modern vernacular or
Contemporary vernacular -Following vernacular traditions
today and continuing of it.
PMIST; Date: 06.01.2020
FUNCTIONALLY
Residential
Farm related
Industrial
Place of worship built by common men
SETTLEMENT WISE
Rural vernacular
Urban vernacular

22. CHRONOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
Tribal Architecture -Pre-Industrial Vernacular -Post-independent
Vernacular -Modern vernacular or Contemporary vernacular
PMIST; Date: 06.01.2020

23. Tribes:Uncivilizedpeople.
Peoplehavingpre-historiclifestyle.Such
tribesarefoundeventodayinAfrica,Asia
andpartsofcentralandsouthAmerica.
Theyliveoutsidethecivilizedworldin
smallgroups.
Eg:
ThodasofNilgris,
MosaitribeofEastAfrica,
ZulutribeofSouthAfricaetc.,
Theyhavetheirowncultureandbuildtheir
residencesaspertheirpractices.Tribal
housesareverysimple,easytoconstruct
andtheylackvariety.Thesehousescould
beconstructedbyagroupoftribalwithout
anyexpertise.
Peoplebelongingtocivilizedsocietiestoday
livedandbuiltlikethesetribalbeforethey
startedcivilization.
TRIBAL ARCHITECTURE
CHRONOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
Top and Bottom: People and dwellings of Mosaitribe of East Africa
PMIST; Date: 06.01.2020

24. Top and Bottom: Toda Village Huts and the community gathering
PMIST; Date: 06.01.2020

25. Pre-Industrialvernacular
architecturereferstothearchitecture
ofvariouscommunitiesalloverthe
worldstartingfromthetimethey
settleddownandstartedcultivation
tilltheadventofindustrialrevolution.
Thiscoversaperiodofseveral
thousandyears.Thisalsoincludesthe
originandevolutionofvernacular
architecturefromthebeginningof
civilizationtoindustrialrevolutionin
allthecountries.
PRE-INDUSTRIALVERNACULAR
CHRONOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
Top : A Village Hut
Bottom: Half timbered
Buildings -Lavenham
PMIST; Date: 06.01.2020

26. Industrialrevolutionstartedtowardstheendof18
th
centuryandwentonuptothemiddleof20
th
century.Newmaterialsandtechnologieswere
inventedduringthisperiod.Theseinventions
influencedthevernaculararchitectureofitstime.
Eg:Sheetglanandeastironwereinventedduring
industrialrevolutionperiod.Thesematerialsfound
theirapplicationinthevernaculararchitectureofits
time.Thisisknownaspostindustrialrevolution
vernaculararchitecture.Thisstyleofarchitectureis
stillaliveandcontinuedtobepracticedeventoday
byinterestedarchitects.
POST-INDUSTRIALVERNACULAR
CHRONOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
PMIST; Date: 06.01.2020

27. Todayourattentionisdrawnbyissuessuchas
sustainability,energyconsciousarchitectureandeco-
friendlydevelopment.Vernaculararchitectureresponds
totheseissues.
Henceinterestedarchitectshavedevelopedmodern
vernaculararchitecturehasbeencapturedappropriate
technologyadoptedandpassivemethodswereapplied
tomakethebuildingenergyconscious.
Poorpeopleconstructtheirownhouseseventodayin
manypartsoftheworld.Slumdwellersinmanycases
constructtheirownhouseswithminimumhelp.Taking
advantageofthissituationcertainnongovernment
organizationNGOworkedoutcost-effectivevernacular
solutionsforhousesandconstructedthemmainlyusing
thefutureoccupants.Thisisagoodexampleformodern
vernaculararchitecture.
MODERN VERNACULAR/
CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE
CHRONOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
PMIST; Date: 06.01.2020

28. FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION
Vernaculararchitectureisalsobeclassifiedbasedonthefunctionofthe
building.Thebasicprinciplefollowedisthebuildingsinwhichexpertsor
specialistinvolvedinthedesignorconstructionarenotconsideredas
vernaculararchitecture.Temples,palacesandfortsarenotconsideredtobe
vernaculararchitecturesinceexpertsareinvolvedintheirdesignand
construction,
PMIST; Date: 07.01.2020

29. Bigandsmallresidenceswerebuiltbycommonmenwiththehelpoflocal
craftsmen.Thisformsthemajorpartofvernaculararchitecture.
InTamilnadutravellersrest-houseswerebuiltbytheearlierrulersontheway
toimportanttemples.Thesebuildingsareknownas Chathiram.Thesetypeof
buildingsarealsovernacularbuilding.
RESIDENTIAL
FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION
Top: Chatramsof Thanjavurdistrict
Ar. S. Bala Hari Krishnan, Asst. Professor, PMIST; Date: 07.01.2020

30. Afewtypesofbuildingwerebuilttoperform
farmrelatedactivities.
Eg.
Barnbuiltforstoringgrainsoranimalfeed.
Bigshedforhousingfarmanimals–cattleshed.
FARM RELATED
FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION
Top: Grains storage structures in Srirangam, Tamilnadu
Ar. S. Bala Hari Krishnan, Asst. Professor, PMIST; Date: 07.01.2020

31. Top: Grains storage Vessel and structure;Below: Cattle Shed
PMIST; Date: 07.01.2020

32. Toperformcertainsmallscaleandtinyindustriessimplebuildingswerebuilt.
InIndiatraditionalblacksmithwhoworkedwithiron,builttheirworkshops.
Theseworkshopshadworkingplatformswithembeddedairductsand
furnaces.
Brasssmithbuiltworkshopstofacilitatemeltingandcastingofthemetal.
Thewindmillsofthewestareagoodexamples:Themovementofexternal
bladesareconvertedintohorizontalmovementandusedforgrindingfood
grainsorforpumpingwater.
Buildingsfortinyindustriesbuiltinvernaculartraditionshouldalsobe
included.
INDUSTRY RELATED BUILDINGS
FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION
Top: Rice mill of Tamilnadu
PMIST; Date: 07.01.2020

33. TemplesinIndiaaregenerallydesignedandbuiltbysculptorsor
templedesigners.Templesaredesignedfollowingstrictcanons
laiddownforthem.Hencetheycannotbeconsideredas
vernaculararchitecture.
Similarlyplaceofworshipofotherreligionsalsocouldnotbe
consideredasvernacularsincetheyfollowthecanonslaiddown
fortheirdesign.
Howevermanysmalltemplesandotherplaceofworshipsare
built,byordinarypeople.Thesebuildingsconsideredasvernacular
architecture.
Inruraltamilnadumanycommunitiesbuildashrinefortheirdeity
oraminiatureplaceofworship.Thisservesasasymboloftheir
identity.
PLACE OR WORSHIP BY COMMON MAN
FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION
Top: A temple in a village of Tamilnadu
PMIST; Date: 07.01.2020

34. Top and Bottom: Temples in various villages of Tamilnadu
PMIST; Date: 07.01.2020

35. SETTLEMENT CLASSIFICATION
Rural Vernacular –Urban Vernacular
PMIST; Date: 08.01.2020

36. Ruralareasmorespaceisavailable.Residencesarewithfrontandback
yards.Privacyandsecurityarenotbigissues.Inruralareaspeoplearemore
attachedtocultureandchangescomeslowly.Theimpactoftheseissues
couldbeseenonruralvernacular.
InUrbanareasresidencesarebuiltinacompactmanner.Limitedspaces
couldbefoundaroundthebuildinginmanycasesresidencesarebuiltwallto
wall.
Urbanroadsarebusywithtraffichenceprivacyandsecurityarebigissues.
Peopleofurbanareachangefast.Theyacceptnewideasquickly.These
factorsinfluencethevernaculararchitectureofurbanareas.
RURAL VERNACULARSETTLEMENT CLASSIFICATION
URBAN VERNACULAR
SETTLEMENT CLASSIFICATIONMORE SPACE –FRONT AND BACK YARDS –NO BIG ISSUES FOR PRIVACY AND
SECURITY –ATTACHED TO CULTURE
LES SPACE –COMPACT AND WALL TO WALL –ISSUES FOR PRIVACY AND SECURITY –
QUICKLY ADOPT TO NEW IDEAS
PMIST; Date: 08.01.2020

37. VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE AS A PROCESS
Owner wants to build a house
Approaching a Mason/Master craftsman
Craftsman –Preparing 3 to 4 traditional
plan model
Owner-selecting one
Owner family and craftsman –Discussion
Modify the plan
To suit the site
To suit the occupation
To suit the family structure
Owner, craftsmen, friends and relative
Work starts with a function
Certain important stage of construction
–Function
Family –Getting in –A function-House
warming
As the family grows –Additions were
made
As the time passes –Division and
modification made.
PMIST; Date: 08.01.2020

38. PMIST; Date: 08.01.2020
Apersonwhoownsapieceoflandwantstoconstructa
house.Thefirstthinghewoulddoistomeetthemaster
masonoftheplace.Themastermasonwouldproducethree
orfourtraditionalhousedesigns.Eachoneofthedesignis
acommonlyusedoneinthatregion.
Theownerofthelandconsulthisfamilymembersand
wouldselectonedesign.Afterselectionofthedesignitis
suitablymodifiedtosuitthefollowingthreefactors.They
are
i.Thesitecondition
ii.Theoccupationoftheearningmembersand
iii.Thefamilystructure.
Theconstructionworkstartsafterperformingsome
religiousceremonyisperformed.Oncompletionofthe
houseafterthehousewarmingceremonytheownerstart
livinginthathousewiththisfamily.
Likemarriageornamingceremonyaseriesofinterlocked
eventsendupinthefunction.
1. Construction of a typical vernacular house
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE AS A PROCESS
Asthetimepassesthefamilygrows.Withthegrowthofthe
familytheyrequiremoreprivatespaces.
Thethinnaiismadeprivatebyplacementofwooden
perforatedprotectionattheroadsideendofthethinnai.
Thethinnaicouldbeconvertedintooneortworooms.One
eachoneithersideofsteps.
2. Addition and modification to the house

39. PMIST; Date: 08.01.2020
Ifthehouseistobedividedbetweentwosonsformallya
wallisconstructedrightinthecenterstartingfromthe
frontdoortobackdoor.Onlythefrontandthebackdoors
needtobemodified.
Inthiscasethebasiccharacterofthehousewillnot
change.Allthespacesofthehousewouldhavebeen
effectivelydividedbetweenthetwofamilies.
3. Partition of Property
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE AS A PROCESS
Ifthefamilyhasgrownandtheyrequireadditionalspace
thefirstoptionistocoverthecourtyardandusingthe
space.
Thiswouldresultintheresidentssacrificinglightingand
ventilation.Hencethebetteroptionistoreplacethe
columnsaroundthecourtyardbythickerones.Jointhetop
ofthecolumnswithsuitablebeams.Constructwallsonthe
beamswithsuitableclearstoreywindows.Finallyaroof
maybebuiltoverthewalls.
Nowthecourtyardcouldbeusedlikeanyotherinterior
spaceofthehouse.Atthesametimelightandventilation
wouldbeprovidedbytheclear-storeywindows.
4. Conversion of the House
Traditionreferstoinheritedpatternofthoughtandaction.
Traditionsarecreativeprocessandpeopleusethemto
interpretpastknowledgeandexperiencetoforcethe
challengeanddemandsofthepresent.
Experiencesmodifythetraditionsasthetimepasses.
Traditionsinfluencevernaculararchitecture.Thatisin
courseoftimepeopleexperiencescouldfinditsapplication
inarchitecture.
5. Tradition

40. PMIST; Date: 08.01.2020
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE AS A PROCESS

41. SURVEY AND STUDY OF VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
HISTORY AND DOCUMENTATION
Location
Context
Site plan
Elevation
Section
Material
Structure
Fenestration
Surface treatment
ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS
Space Vs. Activity
Organization of space
Culture Vs. Space
Culture Vs. Treatment
EVALUATION / CONSERVATION
Climatic Evaluation
Users Satisfaction
Post occupancy evaluation
PMIST; Date: 20.01.2020

42. SURVEYS AND STUDIES
OF
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
ORIGIN, EVOLUTION AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECT
DOCUMENTATION
ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS
EVALUATION
USERS SATISFACTION
CONSERVATION
PMIST; Date: 20.01.2020

43. Inordertostudythevernacular
architectureofaplacethepeoplewho
areresponsibleforit(theusers)needto
bestudiedandunderstood.
Firstofallhistoricinformationshouldbe
collected.Thecommunitiesoriginand
evolutionshouldbeunderstood.Their
occupationandcultureshouldbe
understoodalongwiththeirimportant
traditionsandbelieves.Importantevents
shouldalsobenoted.
1.ORIGIN, EVOLUTION
& SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECT
SURVEYS AND STUIDES OF VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
Locationandcontextofthebuildingtobe
studiedshouldbetakenupandrecorded.
Thisshouldbefollowedbydocumenting
thebuildingtoasuitablescaleand
studied.Buildingmaterialsandthe
structuralsystemsshouldalsobenoted.
Fenestrationneedstobestudiedand
recorded.Finallythesurfacetreatment
appliedinthebuildingalsoneedstobe
recorded.
Allinformationshouldbesupportedby
sketchesandphotographs.
2.DOCUMENTATION
Understanding users
Historic information
Communities origin and
evolution
Occupation and culture
Traditions and believes
Important events
Location and context
Documenting to scale
Building materials and
structural systems
Fenestrations
Surface treatment
Sketches and photographs
Ar. S. Bala Hari Krishnan, Asst. Professor, PMIST; Date: 20.01.2020

44. Theorganizationofspacesneedstobe
studied.Thesize,formandqualityof
environmentofthespacesneedtobe
analyzed.
Theactivitiestakingplaceineachspace
tobealsostudiedandrelatedtothe
cultureoftheuser.
Theclimaticconditionofthevarious
spacesshouldbestudiedandrelatedto
itslocationandfenestration.Themulti-
usecharacterofeachspaceshouldbe
renewed.
3.ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS
SURVEYS AND STUIDES OF VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
Theclimaticperformanceofthebuilding
shouldbestudied.Atpresentinstruments
areavailabletostudythetemperature,
relativehumidity,airmovement,speed
andlighting.
Usingthesetheperformanceofthe
importantspacesshouldbestudied.The
studiesshouldbeconductedduring
summer,monsoonandwinter.
Thereadingsshouldbealsobetaken
duringdaytimeandnighttime.The
informationcollectedshouldberecorded
andanalyzed.Thisstudywouldgivea
clearideaabouttheclimatic
performanceofthebuilding.
4.EVALUATION
Understanding
organization of spaces
Size, form and quality of
environment of spaces
Activity analysis
Climatic condition
Multi-use character
Study the temperature,
relative humidity, air
movement, speed and
lighting
Performance of spaces
during Day and Night.
During seasons.
PMIST; Date: 20.01.2020

45. Withthehelpofaquestionersurveythe
usersviewsofthevariousspacesofthe
houseandtheirlevelofsatisfactionmay
beassessed.Theirviewson
inconveniences,problems,suggestions
mayalsocouldbecollected.
5.USERS SATISFACTION
SURVEYS AND STUIDES OF VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
Certainvernacularbuildingsmighthave
beendamagedduetoageormiss-use.
Hencere-habilitationandconservation
workmaybenecessary.Forconservation
workproperdocumentationofthe
buildinganddrawings,indicating
damagedpartsanddrawingindicatingthe
structuralsystemandbuildingmaterials
arerequired.
6.CONSERVATION
Understanding the users
level of satisfaction
Assessment of problems
and their suggestions
Conservation
Rehabilitation
Ar. S. Bala Hari Krishnan, Asst. Professor, PMIST; Date: 20.01.2020

46. CULTURE AND CONTEXTUAL
RESPONSE
CONTEXT –GEOGRAPHY-CULTURE
Ar. S. Bala Hari Krishnan, Asst. Professor, PMIST; Date: 20.01.2020

47. Contextinrelationtoarchitecturereferstolocationanditsimmediate
surroundings(ofaplacewhereabuildingorasettlementislocated).
Weneedtostudythephysicalcharacteristicsofaplacetounderstand
thenatureofarchitecture,vernaculararchitecturedevelopedonit.
Geographyprovidesinformationonthephysicalcharacteristicsofa
place.It’sthestudyofearth’ssurfaceincludingitspeople,their
responsetotopography,climate,soilandvegetation.
Peoplerespondtogeographyoftheplacetheyliveandlearntodotheir
worksuitably.Geographydeterminesthehumanfood,clothing,shelter,
occupation,medicine,entertainmentandultimatelytheirculture.
Henceitcanbestatedthatcultureisanoutcomeofthegeographic
conditionofaplace.Asthegeographicalconditionchanges,culture
wouldalsochange.
CONTEXT –GEOGRAPHY -CULTURE
CULTURE AND CONTEXTUAL RESPONSE
GEOGRAPHY
Ar. S. Bala Hari Krishnan, Asst. Professor, PMIST; Date: 20.01.2020
CLIMATE
FOOD
CLOTHING
PROTECTIO
N
BEHAVIOUR
CULTURE
GEOGRAPHY
CLIMATE
&
SOIL CONDITION
FOOD HABITS
&
CLOTHING
ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY

48. ThisclearlyindicatesthattheshelterisalsorelatedtoGeography.
Thereforeitcanbestatedthatculture,economicactivityandthetypeof
theshelterareplacespecific.Theychangefromplacetoplace.Thatiswhy
suchawidevarietyisfoundinvernaculararchitecturearoundtheworld.Cultureoftheplaceismainlymoldedbythegeographyofthe
region.
Contextprovidesthephysicalenvironment,siteandmaterials
fortheshelter.
Bothcultureandcontexttogetherdeterminesthehouseform.Contextalso
providesoptions.
Culturesincludeslifestyleandbelieves.Hencecultureplaysaleadrolein
determiningthehouseform.
CULTURE AND CONTEXTUAL RESPONSE
GEOGRAPHY
PMIST; Date: 20.01.2020
LOCATION
CLIMATE
SITE CONDITION
BUILDING MATERIALS
FORM OF
SHELTER