Critical Regionalism In Architecture

Critical regionalism can be seen as an approach to architecture that tries to stand up for places, culture and identifies of a place where Modern Architecture has failed to, by using the building's geographical context and reference of vernacular architecture. Frampton (1983:76). The term critical regionalism was first used by Alexander Tzonis and Liane Lefaivre and, with a somewhat different meaning, by Kenneth Frampton.

Paul Ricoeur wrote:

“The phenomenon of universalization, while being an advancement of mankind, at the same time constitute a sort of subtle destruction, not only of traditional cultures… but also what I shall call… the creative nucleus of great cultures…. We have the feeling that single world civilization at the same time exerts a sort of attrition or wearing away at the expense of the cultural resources which have made the great civilizations of the past” (Cole, Lorch, 2003:120).

Frampton, in his cry for an ‘architecture of resistance’ (2002:77:81) inhabits this ironic statement to initiate his rational that resistant architecture should not only be practiced by the avant-garde. Critical regionalism could be considered as a particular kind of post-modern response. This response developed as a result of the failure of Post-modernism, together with the influence of Globalization and the spread of western culture. Critical Regionalism could also be seen as a solution to cultural issues and the problems of architectural identity. Frampton’s argument is that critical regionalism should not only answer to context, but it should also value the progress of universal modern architecture (Frampton,1983).

An important aspect of Critical Regionalism is that the occupants of any design experience the local climatic c...

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...cteristics, with appropriate current technology. It is the search for an architecture that is meaningful within its context and at the same time participates in the more universal aspects of a contemporary mobile society.”

McGinnis (1999:211), Argues that, the main focus of critical regionalism should be place and resistance, which he terms ‘bioregional restoration’ the aims of this term are to:

“…re-immerse the practice of human communities within the bio-regions that provide their material support…. Bioregional restoration can be a therapeutic strategy to expose ourselves viscerally to local ecosystem process, to foster identification with other life forms and to rebuild community within place, as the insights and local information that emerge from restoration activities affect the cultural and economic practice of the human population” (Cole, Lorch, 2003:122).