2.4. CLIMATE AND VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
Vernacular architecture is a category of architecture which is based on local needs, construction materials and reflecting local traditions One of the main influences on vernacular architecture is the macro climate of the area in which the building is to be constructed. Buildings in cold climates invariably have high thermal mass or significant amounts of insulation. They are usually sealed in order to prevent heat loss, and openings such as windows tend to be small or non-existent. Buildings in warm climates, by contrast, tend to be constructed of lighter materials and to allow significant cross-ventilation through openings in the fabric of the building.
13 | P a g e
Buildings for a continental climate
…show more content…
Further, ventilators are provided for attic ventilation when wooden false ceiling is incorporated for the room spaces. The roofs thus enclose a large insulated air space thus, keeping the lower areas cooler. A typical Kerala traditional house consists of two major living areas - inner one forming the core of the house and the outer verandahs forming the
Figure 4 POOMUKHAM
Figure 5 IRAYAM
Figure 6 CONCEPT OF IR MOVEMENT THROUGH THE COURTYARD
17 | P a g e periphery. The house form offer flexibility and it helps the inhabitants to shift their activities from one place to another in different climatic conditions. An important aspect of the Kerala traditional architecture is the usage of courtyards. In dry season the inner courtyards are used for drying, cleaning and preparing cereals, food etc.The courtyard also functions as a major functional element in the house with most of the internal movement and circulation of people defined by the verandahs around the courtyard, as the major rooms are entered from this verandah. MATERIALS
The commonly used building materials for vernacular construction in Kerala are mud, laterite, granite stone, lime mortar, wood, bamboo, clay tile roofing and coconut palm
If you are concerned about safety, then consider the low height and transparent mesh side windows. The windows help ensure ventilation and airflow.
The deterioration of residential homes is common throughout the years due to wear and tear from everyday usage. The cost to prevent this deterioration is usually minimal and does not skyrocket into the hundreds of thousands of dollars for routine maintenance. In addition, the construction of residential homes has improved throughout the years; hence, not as many repairs are required over time. Engineers have developed better concepts of how homes will stand up against the elements and big box stores encourage the homeowners to repair and do their own maintenance on their standard house. However, there are residential homes that are nonconforming and their architectural designs are of those who have brought these homes into the forefront of Modern Architecture. One who is most noteworthy and is synonymous with residential homes is Frank Lloyd Wright. Known for his unique style of residential design, Frank Lloyd Wright was ahead of his time, however, the materials he used in these designs have proven to be unsustainable and cost hundreds of thousands, even millions, of dollars to homeowners for their preservation.
In the 1950s Newcastle was known as a sleep city, Dan described it as “moribund” (1) decades had past and very little economic development had taken place between that time frame and families were left to suffer. In 1959, T. Dan Smith became Leader of Newcastle City Council, he set up his own independent planning department in the council and appointed Wilfred Burns as chief officer in 1960. They both wanted to re-modernise Newcastle for the better by undertaking new road plans to resolve the traffic congestion that plagued the city and breath new life into the city by clearing out the slum areas and rebuilding new homes to help improve peoples living conditions. One way Smith helped promote his grand scheme was through a series of models and held public gatherings to help fuel his passion to help change Newcastle, a method used by Richard Grainger who greatly strengthened Newcastle’s status as a regional capital. In order to achieve Grainger’s equivalent he set out to get renowned architects to develop the city, like Le Corbusier , Basil Spence, Leslie Martin, Robert Matthew and even Picasso to help reinforce his vision for the future “Brasilia of the North” (2). In this essay I will closely examine T. Dan Smith’s proposed plans for the new urban motorway system, that would help solve the traffic problem. Also the redevelopment of Eldon Sqaure that would come under scrutiny, but would later become a commercial success. I will also investigate the new Civic Centre that replaced the Old Town Hall and the intention from the local authorities to demolish the Royal Arcade and replace it with a roundabout.
Energy efficient windows have multiple layers of glass. The reason for this is because the more layers of glass you have the better it insulates the house. Three or four layers of glass are one of the best because you have more airspace in between layers.
Do you have a living room, open floor plan, or carpet flooring? Most homes in America today have these basic essentials, and Frank Lloyd Wright can be credited for this. Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the most influential Architects in American history. These innovations in modern architecture may not have occurred without him. Wright developed the Prairie style of architecture in 1909. This style is distinguished by horizontal lines on the exterior, a low pitched hipped roof, long bands of windows, wide overhanging eaves, and brick courses or wood bands. Frank Lloyd Wright’s innovations in architecture positively influenced the way American homes were built, therefore affecting their lives. His concept of an open floor plan encouraged families and people inside their homes to interact and relax
For my career opportunity project, I have chosen to take a look at the profession
Charles Jencks in his book “The Language of Post-Modern Architecture “shows various similarities architecture shares with language, reflecting about the semiotic rules of architecture and wanting to communicate architecture to a broader public. The book differentiates post-modern architecture from architectural modernism in terms of cultural and architectural history by transferring the term post-modernism from the study of literature to architecture.
Architecture is the concept of bringing structure, materiality, form and space together as a whole, provide people with enclosed atmosphere to experience. Considering this, it is important to identify that materiality and the purpose of details has been a key methodology to bringing architectural intentions into the design in an affective manner, more over producing an architectural expression. However, this position is rather declining in architecture, reducing tectonics and materiality to being secondary to form and space. With the start of modernism, the attempt to achieve minimalistic style has caused detailing to increasingly develop into a decorative aspect of a building, neglecting its individual contribution to architecture.
What makes modern architecture? Before answering this, one would need to understand what the term “modern” exactly describes. In architecture, modernism is the movement or transition from one period to another, and it is caused by cultural, territorial, and technological changes happening in the world. In Kenneth Frampton’s Modern Architecture: A Critical History, he details these three major societal changes that impact and create modern architecture.
Mali is an African country. It is located in the hot desert in West Africa. The capital is Bamako .Mali has different type of Climate: tropical climate in the south and arid climate in the north. Droughts are frequent and the rainfall all over the country is negligible. It has two main seasons, the wet season from June to October and the cool and hot dry season the remainder of the year. We find some species of trees such as the doom palm, the baobab, and leguminous fruit bearing plants.
In the category of modern art, the field that I’m personally fascinated by is architecture. The reason I say this is that architecture is more than just a piece of art, but a masterpiece of the combination of intelligence, physics, and the work of the imagination. I just happened to be in luck when I visited the MOMA because the museum was currently exhibiting a special collection of archives and the designs of the architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The show displayed all the drafts of the most iconic buildings the Frank Lloyd Wright had designed in his career, and this made it very difficult for me to decide which piece I want to write about because every one were very intriguing.
With the interaction between the development of computational approaches in architecture and the contemporary forms of spatial design intelligence, some new architectural design theories emerged to make differences between architects and control designing processes. These theories are almost employed in all designing realms, from architecture to urban design to provide fields of ideas and solutions that privilege by complexity. Most of these theories are oriented to relay on understanding and using computational methods to generate exotic and complex geometries. In this respect, three of these theories will discussed and tested against three buildings. The theories are: parametric design, genetic architecture and emergence, which characterize some of the contemporary architectural design approaches.
Buildings reflect the values and ideas of society within periods. The role of architecture in shaping society and vice versa largely depends on the period in question and who or what affects first. The Enlightenment, and the subsequent period the Post-Enlightenment, reflect the biggest change for current ideas regarding architecture and society and current theories. At the same time, individual identities and understanding of society, progress and truth all follow a similar evolving path. It is during this dramatic shift in thinking that the role of architecture to society and the idea of progress and truth becomes a more complex relationship. How this relationship works and its implications is based on the theory that there is a direct link between the two. One cannot develop without the other. Who leads whom and to what extent they influence each other is evident in architectural trends and pioneering works by architects such as Robert Venturi, Frank Gehry amongst others.
I believe nature plays a very important role in architectural design. Nature is simple, organic, and appealing to all. There are set rules in which nature has always followed. Because plants, water, earth, and other natural elements always follow these rules, their natural symmetry and stature are considered attractive. Why would any designer or artist choose to ignore these rules that have been followed by unarguably beautiful artwork? Marc-Antoine Laugier also believes nature is a very important factor when designing architectural structures. Though his beliefs are a little primitive for today’s design techniques and style, I still admire his writings and view on the matter.
Recent years have been challenging for the whole country and particularly for the construction sector and the architectural profession. Challenging times do however, afford the opportunity for reflection and debate about what is provided and delivered by the architectural profession.