Vernacular architecture
An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about vernacular architecture
Project • By The Room Architecture and Design • Shopping Centres
(S) Squares Al Sahil Mall
The design for (S) Squares Al Sahil Mall received third place in a global competition hosted by Al Salimi Real Estate Development in Saudi Arabia, bringing recognition to Cambodian architecture on the international stage. Developed by The Room Architecture and Design, the proposal reinterprets traditional Saudi architectural references for a contemporary retail destination. Its concept centers on a deliberate duality: an outward-facing commercial frontage along the main road and a sheltered central plaza that forms a more inward-looking public space. The building envelope draws from Najdi architectural archetypes, specifically rectilinear earthen massing, enclosed courtyards, and geometric mashrabiya screen walls, translating historic envir... More
Project • By Humanscape • Private Houses
Suki Niwas
Located in Bhukum on the outskirts of Pune, Suki House is a 1,850 sq. ft. residence
conceived as a grounded, multigenerational home that celebrates landscape, climate and everyday living. Designed as a first home for a family deeply connected to the city, the house is imagined as a quiet sanctuary where domestic life unfolds in close relationship with the garden.
Caption
The brief shared with the Humanscape Studio was shaped by the family’s desire to create a comfortable and inclusive home. The ground floor was envisioned as a space for the parents that opens directly into a lush garden, while also welcoming visiting grandparents from their native village; allowing them to experience the familiarity of verandah living. The home... More
Project • By KP OFFICE • Private Houses
pezoules house
Designed by Konstantinos Pittsas and KP Office, Pezoules House is conceived as a direct dialogue with its natural setting. Located on a steep and narrow plot, the residence responds closely to the terrain, orientation, and surrounding landscape, using architecture to frame and intensify the experience of the site rather than dominate it. The project’s sustainability strategy is grounded in minimal landscape intervention, passive environmental responsiveness, and the use of locally sourced materials that reinforce the connection between building and terrain.
Stavros Niflis
❌︎ Remove
Applied Products block will be inserted here
Building with the landscape
The organisation of the house is shaped by the steep topo... More
Project • By d6thD design studio • Private Houses
Rushitoya
A Celebration of Context and Craft: The architecture of a homestay by river Machchundari
Nestled along the banks of the river Machchundari near the Dron village in Kathiawar region of Gujarat, this homestay embodies a seamless blend of tradition and topography, responding sensitively to the landscape’s contours while maintaining the essence of a traditional kathiyawadi house configuration. Designed by Himanshu Patel, principal architect of d6thD, the site presents a dramatic spatial narrative, beginning with a narrow unassuming and unpredictable entrance that gradually surprises us, revealing the expansive interaction between the house and the hidden beauty of the river. The contours of the terrain are reflected in how spaces a... More
Project • By Sangrah • Restaurants
Kiki-by the Sea
Goa’s popular coastal restaurant Kiki–by the Sea has revealed an exciting new chapter in its story with the unveiling of a beautifully designed first-floor extension. The project, which blends tropical elegance with whimsical design details, was masterfully executed by Sangrah, a Goa-based interior design studio led by Shreeya Singh. This second phase of Kiki offers patrons a captivating blend of coastal charm, tranquil aesthetics, and a seamless connection with nature.
Anish Padalkar [APStudioworks]
Kiki–by the Sea is more than just a restaurant—it’s a design marvel that takes full advantage of its spectacular location, with expansive views of the bay and river. This unique coastal property is a refreshi... More
Project • By Uru Consulting • Residential Landscape
house beneath a jackfruit tree
A building that is constructed and designed to be environmentally responsible and resource-efficient is called a green building. Green buildings are designed to maintain or improve the quality of the environment around them. Deep under its stylish mien, with Nature running through the veins of this house of 3732 Square feet, is a green building. Team Uru’s journey with their project endearingly calls the dream project of their client Zainuddeen C, “The House beneath a Jackfruit Tree”. In cultures all over the world, Jackfruit trees symbolize prosperity, connectedness, and eternal life. When Team Uru visited the plot situated at Malappuram for the first time, they realized that the old Jackfruit tree had a long story... More
News • News • 14 Oct 2024
Zaha Hadid Architects revealed as designers of the new Alisher Navoi International Scientific Research Centre
In New Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the Alisher Navoi International Scientific Research Centre by Zaha Hadid Architects will include the Navoi State Museum of Literature, Auditorium, International Research Centre, and School. The design by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) features arched facades drawn from the local vernacular architecture and compelling interiors crafted from bricks produced in local kilns. Further, passive design principles guiding the architecture will provide optimal conditions for building occupants with minimal energy consumption.
Courtesy Norviska
The project, which celebrates Uzbek literature and Shashmaqom music traditions, will anchor a new 15,000-hectare cultural quarter within New Tashkent. The program will... More
News • News • 17 Apr 2024
Hudson Valley Residence by HGX Design draws inspiration from local agricultural vernacular
New York City-based creative studio HGX Design has completed the Hudson Valley Residence, a modern, elongated glass- and wood-paneled home built on a ridge overlooking the Catskill Mountains in New York State. Surrounded by rural farmland, the home’s design draws inspiration from local agricultural vernacular such as farm buildings.
Scott Frances
HGX Design
The residence sits at the highest point of a 35-acre (14-hectare) property — running north to south, it enjoys views of the Catskills to the west. The home is accessed via a lane that winds its way up a hillside to the front entry court, where expansive glass paneling draws the eye into the interior. “In contrast to the vertical ascent and the massive... More
Project • By Housescape Design Lab • Private Houses
Mr.New's Cabin
The first conversation when starting to build this house was “How to make a building seamlessly connect with the surrounding context that is much bigger than itself?” The location of this house is amidst nature in Mae Rim District. and travels only 20 kilometers from Chiang Mai city. There are both lakes and hills surrounding this location.
Jeng Pheera
Jeng Pheera
Jeng Pheera
Jeng Pheera
Jeng Pheera
The orientation of the building is designed so that half of the daily activities are connected to the shore overlooking the lake, both in terms of practical use. And in terms of the perception experience, both the sight and the smell of the steam and humidity that can be felt in homes near water sources.... More
News • News • 23 Feb 2024
Bučina Cottage is inspired by traditional construction of timber houses in Czech Republic
Designed by Prague-based architectural studio ADR, Bučina Cottage is a contemporary residence for the manager of Malá Úpa ski resort in the Czech Republic. The building’s cross shape draws on a regional vernacular, inspired by the traditional construction of timber houses in the Krkonoše National Park area. It also takes advantage of the surrounding views, looking towards snowy mountain peaks.
BoysPlayNice
BoysPlayNice
The project brief described a building that is both compact and functional. The home is a lightweight, single-story prefabricated wooden structure with a residential attic space. It sits on a concrete foundation base on a two-step strip foundation — the upper step is made fr... More
News • Archello Awards • 22 Dec 2023
Casa Ederlezi winner of public vote for House of the Year (Urban)
Located in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Mexico, Casa Ederlezi has been selected by public vote as Archello Awards 2023 House of the Year (Urban). The design by Practica Arquitectura works with the limited dimensions of its plot and project brief to carve out a series of tranquil and personal architectural experiences, with ample green space and 360-degree views from the expansive terrace at the top of the house.
Apertura Arquitectónica
The architects explain that in general, their projects start by thinking about voids, the spaces outside the program where the essence of the space can be found. In this case, despite the site having limited dimensions of 5 meters by 20 meters, they were able to create a series o... More
Project • By Arsomslip Community and Environmental Architect • Private Houses
Baan huen Dhamma
Kanate Chainapong
Two of the house owners, Khun Aung (Thai), Age 50 years old and Khun Usaburu (Japanese), Age 60 years old, both have worked together with local villagers on Thai traditional fabric. Both are interested in the vernacular household, love to live surrounded by nature, and keen on Buddhist Dhamma practice.After having worked with the villager for a long period of timetogether with becoming older, they have decided to build a house, which is aimed to become the last house of their life.
“to become their last house, having brought them into a peaceful death.”
Kanate Chainapong
Kanate Chainapong
--- Navigation dialogue/ Master’s words ---In Buddhism, one phase is told that the last mental soul i... More
Project • By GARQUITEG • Apartments
Punta Mayia
Located in Zicatela, Oaxaca, on the southwest coast of Mexico, within the conurbation of Puerto Escondido, this building stood in a place of high tourist demand and was ideal for recreation. With a population of 45,000 inhabitants, this city stood out for its recreational and surfing beaches, its gastronomy, its orography, its vernacular architecture, and its bohemian charm. These characteristics positioned this city as one of the fastest-growing and most attractive vacation destinations in the country and internationally.
Alex Kortkov
Situated in one of the areas with the highest tourist potential, just within a 10-minute walking distance from the beach, the project was designed through a rigorous market analysis to respond to the hi... More
News • News • 13 Sep 2023
Passage House is an exploration of Irish vernacular building materials in contemporary form
Passage House is a collaboration between Dublin-based architectural practice O’Donnell + Tuomey and Cork-based design studio and workshop Joseph Walsh Studio. An experimental structure, Passage House is the first pavilion in a series called “Rambling Houses”. The project, born from conversations between O’Donnell + Tuomey and Joseph Walsh Studio, explores the design of experimental, contemporary structures made using Irish vernacular building materials, including stone, timber, and thatch.
Stephen Tierney
O’Donnell + Tuomey and Joseph Walsh Studio have collaborated previously on the development of several smaller projects (the Falling Dansu desk and The Vessel). The “Rambling Houses” proje... More
News • Specification • 8 Aug 2023
10+1 dwellings that exude Mediterranean style
August is that month when life settles down before work and school begin again in September - at least in the northern hemisphere. For many people, especially those seeking a sunnier climate, the Mediterranean is an ideal destination. A place with a magical allure, "Mediterranean" is in many ways a synonym for slow living - the region's influence permeates architecture, design, lifestyle and culture. Twenty-one countries on three continents (Africa, Asia and Europe) border the Mediterranean. While each country has its own unique way of life, they share common characteristics that embody the spirit of the Mediterranean.
Modern Mediterranean-style architecture often combines contemporary building design with a nod to traditional Mediterranea... More