Vernacular design
An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about vernacular design
News • News • 3 Jun 2024
Multigenerational family home in Rajasthan by Sanjay Puri Architects embraces regional vernacular and natural ventilation
Located in the arid desert region of Nokha in Rajasthan, India, “Narsighar” house is a majestic sandstone edifice whose construction embraces centuries-old regional vernacular and planning principles. Designed by Mumbai-based Sanjay Puri Architects, the house makes use of traditional and natural ventilation techniques, including: courtyards to aid passive cooling, thick stone walls to strive against the exceptional heat, and stone jali screens to provide ventilation while dappling the interior with sunlight.
Vinay Panjwani
Vinay Panjwani
Designed to fulfill the client’s wish to accommodate four generations of family members, this impressive residential dwelling (with a gross floor area of approxi... More
Project • By CCBA Designs • Cultural Centres
Alliance Française
In 1973, the Gujarat United School of Theology embarked on the construction of a modest library and cultural centre spanning two hundred and sixty square meters. Originally intended to house a specialized book collection and serve as a communal space for small gatherings, the project took an unexpected turn during its development. It was eventually repurposed to accommodate the Alliance Française, a move that would lead to the creation of a striking architectural statement.
Caption
Situated within the confines of a late nineteenth-century institution characterized by brick and stone accents, the Alliance Française at Ahmedabad stands as a testament to modernist design principles. Every element of its construction underwe... More
News • News • 6 Dec 2023
OHLAB’s Paral-lel buildings embrace Mallorcan design traditions and sustainability
In Bonanova, a quiet residential neighborhood in south-west Palma de Mallorca, Spanish multidisciplinary architectural studio OHLAB (Oliver Hernaiz Architecture Lab) has designed "Paral-lel". A project that consists of two independent residential blocks, Paral-lel is immediately notable for its expressive use of folding wooden slat shutters. In addition, the project integrates a number of sustainability initiatives.
José Hevia
José Hevia
The design of Paral-lel’s two buildings takes full advantage of Mallorca’s urban planning regulations, with a ground floor plus three levels. The project has twelve dwellings in total, six in each building. “The duplex dwellings are divided into six u... 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 • News • 27 Apr 2023
Manuelle Gautrand Architecture designs a future architectural ‘folie’ for Montpellier
Manuelle Gautrand Architecture presents its plans for "Alma Terra”, the winning project of the "Folie Manuguerra", part of a call for architectural folies from the city of Montpellier. Owing to the success of the its first two follies, "Folie Divine" and "Arbre Blanc", a new generation of follies are to be built in the city.
MANUELLE GAUTRAND ARCHITECTURE
A 21st century folie
Alma Terra continues an architectural tradition in Montpellier that dates back to the 18th century — at that time, the bourgeoisie commissioned architects to design and build “les Folies Montpellieraines”, a number of châteaux on the outskirts of the city. Today, Alma Terra reflects a new 21st century reality, with an objective... More
Project • By Sorg Architects • Embassies
US Embassy, Bridgetown, Barbados
The design for the new U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados combines prevalent vernacular architectural styles, local materials and modernist forms in an architecture that symbolizes U.S. democratic ideals while meeting challenging building and site requirements set by the U.S. Department of State. Located on a 3.2 acre site, the new Embassy includes the renovation of an existing five-story office building as well as a new addition of similar scale. Stringent physical and technical security requirements and a highly specialized program were configured around challenging site constraints and within adaptive reuse parameters for the existing building. The resulting hinged design connects public and private functions with a central gallery... More