Built to Meet Needs: Cultural Issues in Vernacular Architecture

The study of vernacular architecture explores the characteristics of domestic buildings in particular regions or localities, and the many social and cultural factors that have contributed to their evolution. In this book, vernacular architecture specialist Paul Oliver brings together a wealth of information that spans over two decades, and the whole globe. Some previously unpublished papers, as well as those only available in hard to find conference proceedings, are brought together in one volume to form a fascinating reference for students and professional architects, as well as all those involved with planning housing schemes in their home countries and overseas.

Table of Contents:
Part I Defining the Field; Chapter 1 Why study vernacular architecture? (1978); Chapter 2 The Importance of the Study of Vernacular Architecture (1993); Chapter 3 Problems of definition and praxis (1999); Part II Cultures and Contexts; Chapter 4 Learning from Asante (2000); Chapter 5 Cultural traits and environmental contexts: Problems of cultural specificity and cross-cultural Comparability (1999); Chapter 6 Huizhou and Herefordshire: A Comparative Study (2001); Chapter 7 Tout confort: Culture and comfort (1986); Part III Tradition and Transmission; Chapter 8 Vernacular know-how (1982); Chapter 9 Earth as a building material today (1983); Chapter 10 Handed down architecture: Tradition and transmission (1989); Chapter 11 Technology transfer: A vernacular view (2003); Part IV Cultures, Disasters and Dwellings; Chapter 12 The cultural context of shelter provision (1978); Chapter 13 Earthen housing and cultures in seismic areas (1984); Chapter 14 Factors affecting the acceptability of resettlement housing (1984); Chapter 15 Rebirth of a Rajput village (1992); Part V Conservation and Continuity; Chapter 16 Conserving the vernacular in developing countries (1986); Chapter 17 Re-presenting and representing the vernacular: The open-air museum (2001); Chapter 18 Perfect and plain: Shaker approaches to design (1990); Part VI Suburbs and Self-Builders; Chapter 19 Individualizing Dunroamin (1992); Chapter 20 Round the houses (1983); Chapter 21 Kaluderica: High-grade housing in an illegal settlement (1989); Part VII Meeting the Challenge of the Twenty-First Century; Chapter 22 Tradition by itself (2000); Chapter 23 Ethics and vernacular architecture (2000); Chapter 24 Necessity and sustainability: The impending crisis (2002);