ARK-E1021 - Studio Spring, Humanitarian Architecture, Lecture, 11.1.2024-6.6.2024

CLIMATE AND VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE

GROUP WORK

This assignment will prepare you for further understanding of different conditions in the world and how elements in buildings are affected by climate, history or cultures. This assignment introduces you to different world climate zones and prepares you to work in different parts of the world under existing conditions.

The world’s climate zones

Study and prepare a description and a brief analysis of the climate in Rwanda/Ghana (are they different?). Use the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system.

·       Name and define the climate type.

·       Look the other areas where this climate prevails.

·       How can the climate be characterized? Describe seasons, temperatures, precipitation / rainfall /humidity, winds, sun and daylight conditions.

·       Describe possible severe/extreme weather conditions and vulnerable areas. Find recent news from the area; have there been any natural hazards recently?

·       Describe shortly flora and fauna, availability of natural/local building materials.

·       Give a rough estimate, how many people in the world live and are affected by this climate type?

Vernacular architecture and living environment in different climatic conditions

·       Study traditional / vernacular architecture and living conditions in given location. Find examples/pictures from the past.

·       Try to find how the vernacular architecture evokes response to the climate. Try to find only the most typical and representative vernacular buildings / types of regional architecture prevailing in the climate.

·       Study also the village/city structures and volumes if possible. Study also how for instance water and waste have been managed traditionally. Find examples/pictures from the past.

·       What are the local materials used? Study materials, structures, design and building techniques which are adopted:

Study, how they are related to climatic requirements and how they make use of natural resources?

Study materials used more closely. How is the use of local materials versus imported ones?

Are there features influenced more by local culture(s) than the climate?

·       How do people build now – is it different from the past and how? Is it “self built” or by some bigger building contractor?

·       Can you find resent architectural projects that respond well to this climate condition? Compare these projects to the traditional vernacular architecture, can you find similarities?   

·       How does the new buildings relate to the weather conditions or the cultural need of the people? Find examples of how houses are built in your study area today and compare them to the vernacular buildings.

·       Can you see any future for the use of traditional systems, vernacular architecture and traditional materials?

·       Is there something in these techniques and designs that could be useful in modern climate conscious development?

When and how

Group work/3 people (3 Ghana, 3 Rwanda)

Use internet and books from the library.

Prepare 30 mins pdf-presentation for February 15^th.

Submit to MyCourses on February 15th by 1 pm.

Name the file: Sprint_1_vernacular_ghana.pdf or Sprint_1_vernacular_rwanda.pdf