The impossible myth of the vernacular city as a paradigm for optimising resources

Abstract

Vernacular architecture is considered an ideal way to understand design, as an example of simplicity and the conservation of resources, specifically energy. Along these lines, urbanism has proved to be the most suitable expression of humanity?s habitat in a specific geographical surrounding. However, the application of vernacular architecture and urbanism as a model no longer works, and it has become an unreachable myth. The current systems of construction have made the vernacular model of architecture impossible: a new paradigm must be reinvented and it has to be admitted that processes and society have changed, making current vernacular architecture meaningful only as a focus of study. The same research studies on favourably valuated buildings with current methods of environmental evaluation reflect this situation: these constructions cannot be identified within their own geographic context. In order to analyse this situation, certain conditions and basic elements have been schematically and generally identified allowing for the creation of vernacular architecture, including production methods, social structure and user participation in the process, among others. With this data, a fundamental framework for comparison has been established. This framework for comparison has been applied, first, to the social structures that have allowed for a vernacular urban model, and second, to an urban structure considered as contemporary. Mainly, the conclusion is that the criteria under which this architecture has been conceived are not applicable, thus not to be repeated.