Helaena Blanch
Learning from Vernacular
AAD Dissertation Studio 5 2019–20
Extracts from Helaena Blanch, What Principles can be learnt from Traditional Vernacular Architecture that can help Address Current Housing Development Issues in the UK?
Dissertation Studio 5 Meaningful Work Tutor: Paul Harper
School of Art, Architecture and Design London Metropolitan University 2020
Chapter Three: Contemporary Vernacular ‘Architects set their skill to … create new compositions. Guided by tradition, but stimulated by fresh needs to make a new architecture rather than mere copies of the old’ Lawrence Weaver. This chapter will look at how Vernacular Architecture has been applied to developments across the UK, through 3 key issues facing contemporary development: identity, community, and sustainability. The success of these examples will be measured partly on the opinions of residents. A conclusion will be made on whether or not implementing the principles of Vernacular Architecture has been successful, acknowledging the challenges and limitation of implementing these techniques across the UK.
Identity
A challenge to the loss of distinctiveness has been demonstrated in the Officers Field development in Portland, Dorset. This development, designed by HTA Design for ZeroC Developments, consists of 77 houses, ranging from two to four-bedroom homes (HTA Design, n.d.). It won 11 awards upon completion, including ‘Housing Project of the Year’ in 2012 (HTA Design, n.d.). The site’s composition was designed in a way to respect the landscape’s character (Carmicheal and Stern, 2018, p.23). The streetscape reflects the ‘clifftop crags’ which are a prominent feature of the island (Nash, 2016, p.62). The challenging topography meant that many of the houses required retaining walls on the ground floor. The Architects were conscious of using materials local to the site, so the walls were constructed from Portland Stone. The recession of 2008 made this native stone cheaper than anticipated, which allowed it to fit within the budget of an affordable housing complex (Nash, 2016, p.62). The rendering of the houses also maintained a local aesthetic, matching the local stone and finishes of some existing estates (Urbanitarian, n.d.).
Figure 4 & 5 – Officers Field (HTA, 2014).
Page | 17
Officers Field is an example of applying Vernacular Architecture without devolving to pastiche. HTA created a contemporary development that did not echo the standard house forms like those of volume house builders. They instead built unique three-storey homes to fit the special requirements of residents, using locally available resources. This progressive design is widely considered a success and a ‘local asset’, standing prominently as you approach the island (Nash, 2016, p.63). It also engages with the surrounding landscape, offering generous views of Chesil Beach through tall windows (Carmicheal and Stern, 2018, p.23). It must be acknowledged that the success of this development relied heavily on the availability of local stone, which will likely not be the case across the board. Therefore, the cost and availability of material will have a big implication on the design decision. A development which successfully maintained its regional identity was Burnside’s 24-unit housing scheme in the Scottish Highlands. Rural Design Architects took inspiration from traditional ‘Drying Barns’ and ‘Black-Houses’ found throughout rural Scotland (Nash, 2016, p.66). Instead of using thick stone walls, a mixture of different local materials were used, but in line with the regions vernacular (Welch, 2019).
Figure 6 – Burnside housing development (Rural Design, 2010).
The regional identity was appropriately reflected within the design, with local traditional styles adapted to suit the contemporary needs of residents. Nash argues that the development had ‘respect and understanding of the site in which it sits’ (Nash, 2016, p.69). The design director Alan Dickson used local contractors and materials to build the development, believing that ‘vernacular building comprises making the best of what you have now’ (Nash, 2015, p.66). He discovered that it worked in the developments favour, as he recognised the locals were more ‘passionate about quality’, the importance of which would come to bear in the future (Nash, 2016, p.66). Interviewed residents were very pleased with their homes and liked the application of timber on the houses, as well as the higher ceilings. Planning authorities have been asking Alan Dickson, since completing the Burnside development, to conduct training on ‘Contemporary Architecture’ across Scotland, which also demonstrates the
Page | 18
success of his method (Nash, 2016, p.69). Although Dickson did not emulate the traditional design, he used locally sourced materials and labour. Even in an area of the country as sparsely populated as the Scottish Highlands he was able to acquire a skilled and motivated workforce; this however may not be the case across the entire country. A less successful example of applying Vernacular Architecture was Prince Charles’ controversial ‘Model Village’ of Poundbury, Dorset (Wainwright, 2016). The development was intended to reflect the local character of its County (Duchy of Cornwall, 2019). However, Luxembourgian master planner Leon Krier said his inspiration for shaping the town was ‘great European Cities… adapted to local conditions’ (Hardy, 2006, p.36-41). This shaped the brief for Poundbury, proposing a vernacular style development with a ‘classical’ centre (Bizley, 2018). The town centre became a grand classical Greco-Roman Piazza, while many of the houses were Georgian revival terraces, and others quaint country cottages (Wainwright, 2016). With these conflicting styles of architecture all present, Wainwright describes the town as a ‘feudal Disneyland’ (Wainwright, 2016). Conversely, Prince Charles argued in his book reflecting on Poundbury that ‘we can build new developments which echo the familiar, [as well as] attractive features of our regional vernacular styles’ (Rybczynski, 2013).
Figure 7 – Poundbury (PBC Today, 2019).
Throughout Poundbury they are a number of buildings whose functions do not correspond with their grand facades, leaving some confused with the architect’s intentions (McGuirk, 2009). Many feel it has a lack of identity and is not an honest reflection of the local vernacular (Wainswright, 2016). Poundbury does the opposite of what Rapoport recommends, as it romanticises the past’s vernacular and tries to recapture it in buildings which have not earnt their status (Aharoni, 2019, p.6). Following Rapoport’s theory would have allowed for critical engagement with vernacular tradition and integration with modern technology, thus resulting in a contemporary development with local distinctiveness.
Page | 19
Although Poundbury did not apply the methods of Vernacular Architecture correctly, it is nonetheless a unique development that by far ‘exceeds the sophistication achieved by any modern housebuilder.’ (Wainwright, 2016). Although labelled as ‘fake, heartless, and grimly cute’ (Ough, 2017), residents have described it as ‘starting to feel like a real place’ with continued development (Wainwright, 2016). There is a question of conflicting views between modern architects, who generally take issue with neo-classical architecture (Mount, 2018), and the local residents, 86% of which said they are glad they live there (Morris and Booth, 2009). The application of Vernacular Architecture in an effort to preserve local identity is not without its challenges. The sourcing of local materials and labour can vary in difficulty between regions. Designs can sometimes devolve into pastiche; however, is this a primary concern if residents’ needs are met? As argued by Paul Newman MD of Barratt Homes, recognising the significance of place-making is paramount in meeting the needs of residents (Nash, 2015, p.80).
Community
It is common for large developers to build public parks within housing developments; however, they can go further in promoting ‘community’. An example of a development which does this is the co-housing scheme LILAC in Leeds, completed in 2013. White Design wanted to foster a strong community whilst maintaining one with the existing wider community (Lilac, n.d.). The design did not want to exclude any existing neighbours, so small gestures such as maintaining the views for existing residents and offering up allotment space on the new development encouraged community cohesion (Nash, 2016, p.100). A co-housing approach sustains sociability by offering options for childcare, retirement, the sharing of amenities, car-pooling, and organised social groups (Lilac, n.d.).
Figure 8 – LILAC, Leeds (White Design, n.d.).
Page | 20
Instead of the design being delivered to the community near design completion, residents and future homeowners were empowered to contribute to the design of the development (Design Council, n.d.). This is a contemporary manifestation of Vernacular Architecture principles and is fully based on the community’s needs as mentioned in Chapter Two. As a result, all residents interviewed said that they preferred LILAC to previous homes, and felt a valuable member of the community as they were active throughout the design process (Nash, 2016, p.130). Unfortunately, due to practicality, not every aspect of the design was collaboratively decided, such as the external aesthetic. However, the architects were conscious of the community’s wishes when choosing sustainable materials like timber and ModCell (Nash, 2016, p.102-103). Although co-living is more affordable, the people it attracts is quite niche and may not work across the UK (Nash, 2016, p.103). Additionally, it may not be feasible to consult local residents, due to the quick decisions required to meet housing demand. A non-co-living development which focused on promoting a sense community was St Fagans Great House Farm in Cardiff, designed by Gillard Associates (Wales Online, 2013). The self-build development was an existing farmyard, considered the project ‘anchor’, with 9 new-build dwellings and the renovation of existing out buildings (Nash, 2015, 70). A big focus alongside sustainable living was promoting a sense of community. This was achieved by designing open-ended gardens and a shared garage, giving residents the chance to interact (Nash, 2015, p.71).
Figure 9 & 10 – Great Farm House (Hern & Crabtree, 2019).
Although St Fagans is a small development, it takes lessons from Vernacular Architecture by considering future inhabitants and promoting interaction between residents. Residents feel that the simple interventions have made a strong sense of community, with specific consideration for the elderly (Nash, 2016, p.73). Due to its success in promoting community, GA have built 23 new units in line with this concept (Gillard, 2015, p.4-5). It is recognised by GA that residents prefer privacy in new developments (Nash, 2015, p.71). The example of St Fagans suggests that more privacy can be maintained than within a co-housing development, while also promoting a sense of community with shared gardens and garages. Commonly, large developers carry out projects with little external input and residents are far-removed. While public consultation is now mandatory, it is typically minimal (Department for Communities and Local Government, 2011). The examples shown in this section demonstrate ways in which community can thrive, by enabling residents to be part of the building process and having shared ownership of spaces.
Page | 21
Sustainability
Due to government ambition for net zero carbon by 2050 (GOV.UK, 2019), many developers are making changes to take sustainable design seriously. A development that considered the vernacular values of low-energy services and sustainable materials was The Triangle development, Swindon. Completed in 2012, Glenn Howells Architects were chosen by HAB (Happiness Architecture Beauty) to produce 42 ‘excellent-quality’ houses on ‘a profitable housebuilder budget’ (Nash, 2016, p.74). Founder of HAB, Kevin McCloud, had intentions to ‘challenge the way that identikit housing is built in the UK’ by producing ‘extraordinary 21st-century vernacular that increased wellbeing and human comfort.’ (Nash, 2016, p.74).
Figure 11 – The Triangle (Eco-Homes, 2012). Figure 12 – The Triangle Scheme (HD Awards, 2010).
Although the houses were based on a typical urban terrace, they were enhanced to fulfil the needs of residents. There was an environmental focus on ventilation and thermal performance. Instead of using mechanical ventilation, roof cowls were disguised as chimneys and through technology allowed warm air to leave the house in warmer months (Hartman, 2011). For insulation, locally grown Hempcrete was used in 350mm thick external walls, as well as wool carpets and cork floors (Hartman, 2011). Hempcrete is a modern technique inspired by cob, made from hemp hurds, lime and sands (Barbour Product Search, 2019), and removes approximately 3050kg of carbon out of the air per square metre (Nash, 2016, p.48). This is an example of successfully combining vernacular principles with modern technology, resulting in minimal environmental impact (Hartman, 2011). Residents were impressed with and experienced direct health benefits from the ventilation system, with many claiming their asthma and hay fever had improved (Nash, 2016, p.78). However, some reported there were issues with hempcrete swelling after it rained and eco-paints not being durable (Nash, 2016, p.79). Overall, residents were satisfied and many moved specifically for the attraction to eco living (Nash, 2016, p.79). Broadly speaking, the use of hempcrete may be an expensive challenge for developers without the required skilled labour and access to appropriate suppliers (Barbour Product Search, 2019). Clay Fields, Suffolk, completed in 2008, was a development that also took a passive approach to low-energy design. Riches Hawley Mikhail’s approach was focused on achieving the ‘maximum level of sunlight into every house’ by carefully considering the orientation, angle of roof, and placing of windows (Nash, 2016, p.46). This is
Page | 22
a lesson from Vernacular Architecture. The project also integrated modern technologies such as hempcrete, biomass boilers and rainwater harvesting (Mikhail Riches, n.d.); which we call Contemporary Vernacular. Many residents did not like the appearance of the development, but appreciated the comfort, light, and space available compared to standard new-builds (Nash, 2016, p.80). The project also produced energy savings of 51% more than the national average (Nash, 2016, p.48)
Figure 13 – Clay Fields (Crocker & Kane, n.d.). Figure 14 – Clay Fields Diagram (Mikhail Riches, n.d.).
It is possible for new developments to be more sustainable and offer lower energy bills without compromising occupants’ comfort. Although these pioneering schemes encounter obstacles, without them, the construction industry would not progress (Nash, 2016, p.81). These problems will likely be resolved as the techniques become more common. However, while developers continue to prioritise profit over sustainability, it will take longer for these techniques to become conventional practise. For example, designers who work for volume builders confirm that heat and sun analyses are made for new developments, the orientation which ‘fits the most houses is more important’ to a developer (Roberts, 2020). Some argue that government policy may be required to enforce this change. The case studies presented above are arguably more successful than volume house builders in tackling the issues of regional identity, community and sustainable design. Not all of the specific issues, as outlined in Chapter One are addressed in every example, however, they all offer solutions which developers can learn from. Architect Alan Gillard states that alternative developments, like these, have used Vernacular Architecture as a ‘springboard for improving energy efficiency, creating a sense of place or just better- quality housing’ (Nash, 2015, p.83).
Page | 23
‌ School of Art, Architecture and Design London Metropolitan University 2020
liveness.org.uk