2. DEFINING VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE The phrase ‘vernacular architecture’ is seen here as referring to the buildings of and by the people. The Latin word ‘vernaculus’ means native, domestic, indigenous. Architecture is vernacular when it exhibits all of its criteria related to the ‘native context’ in the sense that it can only be acceptable and recognisable within any particular society by applying some particular technology, materials, social rules and systems. Figure 1
‘Vernacular architecture comprises the dwellings and all other buildings of the people. Related to their environmental contexts and available resources, they are customarily owner or community-built, utilising traditional technologies. All forms of vernacular architecture are built to meet specific needs, accommodating values, economies and ways of living of the cultures that produces them’ (Oliver, 1997). It is the architecture of a place and people. It is contextual and unconscious kind of architecture. It ismore a process than a product. It involves adaptation criteria in vernacular architecture. It involves adaptationto lifestyle changes along with cultural concepts.Vernaculararchitecture is
a
category
of architecture based
on
local
needs, construction materials and reflecting local traditions. It tends to evolve over time
to
reflect
the
environmental,
and historical context in which it exists. 13
cultural,
technological,
economic,
