IS THERE A NEED TO THINK OF A HERE AND NOW

VERNACULAR?
Vernacular architecture is the architecture of the domestic and functional. A true Vernacular is the
best bringing together of climate and locally available resources to create comfort conditions within.
In the vernau;ar of the yore, resources to build had to be sourced locally and the details employed
were passive with respect to energy use. Active energy use was kept to be minimal whereby
lifestyle was frugal and rarely sybaritic.
For example- a courtyard in the composite climate of North India would be a place to soak in sun
winter days and to sleep in hot summer nights whereas in the hot humid Kerala the interior
courtyard is a light shaft which provides for cross ventilation and its use does not change throughout
the yeariin fact it is rarely put to any physical use in most small homes.
With introduction of active energy in the homes the spaces as well as lifestyles have changed. With
transportation becoming easier to source materials from far and wide, available knowledge of
various materials, movement of labour to execute hitherto unknown skills in a region and
manufactured materails being easy to purchase and cheaper has brought about a change in the very
definition of vernacular.
The client requirement has changed cosiderably from the vernacular of yore to a brief of the sameliving, dining, kitchen , bedrooms and toilets for people of all regions,class or creed where the
inhabitants change but the nomenclature does not whatever may be their native tongue. So the
question which arises is if the nomenclature does not change is there a granularity in the design
encountered? The granularity does happen in the designed and in single family residences to some
extent but not at in the mass built apartments. Mass built apartment residents go for interior
modifications to express their connect with the space.
With the explosion of greater number of demand and building of homes a change is occuring in the
urban and rural scenario. The unquestioning acceptance of sameness in brief, design and
methodology to build creates an unkind pressure in the resources available to build and live in these
homes.
The vernacular of yore or the historical vernacular concentrated more on the resources to build with
and the need for passive cooling or heating which alongwith lifestyle, food and frugal aspiration did
not negatively demand other resources like water and energy. The here and now vernacular and the
lifestyle set different demands.
There is demand on resources to build with since the numbers needed is much more and the homes
are also getting larger due to the increasing privacy levels needed within.
So what is now the here and now vernacular? How does one define it in the current global
scenario.It definitely has moved beyond local with respect to use of materials or the brief. The
requirement as mentioned earlier are global vernacular, the materials are sourced from far and wide
based of affordability whereby many a times local is not lower in cost than the materials which
come from distant places.
Therefore the here and now vernacular is tending to be really not vernacular of local materials or
construction technique and is moving away from the term vernacular of the yore. The here and now
vernacular thus needs a new definition it needs to position itself in the realm of climate change
since buildings play a very active part in energy,water and resource consumption and have huge
imprint on pollution.
The here and now vernacular needs to be valued on its ecological costs and not economical costs.
The here and now vernacular needs to be valued on its reach towards skill dissimination which arms
people with lifeskills as a climate adaptation strategy as there would be migration from detrimental
aspects of climate change.
The here and now vernacular would be future proofing and extending the resource available not
only to build but also to live within the built while creating habitat for flora and fauna however
small may it be.

Resources to build with : These definitely have to be sourced and used in terms of their embodied
energy whether they are locally available or sourced from a distance.The materials used should be
such that they cna be reused once the next geenration demolishes or alters the use of teh building.
The building should be quarry for new buildings, so that every generation gets its right to create its
own habitation if need be.
Resources to live with:This is mostly energy and water assuming clean air is available. Providing
for clean air is a different aspect completely caus eit has many exrtaneour elements like traffic
policy, design of combustion engine, fuel quality etc dependent on it.
There is much progress done in the sphere of dveloping of alternative clean energy and these need
to be adapted and made mandatory even for teh smallest of homes. Use of these will also have
positive imprint on air quality.
The next is the need to look at water use and making the wastage zero by integrating rainwater
harvesting individually and in community systems, reusing wastewater for sanitation needs and by
adequate demand and waste management increasing the availability and supply of clean water for
more people.
Biodiversity to live with: By incorporating gardens and water elements there is need to create small
and local ecosystems for other species. Locally terraces and gardens can become food growing
zones surviving on composted wet waste and treated waste water. This helps in regenerating soil
lost due to construction , reduces the heat island effects as well as frees up the countryside form the
waste gererated within the cities.
A here and now vernacualr thus will be a positive imprint in the eco systema nd not a parasite and
go beyond the idea of space making but be a Glocal product.