Local Knowledge and Environmental Design

In the search for sustainable or "green" design, many architects and designers turn to traditional, indigenous, and local knowledge for ideas.  Often vernacular architecture is more suited to the local environment and climatic conditions than imported techniques and materials.  Long established local methods of construction tend to use renewable or recycled materials that are available in the immediate area, providing both a sustainable source for building materials, and reducing the need for the costly, often environmentally hazardous, transportation of materials across long distances. In this way it can help lessen the risks of disasters caused by human-induced climate change. 

This collection, part of the Disaster Risk and Resilience Exhibition, contains some examples of adaption of traditional construction methods to suit the needs of a modern society, as well as scholarship and research on the topic.  It is by no means a complete collection of Archnet resources on these topics, but it provides a jumping off point for further exploration. 

--Michael A. Toler, Archnet Content Manager (9 October 2015)

Photo: Exterior facade of Kasbah Baha Baha by Rachid I. Aadnani