The influence of the vernacular: applied principles in contemporary architecture of hot climates

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Type and Duration

PhD-Thesis, September 2016 until August 2019 (finished)

Coordinator

Institute of Architecture and Planning

Main Research

Sustainable Planning and Construction

Field of Research

Sustainable Design

Description

Nowadays, new constructions are often built without considering the different physical and cultural conditions of their locations. This not only affects the energy consumption during the building´s lifespan but also the comfort and life quality of its users. Therefore, the design should incorporate contextualized building solutions depending on their location. Such solutions can be seen in many cases in vernacular architecture. The purpose of this research will be to assess the extent of vernacular techniques adaptation in contemporary architecture in hot climates. We will study the social factors that affect the decision-making process in their application. The research will focus on two regions in Mexico with arid and tropical climates, where we will analyze multiple case studies with a mixed-methods approach. We aim to display the social and ecological benefits of applying vernacular principles in today's architecture.

Keywords

Sustainability, Traditional Construction, Passive design, quality of life