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Posted by GrandTradition on July 2, 2007, 3:35 pm
> GrandTradition wrote:
> >Who's the editor of the alt.architecture group? It seems that people
> >talk more about subjects having little to do with architecture. What
> >kind of architecture is the group supposed to discuss? The design-
> >oriented kind, or what?
> >Here are some of the less than entralling subjects:
>
> >I buyed me sum tomato-basil hummus.
> >Folk songs of the far right wing
> >Hummus is simpler than even making donuts
> >Genuine Money Earn Every day Internet jobs for all. Earn Unlimited
> >income.
>
> hmm, just responding in kind (my excuse for authoring two of the above
> threads)
>
> >What?
>
> >To steer the discussion in some more meaningful way for architects,
> >here's my contribution:
>
> >What is the difference between folk and vernacular architecture?
>
> I have a small library on folk vernacular architecture. The definition
> of vernacular architecture is the kind of architecture that people in a
> local with approximately the same cultural heritage have developed.
> Good vernacular architecture, in my opinion, solves local climatic and
> energy issues and expresses the culture visually in some uniform but
> evolving way. It sometiems presents a unique use of local materials.
>
> Vernacular pertains to a level of do it yourself that still utilizes
> local expertise in craftsmanship, but does not necessarily presume the
> kind of formal architetural or engineering training that is generally
> presumptive of what we term architecture or engineering today.
>
> That said, there are examples where traditional and vernacular
> architecture come together, ex. hiring a mimar (Islamic design builder)
> to design one of the coral mosques of Suakim. Local materials were used
> (coral blocks, similar to the prehistoric shell material in St.
> Augustine, Florida 16th c. buildling), mosques were designed but local
> people as home builders used the same material for residential housing,
> the material is beautiful in color and unique, the material used caused
> the local building to become atractions, the materials used were
> traditional building materials from the area that promoted cool, clean,
> low maintenance living and worshipping. Just a tiny example. It is
> always wonderful to discover some native/tribal/aboriginal/modern
> ordinary guy and gal/ way of solving a common problem. Shelter itself
> is a kind of local problem. It is wonderful when people express
> philosophical thought through decoration in some kind of local way and
> solve some kind of climatic issue at the same time, like the Russian or
> Scandanavian stove to heat an entire dwelling efficiently (and to use
> whole or large pieces of logs that burn slowly to ash in the process so
> less energy is used even preparing fuel).
>
> I don't see discussing making one's own hummus (note that the guy who
> started the thread on tomato basil hummus didn't dare to post the actual
> ingredients of the stuff he bought...) is contrary to the discussion of
> good design. We choose to design what we do with our time and how we
> fuel everything from buildings to our own bodies. We can accept a
> developer McMansion, eat out and buy processed food, or we can design,
> collaborate in the designor or at least have imput into the needs that
> cause us to live live in what works and what we need while making sure
> that quality goes into our bodies. It's all related.
>
> 'Course, you might find somebody in here who is desperate to make a buck
> and design you a McMansion.
>
> > Are
> >McMansions our culture's new vernacular? Is everyone familiar with
> >the term "McMansion?"
>
> I'm sure no one on this forum has ever heard the term.....
>
> >How has the "one world, one culture" reality affected the traditions of local
communities?
>
> People discuss that presumptive attitude here. Since you haven't been
> reading, how 'bout finding a forum that discusses the issues the way you
> expect?
>
>
>
> - Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
How 'bout running me off while shootin' a shotgun into the sky? :)
"Git outta here, you vermin'! Comin' 'round here stirring up
stuff..." :)
If you consider your body within the realm of architecture, so be it.
Did you consider a thesis on hummus in the built environment? Puh-
leeze!
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