What the hell does ‘vernacular’ mean in architecture?

The term is defined as

"the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region”

“architecture concerned with domestic and functional rather than public or monumental buildings”.

In today’s planning and design setting, it seems to revolve solely around aesthetics, material and style. Hip architects and mass house builders alike, knowingly reference traditional/historical design motifs to secure a kind of moral high ground and justify why their buildings are the way they are.

Is there any such a thing as a national, regional or a particular city/town/village vernacular? Should we adhere to a sense of 'a particular way' of doing things to provide us with a sense of identity and place-making, or should the idea of 'a vernacular' be challenged and re-defined as something related to culture more broadly? Are people having the wool pulled over their eyes by those delivering buildings, where the actual content of what is being delivered is being trumped by self-referential form making. A return to those dictionary definitions may point the way forward….

Context is very important and we should be aware of our surroundings when designing places for people to live, work and enjoy themselves. Good design engenders a sense of pride although style is clearly a loaded gun in the politicised policy-driven world of planning and what gets permission. However, as we face the challenges of the climate emergency and growing social inequality, can we afford to get distracted by details and differences? And who’s vernacular are we talking about when we think about the wide range of communities that make up a local area or sometimes a single street? Is it time to ditch the word altogether, or do we need to develop a new type of vernacular that is driven by the pressing needs of the day?

Speakers:

Alpa Depani, Waltham Forest (chair) Selasi Setufe, Be First
India Block, Disegno
John Nordon, Neighbourhood
Joanne Cave, David Lock Associates
Hugh McEwen, Office S&M

amongst others….

On the night….