Parameters of sociocultural sustainability in vernacular architecture

Abstract

Throughout the last decades, the human being has begun to be aware of the wear and tear of our planet derived from a wild exploitation of the territory and an irrational use of resources. Since the 80s, and especially from the publication from the Brundtland Report, governments and societies have been in need of reflection on the construction of a more sustainable future. Since architecture consumes a large part of the energy generated, construction professionals have also been in need of an effort in this regard. Soon, some architects found at the traditional vernacular architecture an example of sustainable buildings because this architecture brings together the three principles on which it is based: environmental, sociocultural, and socioeconomic sustainability. This paper focuses on sociocultural sustainability, which is often relegated to the last level because it is not easy to exhibit that knowledge and tradition are also resources to conserve. Throughout the following pages, some of the parameters of sociocultural sustainability that found in vernacular architecture will be analyzed. Starting from the work carried out by the VERSUS team, we will try to value aspects such as the preservation of the cultural landscape or the constructive cultures.