Diébédo Francis Kéré's design = vernacular or critical regionalism?
Diébédo Francis Kéré's design = vernacular or critical regionalism?
Perhaps the most significant resource is the existing built heritage, which teaches us how to adapt to our given context. Local consultants and craftspeople bring an enormous capital of skill and expertise in local construction techniques.
KEREARCHITECTURE
Based on the local climate environment and background constraints, Francis Kéré uses local materials and craftsmanship to create a happy and comfortable space for users at a limited cost. He believes everyone has the right to enjoy a better life. When I saw these designs, I kept asking myself, are these buildings vernacular or critical regionalism?
Undoubtedly, these architectures are designed for the specific user group in a particular place by using local materials and technics. However, some architectural languages, like a double roof for shading and skyling for natural light, can be mimicked to other designs in other sites. It is an excellent way to connect the traditional culture to worldwide architecture. To some extent, his designs are a good interpretation of critical regionalism.
My mom is a nurse and she used to serve on a non-profit board of directors that did medical missions in the rural parts of Chad. In high school, I knew I wanted to go to architecture school, and I applied for a design grant that could be given to the non-profit. The rural hospital medical staff (who lived on site) needed protection from the guerilla militias and there were some local machines that could be utilized for making clay bricks out of the clay deposits already on site. Unfortunately, I didn't win the grant, but the process definitely got me thinking about regionalism even as a high schooler. Leveraging resources and manpower that already exists in a community preserves heritage and ownership. Instead of looking beyond the hospital to create more security, it was nice to look within the existing community.
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