Interpreting Vernacular Architecture in Asia

Interpreting Vernacular Architecture in Asia Join us in the Search for Vernacular Architecture of Asia and learn key concepts to better understan

This 5-week introductory course is for those who would like to explore and be fascinated by vernacular architecture – the subject and study of everyday buildings, landscapes and sites which are not designed by professional architects but “ordinary” practitioners. It explores vernacular architecture as an expression of local identity, indigenous traditions, and assimilation of different cultures. T

his course covers topics such as native building materials, the interaction between people, culture and the vernacular, as well as the vernacular landscape. It has a special emphasis on the built heritage of Asia, which allows students to take a closer look at examples in diverse locales, such as the leather yurts in Mongolia, timber houses in Japan, brick, mud and straw houses in India, reinforced concrete fortified towers and grey brick courtyard houses in Southern China including Macau and Hong Kong. Designed to promote discussion and dialogue while contributing to the discourse surrounding the concept of the vernacular, this course challenges the perception of tradition and stimulates a deeper analysis of one’s local environment. Indeed, we are keen to hear about how you link your new understanding to vernacular architecture in your neighborhood.

Vernacular architecture is a complex term being used more frequently nowadays, as our global context influences today's ...
17/07/2019

Vernacular architecture is a complex term being used more frequently nowadays, as our global context influences today's architecture and the built environment. However one of the biggest challenges for those living in the multifaceted region of Asia is to understand exactly what are 'Asian building traditions'? What is Asian culture? And what is an Asian people’s identity? To answer these questions, we must look at the ordinary people’s everyday built environment, or in other words, the vernacular architecture.

Join us(https://www.edx.org/course/interpreting-vernacular-architecture-in-asia-2)! You don’t have to be an architect, only someone curious about your built environment or interested in discovering more about identity within the architectural context!

The next run is coming soon on July 23rd, 2019 (Tuesday)! Online learning for everyone, everywhere. SAVE 20% on your edX...
03/06/2019

The next run is coming soon on July 23rd, 2019 (Tuesday)!

Online learning for everyone, everywhere. SAVE 20% on your edX purchase and use code SUMMER20 at checkout! Enroll the course before June 5th as this is a *limited time offer!

*Offer valid until June 5th, 2019 at 11:59pm EDT

Discover the value of local peoples' traditional built environments in Asia, find inspiration in these buildings, and learn how to conserve them for future generations.

28/08/2018

We finish the course with this Week 6 Roundup video. However, the spirit of vernacular architecture continues, it doesn't only mean the materials, building methods or styles, it is your identity embedded with the treasure of experience and wisdom accumulated adaptively by your ancestors from generation to generation. Vernacular architecture also connects people tightly with the environment. Vernacular buildings are around you, conserve them and pass them on to our future generations. The work is not a single person could achieve, so let's work together and share the spirit of vernacular architecture to all the people around you!

After the end of the course, all learning materials and discussion threads will be archived so that you can still browse the course anytime and anywhere. Finally, we hope that you've enjoyed the time with us, follow our Facebook, and stay tuned!

22/08/2018

Week 5 Roundup video is ready, and welcome to the final week of the course!

This week (Week 6), we will discuss the conservation of vernacular architecture (https://bit.ly/2vYn4pO). At first, you will learn how to distinguish between conservation and preservation. Then we will examine the cultural value of vernacular architecture, and consider ways vernacular architecture can be conserved. Among the questions we will be discussing: Should the vernacular built environment be prevented from everyday use? Does the introduction of modern conveniences diminish the cultural value of vernacular architecture? We will also explore the future of vernacular architecture in Asia. Finally, we have brought you a few case studies, which provide you with a few hints at this point.

Through our interpreting the vernacular architecture in Asia, no matter where you are, we hope this course has changed how you look at the everyday built environment around you. We appreciate your active participation as well as your insightful questions, and we thank all of you!

14/08/2018

Congratulations on reaching Week 5! You have done very well in Week 4 by asking good questions, see our reply in the Week 4 Roundup below.

This week (Week 5), there are so many fascinating questions! Join us (https://www.edx.org/course/interpreting-vernacular-architecture-in-asia) and let's investigate the topic together. For instances, have you ever wondered about the "slum" areas in cities? Are they mere blemishes in the cities, or do they provide social, economic and vernacular architecture values for the people who live there? Should cities try to remove these "slum" areas or should they try to bring improvements to them? What are the implications of these "slum" areas for the future of cities? Stay with us and continue to interact with peers as you have done for the previous weeks.

Happy learning, and have fun!

07/08/2018

We are halfway through the course now, wonderful! We feel so encouraging seeing how you are browsing our course content and interacting with each other. Remember to check out the Week3 Roundup video below as some of the points we discussed are insightful! Again, we appreciate your active sharing on our discussion forum! Well done and keep posting! In the coming weeks, we will go through more exciting topics, so come and join us (https://www.edx.org/course/interpreting-vernacular-architecture-in-asia) for free!

This week (Week 4) we focus on the urban vernacular and examine questions such as: Why do people live in cities? What are some of the building types in urban settings? What is unique about the building process of the urban vernacular? Having a good understanding of Week4 topic will help you set a good foundation for learning both Week5 and Week6 topics. Keep up your good work!

31/07/2018

We hope you enjoyed Week 2 of the course and got good insights into how climate and building materials influence vernacular building decisions. Again, we see learners' active participation in Week 2, well done and keep going! Thanks all for the good questions posted on the discussion board, your experience and viewpoint are valuable, so we captured some of the questions here and share our thoughts in the roundup movie.

This week (Week 3), our quest to understand the value and significance of our vernacular built environment continues with our focus on the concept of vernacular landscapes. We will also examine the rural built environment and explore two key concepts, 1). the unselfconscious process of building, and 2). the timeless way of building. If you still haven't joined us yet, it is never too late. Enroll our free online course now (https://www.edx.org/…/interpreting-vernacular-architecture-…), see you there!

24/07/2018

There are so many posted questions in the discussion forum and we are pleased to let you know that Professor Lung has recorded the Week1 roundup video to share his insights about your questions. Although we didn't answer all of your questions, we do note every single question from you and thus we will make the relevant improvements to our course materials in the near future. If you still haven't joined us yet, it is never too late. Enroll our free online course now (https://www.edx.org/course/interpreting-vernacular-architecture-in-asia), you will meet lots of architecture fans and experts. See you there!

13/07/2018

Asia's economy is highly dynamic and it continues to contribute significant global growth in the next decade. However, the rapid economic growth in Asia has reshaped many Asian cities as the modernized built environment with plenty of high-rise buildings. Many cities in Asia are faced daily with the rapid removal of vernacular buildings, and thus people are losing their traditional ways to express themselves through the vernacular built environment. How do they adapt to the forces of change? Join us (https://www.edx.org/course/interpreting-vernacular-architecture-in-asia) and share your thought! See you on July 17th, 2018!

12/07/2018

We always associate shantytowns, slum areas or informal settlements with poverty and other social issues. Why do they exist? In fact, they act as the catalyst for city development and they also demonstrate the best possible alternative for people who are trying to make their living in the cities. Join us (https://www.edx.org/course/interpreting-vernacular-architecture-in-asia) and let’s explore what are the values behind them? See you soon on July 17th, 2018!

08/07/2018

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This 6-week introductory course is for those who would like to explore and be fascinated by vernacular architecture – the subject and study of everyday buildings, landscapes and sites which are not designed by professional architects but “ordinary” practitioners. It explores vernacular architecture as an expression of local identity, indigenous traditions, and assimilation of different cultures. This course covers topics such as native building materials, the interaction between people, culture and the vernacular, as well as the vernacular landscape. It has a special emphasis on the built heritage of Asia, which allows students to take a closer look at examples in diverse locales, such as the leather yurts in Mongolia, timber houses in Japan, brick, mud and straw houses in India, reinforced concrete fortified towers and grey brick courtyard houses in Southern China including Macau and Hong Kong. Designed to promote discussion and dialogue while contributing to the discourse surrounding the concept of the vernacular, this course challenges the perception of tradition and stimulates a deeper analysis of one’s local environment. Indeed, we are keen to hear about how you link your new understanding to vernacular architecture in your neighborhood.