Reflecting on the Vernacular
Insights from the “Knowing the Vernacular” Conference and LEGO Architecture Exhibition.
On October 26-27, 2024, the "Knowing the Vernacular: Critical Reflections and Future Directions" conference brought together a group of international experts, academics, and practitioners at the John Henry Brookes Building, Oxford Brookes University. Convened by Marcel Vellinga, Professor of Anthropology of Architecture from Oxford Brookes, the conference explored vernacular architecture’s role in preserving cultural identity, fostering community, and inspiring future sustainable design.
Speaking about the conference, Marcel commented, “The conference provided a great opportunity to have a conversation across generations and disciplines, to see what we already know about the subject, what else there is to know, and who else, outside of academia and the architectural profession, knows about it”.
Vernacular architecture refers to traditional, locally specific building forms that have been crafted without the involvement of formal architects. Rooted in community, place, and cultural heritage, these architectural styles embody generations of practical knowledge and sustainable building techniques. This conference, part of the British Academy Conferences series, examined the pressing need to reassess our understanding of vernacular architecture, especially considering modern sustainability goals and the impacts of globalisation.
Speakers included leading scholars such as Professor Tim Ingold (University of Aberdeen), Dr Charmaine ‘Ilaiu Talei (University of Auckland), and Yasmeen Lari (Pakistan Heritage Foundation), each bringing perspectives that spanned cultural and geographical contexts. Topics ranged from the preservation of regional architectural heritage to modern applications of vernacular knowledge in urban settings. Notable discussions also emphasised the challenges posed by rapid urbanisation and climate change, which threaten traditional building techniques and materials.
Complementing the conference was a unique exhibition of LEGO-based vernacular architecture models. These intricate models were crafted by Marcel in collaboration with The Brick People through a Knowledge Exchange Small Award. Each model is accompanied by an information leaflet, with the hope of using the models as a visual and accessible way for attendees and eventually school children to engage with traditional architectural forms. The building types were chosen from different continents, exhibiting a variety of building forms, materials, uses and meanings. The exhibition underscored how vernacular designs are adaptable and scalable, resonating with today’s need for sustainability in design.
A second exhibition showcased the contents of the unique Paul Oliver Vernacular Architecture Library collection housed in the Oxford Brookes University Library. The collection contains images, notebooks, correspondence, books, drawings and other materials collected by Paul Oliver MBE over a period of more than five decades. The exhibition will be at Oxford Brookes, in the John Henry Brookes Building Reception until the third week of December.