The Myth of the Pioneer Vernacular - Book Report/Review Example

Myth of the Pioneer Vernacular Introduction Vernacular architecture has been accepted as architecture since the beginning of time. However, with the introduction of technology, mind sets regarding vernacular have changed drastically. Consequently, there is a debate regarding the myth of the pioneer vernacular. In recent times, the concept of vernacular architecture has gained a lot of recognition because many forums have been conducted to enhance its uniqueness and definition in the field of architecture. Practitioners of the field of vernacular architecture have come up with respective addresses to clarify its position as a contributor of inexpensive ways of architectural design. Most prominent names among these practitioners include Hassan Fathy who has contributed a great deal of his finest vernacular architectural work in the field of architecture. An address by Hassan Fathy regarding the clarity and practice of vernacular architecture has been summed up in his book entitled Architecture for the Poor. In addition, James Steele’s book Architecture for People: The Complete Works of Hassan Fathy presents a similar theme. This thematic book review forwards the idea of vernacular architecture as an aspect of architecture through the point of view of common people by assessing the aforementioned books. Talking about the book Architecture for the Poor by Fathy, it comes to understanding that the author speaks of the similar concerns regarding improper housing as any other elitist architects in the field. Architects who have used expensive materials in order to build their respective designed structures propose that with the modern construction methods, people can be saved from improper housing. However, the fact remains that with the usage of modern constructions, poor people are not able to get housing for themselves because of the expensive material which is used in the design process. It is due to this reason that architects like Hassan Fathy have come up with the ways in which poor people can also afford respective housing with minimal economic cost (Fathy). Hassan Fathy presented a wide set of statistical data from other researches in the book that have marked the coming years to be extremely critical for people below the poverty measure. Hassan Fathy presents a critical stance or criticism against the elite class who have given support to the expensive manner of design and architecture. It will not be incorrect to state that Fathy has presented an in-depth footing on the subject of vernacular architecture as a solution to the issue of poverty and cultural issues that poor people within the society suffer from (Fathy). The author and architecture practitioner, Hassan Fathy, has incorporated a negative yet narrowed vision regarding expensive materials in the field of construction to understand the impact that it has on developing countries. The author mentioned in the book that increased rates of the construction material being used to construct buildings such as Burj-ul-Arab is jeopardizing the main goal of architecture as a field. According to Fathy in his book, it is clearly stated that the real purpose of architecture is to make use of space in order to let the residents of the building feel connected to it. One of the main aspects of architectural goal is to keep the influence of aesthetics and culture as a prominent feature while undertaking architectural designs. As a matter of fact, elitists have rather brought a new working definition of architecture which is to create monuments that do not make use of effective space and rather changed the resident point of view when it comes to using space (Fathy). The author Hassan Fathy has presented a view point in his book that clarifies earth beneath the foot to be the best material that can be used to create structures and buildings for humans. Herein, it can be said that the book reveals a most important subject that is an interrelated pattern of the locals and designer partnership. The second most needed thing to create history is the labor that together with earth can be best utilized for developing the environment. At this point, the author has clarified that there are other essential technicalities that are needed to be marked. The technicalities can be overcome if designers and architects are able to contribute. For instance, the author indicated in the book that architects are skilled in designing with technicalities. This means that architects can share their skills with the labor by allowing them to understand the manner in which they can give strength to their roofs. This is indicative of the fact that construction of the roof is considered to be the most critical step while developing a structure. Therefore, a lot of expensive material is also required to make sure that the base is concrete (Fathy). Talking about a respective feature in architecture, roof has remained the most difficult aspect of design and architecture. It is due to this reason that increased number of methods has been integrated to make a solid roof. Despite integration of such methods, many disastrous events have been noted where roof have collapsed completely. Fathy suggested at this point that architects needs to build simple projects rather than creating mechanical structures. Architects should be able to create a communication pattern with the residents. In a similar fashion, there are issues of sanitation, communication etc. that are needed to be kept simple so that the residents can deal with them on their own rather than opting for architects for a cheaper living (Fathy). Furthermore, it can be understood that Fathy suggests the architects to help the natives to be able to create ways in which they can bring economic prosperity. For example, Fathy mentions that architects should deliver the method to the poor residents regarding brick making with exact measure of soil which is needed to create it. Also, fish ponds can be created so that they can get involved in fish business and be able to undergo self-sufficiency (Fathy). Nevertheless, Fathy makes it evident that vernacular architecture is one where the architects are able to come closer to the people so that their participation and cooperation can result in beautiful structures which are less expensive. The problem which has been pointed out by the author regarding commercial architecture or modern elite architecture is that housing schemes are constructed by the consent of government in the shape of a contract with a contracted. In such a contract, there is no input by the people which results in colony-like houses that are exactly similar in their design because of expensive material not allowing them to be creative. Sooner or later, these housing plans become slums because of poor planning of communication and space division (Fathy). In particular, the term vernacular architecture has been used by the author Hassan Fathy in his book within the context of Gourna. There are various details of beds and houses which are reflective of their every day experience. The readers will notice that the author has given each and every detail regarding the vernacular architecture being a solemn form of architecture. Vernacular architecture does not require the architects to plan out design with the help of pencil drawings on the paper and undertaking calculations concerning the expensive material. Rather than that, the vernacular architecture is practical designing of houses which is done through clay presenting the creative and cultural connection of people with their houses. Therefore, it will not be incorrect to note that vernacular architecture is not a different form of architecture. Vernacular architecture is an architecture itself which needs to be affirmed by the mainstream architects (Fathy). To back up the point of view of Hassan Fathy in his book, the book by James Steele namely Architecture for People is being assessed. Steele has proposed the viewpoint that Hassan Fathy is not just famous in Egypt for coming up with ideas that would allow every individual to understand the need of development by simpler construction methods and inexpensive materials but also in developing countries of the world. In particular, the viewpoint of Hassan Fathy has been well talked about by Steele in his book with the help of Fathy’s contributive work. There are numerous buildings about which Steele has mentioned in his book. It will not be incorrect to state that the author Steele has rather critically acclaimed the viewpoint of Fathy in his book (Steele). Steele has been able to present his affirmation with the viewpoint of Hassan Fathy in his book with the help of assessment that he presented through the help of Fathy’s work at Mexico, India and Egypt. Steele rather states in his book that it is much easier to develop a building in a developed country because people are supportive of the materials because they are able to afford them. The challenges towards the architects is posed within the developing countries where people are not much supportive of the modern methods of constructions as well as unable to afford expensive materials. At this point, Hassan Fathy, according to Steele, has been a remarkable talent who was not only able to take the challenge but also bring an influential stance for the architects all around the world. It is due to this reason that his philosophy is now being considered as an extension of architectural goals (Steele). It will not be less than an astonishing fact for the readers of Steele’s book that its claims have been put forward after closer assessment of dialogue that Steele had with Fathy during his lifetime. This is one of the reasons behind claiming the book written by Steele as a prominent supportive evidence of vernacular architecture being the actual architecture. The fusion of the contributive work of Fathy along with his assimilated plans has also been used as a core base of argument that was presented by Steele in his book. As the most popular stance of Steele, it was marked that architecture has divided into several categories. One of the categories remain the vernacular architecture that will not only grasp the wider picture in the coming years but it is more likely to be supported by seating out the views of elites who consider modern and expensive architectural methods to be the applicable and standard (Steele). In addition, with the help of Steele’s viewpoint, it became easier for the proponents of vernacular architecture to lay stress on calling vernacular buildings to be build out of actual needs of its residents. Vernaculars, according to Fathy and Steele are basically a process of design and construction which is not dependent of paper drawing. Vernacular remains an architectural treatise because it is built by common people instead of architects. These are created in order to allow the people to fit themselves in the environment in which they choose to live. Herein, the aspect of sense of belonging is directly related with building vernacular structures. Nevertheless, vernacular design is more likely to miss out on the element of intelligence but in real terms, these buildings are more likely to be prettier and scenic (Steele). Steele has proven that the ultimate reason behind the evolution of the vernacular architecture is the real life consequences out of which people came up with buildings which fulfilled their demands in terms of space and utility. It should be noted that vernacular architecture is as old as the origin of humans as they created homes for themselves with earth as the only material for creating them. Climate and nomadic way of life enabled people to understand their needs in terms of design and living which further changed with time as architecture shifted into various categories. Steele noted that people were initially cynical regarding the idea of Hassan Fathy for using simple material and helping people in choosing the ways in which they expected their homes to cater their needs. Family structure that has widely changed in the modern way of living, it can be said that vernacular has also changed by large because of social integration. Not to forget that as soon as post-modern designs were witnessed by architects, many wrote in defense of vernacular that needed acclaim by elites. The aspect of sustainability is more likely to impact our future generation. It is suggested for them that they abide by the simple working schema of vernaculars in order to understand and justify the need demands of residents and the aspect of safety that a house needs to provide them (Steele). Likewise Hassan Fathy, Steele also presents the account of people who are living below the line of poverty. These people are not able to take up the services of architects who will come up with designs that are superficial in nature and are costly in terms of material. Furthermore, with the passage of time, there comes a need of maintenance of these structures and buildings for which additional material is surely going to cost the residents. Therefore, there needs to be an approach that will not just only help the residents but also introduce a simplistic manner of bringing simple design and architectural approach towards designing houses. After all, there are other objects and projects other than houses that are needed in one’s life. If one would be drenched in building houses then it is expected that people will not be able to create or develop building which will provide them other advantages and space utility (Steele). Conclusion Through the above assessment of the theme which is common in the book Architecture for the Poor by Hassan Fathy and Architecture for People: The Complete Works of Hassan Fathy by James Steele, it comes to understanding that common people creating vernacular buildings for themselves are architects and their buildings should be underlined as architecture. The main goal of architecture is to help people attain housing which is as per their needs and given them the chance to feel a sense of belonging. Also, buildings should make use of materials that can easily be afforded by common people. There needs to be a partnership between common people and architects so that they can understand the manner in which earth as a material can be used to create great structures which will provide them ease of living and economic stability. Talking about major buildings of the world such as Burj Khalifa and Twisted Towers, these buildings may be considered as superficial buildings that are not able to give a sense of belonging and dimension of affordable experience. In contrast, Hassan Fathy remains an architect who has presented his affirmation with the simple idea of vernaculars that allow common people to be creative and self-sufficient. Looking at the scarcity of resources in the world, it is estimated that vernacular architecture will be the only solution for developing countries in order to survive. The usage of expensive materials does fulfill the challenge and experimental need of an architect but it lacks the element of feeling. Overall, with the help of discussion in both the books, it has been viewed that there are increased number of claims and affirmations that justified the position of vernacular architecture in the debate of myth of vernacular pioneer. Works Cited Fathy, J. Architecture for the Poor: An Experiment in Rural Egypt. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010. Print. Steele, J. An Architecture for People: The Complete Works of Hassan Fathy. New York: Whitney Library of Design, 1997. Print. Read More