Vernomimicry: Inspirations from Nature and the Vernacular for Resilient Architecture

As climate challenges intensify, there is a growing urgency to adapt our built environment to new climatic conditions. For thousands of years, nature and vernacular architecture have evolved in response to diverse climates, flourishing even in the harshest environments. Together, they offer a vast pool of climate adaptation solutions that can inform modern architectural practices. However, applying these lessons through biomimicry (emulating natural processes in buildings) is a complex task, due to the gap between biology and architecture.

Vernomimicry is a novel method that aims to bridge this gap by fusing the adaptation strategies found in both nature and vernacular structures, providing architects with design strategies that allow them to tap into the rich pool of adaptive solutions found in nature and vernacular architecture. By combining the adaptive strategies of both, architects can develop design solutions that are not only nature-inspired and nature-like, but also culturally sensitive. This paves the way for creating architecture that is sustainable, resilient, and in harmony with its environment.

In this course, we will explore the principles of nature and vernacular architecture, investigating how architecture has historically interacted with and been inspired by nature. We will assess the relevance and limitations of nature- and vernacular-inspired architecture in contemporary practice. Through case studies, we will discover existing examples of vernomimicry and develop innovative design solutions that are sustainable, climate-responsive, and rooted in cultural contexts.

First Meeting and introduction:
Wednesday, 09.10.24, 02:00 pm, room 213