Understanding Regionalist Architecture in Asia

Regionalism in Asia is more about the pursuit of identity and less about performance; it does not contribute anything meaningful to the Green agenda of the 21st century.

Regionalism is a process; integration is its product.

Understanding Regionalist architecture

Vernacular and native are two words more often than not associated, and these two concepts generally refer to a language or dialect of a people, associated with architecture given a qualitative status.

Discussing the importance of vernacular architecture was the main point of study published by Oliver in his book, ‘Built to Meet Needs: Cultural Issues In Vernacular Architecture’. According to Oliver, one of the importance of studying vernacular architecture is that it is in the quest for knowledge of the diversity of mankind’s solution to the problems of dwelling and accommodation of sacred and secular community functions

The notion of the ‘vernacular’ has a negative and pejorative connotation and is commonly described as simplistic, unrefined and undeveloped. Contrary to that, cultural,

Social, intellectual and functional identities of vernacular structures are hard to deny. The term ‘Regionalism’ in architecture is constantly evolving and is not limited to the past but lives on in contemporary architecture. Our own experience suggests that the presence of vernacular concepts do not dissipate as a result of hybrid interactions between different cultures but rather evolve during this creative process. Further evolving the condition of built space.

Some years ago Ar. Rem khoolas during a presentation combined all the major buildings built in last decade together on one slide and suggested they all these buildings don't reinforce each other but rather seems to ca...

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... of a framework of thinking in terms of world view and methodology within which architectural design of the future will be created, or an approach towards Architecture of the Future on the part of architect.

Thus, assessment of and manipulation of the interrelationship between global and local paradigms can be considered as having a vital importance on the world of the future, and providing us with a strategic framework of thinking towards the coming millennium, particularly when one tries to speculate about the future of architecture and the built environment.

The conclusion of this discussion may be almost disappointingly simple, and a matter of common sense. That is, when one wants to contemplate and arrive at the Architecture of the Future, one will have to employ a GLOCAL APPROACH, combining global and local.

i.e. Global vision and based on local relevance.