An Examination of conflicts and constraints in adopting vernacular architectural elements in domestic buildings in Sri Lanka

Abstract

From the ancient times, in every region of the world, the indigenous, folk, vernacular architectural tradition has gradually developed with some differences such as region, culture, religion, climate, topography etc. After Industrial revolution, world has entered to the era of inventing new materials, using modem technology, starting machinery age etc. Which created a new global order of modem movement of Architecture can be seen. Then create the new trend of architecture towards the modernity. Thus appeared the negligence of the tradition, gradually creating lose of the sense of belonging to a place. This situation is also happened in Sri Lankan vernacular traditional architecture. Therefore, people re-employ the tradition to their built environment to Acquire the local flavor, with synthesis of the modernity. In this process, some designers are skillfully embedded the vernacular tradition into their modem creations with investigations, while preserving the true nature of the tradition, and fulfilling the user aspirations. However, some designers tried to enhance the local flavor according to the client aspirations with misinterpretations. Thus create the negligence of the tradition, occurring some conflicts and constraints in contemporary houses. Here in the study, first two chapters led to understand about the authentic factors of vernacular tradition and its essential components and has described the application of vernacular components, while chapter three analyzed the data and identified the conflicts and constraints in adopting vernacular elements in progressive as well as degradation manner in selected domestic buildings. Finally, the study explained and guided how to develop the contemporary houses with local flavor and modem living pattern of the user, by the synthesis of traditional vernacular with modem vocabulary.