Why traditional architecture has disappeared?

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Architecture tells the story of a place, time, and culture's values.

Places around the world used to look unique because they were shaped by local cultures, climates, and materials. For the longest time, people built with what was available and suitable for their environment.

Today, with globalization, where ideas and materials move quickly across borders, many cities and buildings around the world now look similar.

In this post, we try to trace why the traditional architecture has disappeared.

Each country and region once had unique architecture mainly because of their local geology, ecology, and climate.

These natural factors shaped the way buildings were constructed.

Over time, culture, religion, and local traditions added specific styles and details, making each place’s architecture even more distinct and reflective of its people.

Some materials were found across regions and became universal. For eg. mud was used from America to Asia.

Thatch was the preferred choice of material in England as well as in Bali.

One could say, that things started to change in the 12th century with the arrival of the pointed arch. It was a game-changer. It made it possible to build much larger structures.

People have also moved from one architectural style to another as an aesthetic choice. Hence, buildings have been classified into different eras - Renaissance, Gothic, Art Nouveau, and so on.

Steel and glass allowed the possibility of building larger train sheds and exhibition buildings. The Crystal Palace was a cast iron and plate glass structure, originally built in Hyde Park, London, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851.

As the world got more connected with transport and the economy became global, it was no longer necessary for people to build with local materials.

The Great Acceleration

The most consequential changes of the human age dramatically happened post-world wars in a period identified as "Great Acceleration” by the climate scientist Will Steffen and his team.

The Great Acceleration is a term used to describe the rapid and widespread increase in human activity and its impact on Earth's natural systems, which began around the mid-20th century.

After the mid-20th century, the global population started to grow at an exponential rate.

This generated a need for housing to house the rising population. This gave rise to the prefabricated buildings, and high-rise buildings being built with concrete.

Older vernacular architectural styles were not able to meet the demand of the modern world.

In the early 20th century, architects like Adolf Loos embraced Modernist architecture as an aesthetic choice, not just out of economic necessity.

Brutalist architecture emerged as an architectural style during the 1950s in the United Kingdom, among the reconstruction projects of the post-war era.

Whenever we visit a new city, we are naturally attracted to visit the old town areas and appreciate the cobbled streets or the vernacular architecture.

With minimalism, and the use of glass, concrete, and steel, the places have lost their charm, personality, and character.

The question is not that can we return to the past but the real question is: does traditional architecture still matter today, and is it still possible?

In many places, it continues to thrive, and in some, it’s even making a comeback.

Architecture is always a choice, shaped by technology, economics, politics, and culture.

Traditional styles were born from specific contexts that have since changed.

So, does traditional architecture still have a place in the modern world?

What about in rural areas or the eco-sensitive towns of the Himalayas?

Can we redefine vernacular to create a neo-vernacular aesthetic?

Let us know what you think by replying to this email :)

Love,

Raghav and Ansh

What you can watch - What might modern folk and vernacular design be? | Eames Demetrios | TEDxSingapore

Designer, author, film maker and director of the Eames Office, Eames Demetrios has spearheaded the successful re-discovery of the design heritage and legacy of his grandparents, Charles and Ray Eames, by new generations.

What you can listen to - Architectural Acupuncture II: Hyperlocal Design for Community

Two Acknowledgement prize winners at the Holcim Awards 2023 – Ezbet Eshaq’s Eco-Classroom (Fayoum, Egypt) and Muscowpetung Powwow Arbour (Saskatchewan, Canada) – exemplify the hyper-localised approach in unique ways.

What You Can Read - An example of architecture from every single country in the world, in alphabetical order.

Photos of the architecture of 96 countries starting from Afghanistan.

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