The Interpretation of Vernacular Architecture

This article presents a critical review of diverse yet recurrent interpretations of vernacular architecture, which have been published in either English or French during the last one hundred years. These interpretations have been classified as the aesthetic/formalist interpretation, the typological approach, evolutionary theory, diffusionism of a social and geographical kind, physical explanations, social explanations and socia-cultural factors. This article reveals two dominant approaches: those that imply that vernacular buildings need not or cannot be studied historically, and those that explore the evolution of building types in very limited geographical contexts. In conclusion, a redefinition of a method for the study of vernacular architecture is requested and suggested by reference to a study which has employed this approach.