Palafitas & Tulous: a comparative analysis of the climatic response from the vernacular architecture of Fujian (China) and Amazonas (Brazil)

This paper presents a comparative climatic analysis response of traditional dwellings in two locations: Northern Brazil (Amazon) and Southern China (Fujian). The study explores how positive and negative aspects of traditional dwellings (Construction/ materials use) need to be addressed at a larger scale, across diverse communities, if it is to survive the tests of practicality, convenience and environmental feasibility within our modernized and urbanized world. Vernacular architecture, despite its widespread acceptance amongst academics, and increased interest by high socio-economic layers of society, especially in the developed world, is in fact on a decline within local rural traditional communities. The three key reasons for such decline are based on: high maintenance costs (especially labour), poor overall performance of traditional buildings, followed by associations of poverty with locally sourced materials. The need for better understanding of the needs and aspirations of diverse communities and their living conditions, can lead us towards architectural solutions that are affordable, environmentally appropriate and engaging of traditional and contemporary approaches towards buildings. This particular study focuses on the analysis and response of roofs, given its significance as a construction element that provides not only shelter, but structural integrity for traditional dwellings.