Architectural Vernacular Heritage as a Cultural Enhancer in Rural Villages

Rural villages around the world frequently are the built manifestation of architectural heritage and the living traditions. However, with the dynamic changes of society, culture and technology, vernacular heritage could disappear. Consequently, this paper argues: what is vernacular architecture in contemporary time? How can it last over time in rural villages? In order to answer this, through a theoretical base and the analysis of two case studies, the authors will find out the principles that defines it. Both case studies are located in rural villages and are contemporary projects conceived in a place where traditional culture is still alive. At one hand, ‘Tai O Hub Bridge’, a project located in the fishing village, a site that depict the trace of the old Hong Kong and one of the last remaining places where ancient culture has survived. At the other hand, ‘La Casa de Meche’, a house built in Pedro Carbo-Ecuador, a project that faced the re-construction process after a 7.8 earthquake hit the zone. Even if they are located more than ten thousand miles away from each other, both represent the conception of a contemporary projects within in a vulnerable system. This paper seeks to define parameters that make vernacular architecture accurate over the time and how to apply them when new projects come in these rural villages.