CIimate and contemporary transformations of vernacular architecture

CLIMATE-Arch investigates the dynamic relationships between climatic conditions, climate change and vernacular architecture in the Alps and the Himalayas. Vernacular architecture is rooted in local knowledge, regional building traditions and locally available materials, and is closely connected to the climatic conditions of its region. Climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events are driving new adaptations in the design, construction, materiality, use and protection of vernacular buildings, particularly in mountainous environments. The interdisciplinary project examines these transformation processes at selected sites and across different altitudes in the Alps and the Himalayas. It considers environmental, social, economic and technical factors in an integrated way. The aim is to develop a comparative methodology for understanding the complex transformation of vernacular architecture in response to climate and climate change across the past, present and future.