Continuities and Discontinuities in the Vernacular Architecture

Vernacular architecture has been growing over time with continuities, changes, transformations and adaptations to the different social and economic conditions of each period in response to actual needs with the available means of every place. Continuities in vernacular architecture are closely related to space, time and materiality and involve structural, typological, functional and social issues with multiple readings and interpretations. The recent abandonment of a large number of traditional dwellings mainly due to urbanization and the romantic nostalgia towards the past have led to the conservation and reuse of traditional buildings following a different approach compared to previous periods. Τhe previous tactic of segmented partial and on-going maintenance without interrupting the continuity and use has been replaced today with an integrated comprehensive and thorough conservation and transformation of a building. Is conservation of vernacular architecture an act of continuity with the past or discontinuity within the context of the existing data and processes? When conserving traditional buildings is it possible to accomplish morphological, structural and social continuity? How is the potential integrity of traditional buildings achieved? These are some of the questions discussed in this paper with the focus of seeking a contemporary way of keeping alive and genuine the relationship with the cultural works of the past.