Culture in Vernacular Architecture [Teacher Notes]

Liberal Studies Teaching Kit for Senior Secondary Curriculum Hong Kong Today Culture in Vernacular Architecture [Teacher notes] Organizer Sponsor Research Team Contents Preamble Liberal Studies | Teaching plan i Lesson 1: Culture in Vernacular Architecture 1.1 Vernacular Architecture for People 02 Architecture in Vernacular Culture 1.2 Case Studies: Various Cultures in Vernacular Architecture of Hong Kong 05 1.2.1 Tong Lau or Tenement Houses 05 1.2.2 Stilt Houses 10 1.2.3 Walled Village 14 Exercise: Examine a nearby Vernacular Building 16 Summary, Key words and Further reading 18 Disclaimer Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. © 2012 Hong Kong Institute of Architects Topic 01 Culture in Vernacular Architecture Major teaching areas Interdisciplinary teaching areas Liberal Studies: Module 2 Hong Kong Today Design and Applied Technology: • Theme 1: Quality of Life • Strand 1 Design and Innovation • Theme 3: Identity • Strand 2 Technological Principles Liberal Studies | • Strand 3 Value and Impact Related teaching areas Liberal Studies: Module 5 Public Health Culture in Vernacular Architecture in Vernacular Culture • Theme 2: Science, Technology and Public Health Learning objectives • To distinguish the difference between vernacular and professionally designed architecture • To understand the characteristics of different typologies of vernacular architecture in Hong Kong • To understand the connection and interplay between architecture, lifestyle, social context and environment Teaching plan Lesson Contents Lesson 1 • 1.1 Introductory photos of vernacular and professional architecture • 1.1.1 Concept and definition of vernacular architecture • 1.2 Case studies focusing on three types of vernacular architecture and their connections to residents’ lifestyle, social context and environment • 1.2.1 Tong Lau or Tenement House • 1.2.2 Stilt House • 1.2.3 Walled Village i Liberal Studies | Lesson 1 Architecture in Vernacular Culture Culture in Vernacular Architecture 01 Lesson 1 Culture in Vernacular Architecture 1.1 Vernacular Architecture for People In The Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World, Professor Paul Oliver defines vernacular architecture as: ‘...comprising the dwellings and all other buildings of the people. Related to their environmental contexts and available resources they are customarily owner- or community-built, utilizing traditional technologies. All forms of vernacular architecture are built to meet specific needs, accommodating the values, economies and ways of life of the cultures that produce them.’ Are these buildings vernacular architecture? Why or why not? Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture in Vernacular Culture 1 3 2 4 1. Palazzi of Venice, Italy 2. Schröder House, Utrecht, The Netherlands 3. Tenement house, Hong Kong 4. Houses in Cinque Terre, Italy 02 1 3 Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture in Vernacular Culture 2 4 Left to right, top to bottom: 1. Tulou, Fujian, China 2. IFC 2, Hong Kong 3. Bamboo theatre, Hong Kong 4. Houses in Suzhou, China Teaching Tips For further example on how culture influences architecture, pleases refer to Arts Topic 03 ‘ Chinese Calligraphy, Painting and Architecture’; and Topic 07 ‘ Aesthetics of Zen in Japanese Garden’ . 03 By comparing the above examples, we can have a rough idea of what vernacular architecture means. Usually, buildings designed by professional architects are not considered vernacular. Some would simply define vernacular architecture as ‘architecture without architects’. American Architect Frank Lloyd Wright defined vernacular architecture as ‘folk building growing in response to actual needs, fitted into the environment by people who knew no better than to fit them with native feeling’. Characteristics of vernacular architecture are as below: • Use of traditional or locally available construction skills • Use of simple technology and commonly available materials • ‘New structure with old techniques’ as experiment and innovation are more costly than repetition • Evolved slowly through numerous experimental trials and Teaching Tips errors instead of specifically designed by a professional Vernacular architecture is an example • Functionalistic and simple design which fulfils basic needs of of Hong Kong’s local culture. For further the people information, please refer to Topic 03: ‘Globalization and Localization of • Born of people’s needs, culture, tradition and adapted to local Liberal Studies | Architecture and Urban Planning’. climate Culture in Vernacular Architecture in Vernacular Culture The stilt houses in Ma Wan are examples of vernacular architecture. They were not designed by architects, but instead were developed slowly through time by the local people to adapt to the environment and their living style, and were built with the most handy materials. 04 1.2 Case Studies: Various Cultures in Vernacular Architecture of Hong Kong Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture in Vernacular Culture A series of Tong Lau at Shanghai Street 1.2.1 Tong Lau or Tenement Houses - architecture for a dense population What is Tong Lau? Why were Tong Lau developed? The history of tenement houses or Tong Lau (唐樓) When Hong Kong became a British colony in 1842, a large dates back to the mid-19th century. The ground floor number of Chinese from China’s coastal cities moved to of a tenement house is occupied by a shop while the this politically stable colonial city in search of better lives, mezzanine and other storeys are for living. Multiple causing a serious shortage of housing. On the other hand, tenants usually shared one flat due to the shortage the establishment of Victoria City (維多利亞城), the area of living space at the time. Eventually this grew to be around Central today, required cheap labour which could one of the most common building types in Hong Kong, be fulfilled by the influx of Chinese immigrants. Chinese South China and Southeast Asia, with particular stylistic workers began to settle in Sheung Wan, the periphery of flourishes in each place. Victoria City. Borrowing the architectural style from South China, Tong Lau was the quick and convenient answer to the housing problem. 05 Life in a shophouse Most prewar (built before 1945) Tong Laus are 3 to 4-storey high while later tenement houses after 1950 have 8 storeys at most. Early Tong Laus were long and narrow, accessed by a long, dark staircase without any natural lighting and ventilation. There was also no provision of elevators and toilets which explained the need for the collection of night soil (倒夜香) in the past. What is the architectural style of Tong Lau? Although Hong Kong Tong Laus resemble the other tenement buildings in South China, they are unique in their details which display a mix of Chinese and Western styles. Very often, Tong Laus have balconies or verandahs which project over the pedestrian pavement. Kee lau (騎樓) type tenement houses have columns to support the projecting floors, forming a continuous arcade on street level. 1. Hong Kong’s old corner house in 1960s. 2. Architectural details of Tong Laus at 10-12 Li Chit Street (built in 1920s). The Tong Laus have been demolished and only one 1 © Raymond Wong of the façade was conserved after renovation. 3. Architectural details of Tong Laus at 1168 Canton Road (built in Liberal Studies | 1940s) 4. The arcade formed by 117-125 Nam Cheong Street (built in 1930s-1940s) Culture in Vernacular Architecture in Vernacular Culture 2 3 4 06 Common Materials in Tong Laus Canton Brick Canton Tile Timber Planks Clay Roof Reinforced Concrete Tile How were Tong Laus built? Early Tong Laus were supported by brick or stone load-bearing walls and beams. 1. Blue (grey) Canton bricks were chosen for the walls as they were cheaper than the stronger red bricks. 2. The ground floor was laid with Canton tiles. 3. The upper floor was made of Chinese timber floor planks supported by timber rafters. 4. The pitched roof was clad with unglazed clay tiles. Tong Laus after 1935 were built in reinforced concrete. Liberal Studies | How do Tong Laus adapt to the climate of Hong Kong? Despite the cramped living condition and poor design of the earliest Tong Laus, they are built to respond to the climate. 1. High ceiling (approximately 4-5m high) Architecture in Vernacular Culture 2. Large windows 3. Balconies 4. Verandahs are features which help create a well-lit and well-ventilated interior as a solution to the hot and humid climate of Hong Kong. Teaching Tips Verandahs For further information, pleases refer to In Hong Kong, verandahs are often Design and Applied Technology elevated to upper floor due to lack Topic 06: ‘Health and Safety Controls in of space. Movable roof is installed to Residential Buildings in Hong Kong ’. adapt different weather conditions. p Balconies and large windows of Lui p Mido Cafe p Nam Cheong Pawnshop Seng Chung 07 Effects of building design on lives of people To accommodate different families resulted from the influx Media Corner of immigrant workers, each flat was divided into front room, middle room, end room (Fig. 1) or even smaller Hong Kong Stories (Series 15) - Our History cubicles. Episode 10 - A Roof Over Our Heads Sometimes the roof and the attic above the kitchen 20-3-2011 Duration: 22 min. would be rented out too. The front room was the only room open to fresh air and natural light, and would Chinese version http://programme.rthk.org.hk/rthk/tv/programme. usually be occupied by the landlord, the only person who php?name=tv/hkstories15&d=2011-03- could afford the rent. 20&p=5013&e=134356&m=episode Rooms were separated by partitions which were built lower than the ceiling height to leave a gap for ventilation English version since there was no window in the whole flat except at the http://programme.rthk.hk/rthk/tv/programme.

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