The Gujarat earthquake of 2001 caused widespread devastation to livelihoods and the built environment, demolishing or badly damaging in excess of 400,000 buildings in the Kutch region as well as killing upwards of 15,000 people. This research examines the work of Hunnarsh?l?, an urban development and architecture firm based in Bhuj, Gujarat, India who, in response to the immediate and long-term needs apparent in the aftermath of the earthquake, proposed an owner-driven redevelopment strategy which sought to promote the socio-cultural needs of the ‘users’ as embodied in the artefacts and processes of the vernacular traditions common to the communities, as essentially empowering and therefore critical to the long-term sustainability of any reconstruction work. Hunnarsh?l?’s approach is an illustration of the coproduction of housing, leading to what is termed here as ‘synthetic vernacular architecture’. The thesis explores the potential of the coproduction of housing as an alternative model for architectural development for disadvantaged individuals and groups, with the potential for broader application in other contexts. Using three settlements on which Hunnarsh?l? worked as case studies, this research examines the efficacy of such an approach through both artefacts and processes of production as found in the field through a qualitative methodological approach based on ethnographic and design analysis methods. The research indicates that whilst there are distinct and problematic issues raised by an approach such as that used by Hunnarsh?l? in the context of Kutch, their approach is an illustration of the coproduction of housing, Such an approach has not been investigated to any significant degree in terms of its potential as a means of making culturally resonant architecture and therefore as a strategy of empowerment. This it is felt is an oversight which this research seeks to remedy.

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Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 113-114). / The design and building process of Dr. Henry Chapman Mercer is explored for its relationship to vernacular design. The vehicle for this exploration is 'Fonthill,' the home of Dr. Mercer constructed by him in 1908. Complete measured drawings of Fonthill and cylindrical perspective photography were used to document the existing building. Analysis includes excerpts from Mercer's design and construction drawings, design model and design notebook. Discussion and analysis center around the design and bu{lding strategies that contributed to the character or 'sense of place' of Fonthill. The appendices include discussion of measuring and drawing methods employed in producing the measured drawings, and discussion of cylindrical perspective photography techniques utilizing a pinhole camera. / by Kurt Frederick Eichenberger. / M.Arch.

The rondavel has become synonymous with the settlements of the black people of South Africa but has also become a characteristic building type of European (white) folk building in white vernacular architecture. Although this building type was never considered a typical building type on farmsteads and of farm architecture of the Boland, it has become such a common phenomenon that it can now be considered part of white vernacular architecture. The occurrence and distribution of the rondavel in the northern part of South Africa reflects its popularity over the last hundred years. The rondavel occurs in six configurations: (1) as single isolated cone on cylinder structure, (2) as a conglomerate of separate rondavels, (3) as several rondavels connected to each other with foyers and passages, (4) as an independent annex to a larger rectangular dwelling unit, (5) as an addition built onto an existing rectangular dwelling unit or (6) as a single dwelling unit with the characteristics of an elongated rondavel with two of its sides parallel to each other (lozenge shape). The use and function of these buildings also varied depending on the needs of the landowner, tenant, housewife or workers.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-89).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2001. / Adviser: Lynda Norene Shaffer. Submitted to the Dept. of History. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 260-272). Access restricted to members of the Tufts University community. Also available via the World Wide Web;

published_or_final_version / Conservation / Master / Master of Science in Conservation

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