Architecture without the Architect?

In my previous blog, I mentioned how we could learn a lot about people who view the earth and its environment as a friend and ally, this made me begin to think about other things we may learn from them.

“Architecture without architect” is where locals have developed such an extensive understanding of their building techniques to the point where they can build homes so efficiently and quickly. (“Architecture without Architects” Can Teach Valuable Lessons Says Norman Foster, 2023) Benard Rudofsky’s ‘Architecture without Architect’ states: “There is much to learn from architecture before it became an expert's art.” (Rudofsky, 1964) Commending the admirable talent of people’s skills to tailor their buildings to the natural surroundings “Instead of trying to ‘conquer’ nature, as we do, they welcome the vagaries of climate and the challenge of topography.” (Rudofsky, 1964) Working with limited functional complexity and scale, people have to take up the roles of the architect, client and builder. (world, n.d.)

Some examples include traditional Japanese buildings which are composed of skeletal, modular components, that form an open plan spaced separated with sliding walls, this has been vernacular Japanese architecture for centuries. (Rudofsky, 1964) 

Traditional Japanese Home

Another example is the Korowai tribe of South Eastern Papua, Indonesian New Guinea, who up until 1975 had minimal contact with the outside world, their incredible homes are perched 140 feet high into the forest canopy on tall, skinny stilts with the purpose of avoiding attacks from rival clans that would have come with any malicious intent. (Payne, 2015) In addition, being perched high up would also protect the people from any dangers lurking on the jungle floor such as predators.

Traditional Korowai Home perched on the forest Canopy. Photo by George Steinmetz

Architecture without architects can teach us a lot about how to co-live with our natural environment without fighting and damaging it. As Norman Foster describes “People have created a response using local materials, working with nature, creating environments in a desert before the age of cheap energy by passive cooling, thermal mass” (“Architecture without Architects” Can Teach Valuable Lessons Says Norman Foster, 2023) It is clear that gaining all the knowledge and power in the world to conquer the environment to build the greatest feats in history does not have to be the future of humanity. We should look at our ancestors and their ways of life to learn how we can live in peace with the earth, after all, it is all we have.

Bibliography:

The Great Mosque, Djenné. (n.d.). Naturalhomes.org. http://www.naturalhomes.org/great-mosque-djenne.htm

Rudofsky, B. (1964). Architecture Without Architects.

Payne, E. (2015, February 18). Meet the Lost Treehouse tribe of New Guinea. Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2958291/The-tree-dwellers-New-Guinea-Amazing-images-offer-glimpse-secretive-Korowai-tribe-living-rickety-treehouses-140ft-remote-rainforest.html

‌world, S. (n.d.). Architecture without architects. Www.stirworld.com. https://www.stirworld.com/think-columns-architecture-without-architects

‌“Architecture without architects” can teach valuable lessons says Norman Foster. (2023, May 19). Dezeen. https://www.dezeen.com/2023/05/19/architecture-without-architects-valuable-lessons-norman-foster/

Image Credits:

Hida, M. (2022, September 20). Unique Features of a Traditional Japanese House. Japan Wonder Travel Blog; Japan Wonder Travel Blog. https://blog.japanwondertravel.com/features-of-a-traditional-japanese-house-36728

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‌Payne, E. (2015, February 18). Meet the Lost Treehouse tribe of New Guinea. Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2958291/The-tree-dwellers-New-Guinea-Amazing-images-offer-glimpse-secretive-Korowai-tribe-living-rickety-treehouses-140ft-remote-rainforest.html

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