Reinventing an Urban Vernacular : Developing Sustainable Housing Prototypes for Cities Based on Traditional Strategies

With increasing population and its associated demand on our limited resources, we need to rethink our current strategies for construction of multifamily buildings in urban areas. __Reinventing an Urban Vernacular__ addresses these new demands for smaller and more efficient housing units adapted to local climate. In order to find solutions and to promote better urban communities with an overall environmentally responsible lifestyle, this book examines a wide variety of vernacular building precedents, as they relate to the unique characteristics and demands of six distinctly different regions of the United States. Terry Moor addresses the unique landscape, climate, physical, and social development by analyzing vernacular precedents, and proposing new suggestions for modern needs and expectations. Written for students and architects, planners, and urban designers, __Reinventing an Urban Vernacular__ marries the urban vernacular with ongoing sustainability efforts to produce a unique solution to the housing needs of the changing urban environment. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of Figures Image Credits Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Addressing the Future of the Evolving American City The Development and Transformation of the American City Transformation of the Downtown into the Central Business District (CBD) The Suburbs Have Maxed Out Future Challenges Global Warming A Much Larger Population The Lack of Affordable Oil Scarcity of Modern Construction Materials Can Technology Save Our Lifestyles and Our Cities? New Directions Chapter 2 Employing Vernacular Solutions to Future Urban Housing Defining Vernacular Building Why Resort to the Vernacular in a Modern World Reviving and Reapplying Vernacular Principle to Modern Cities Developing Regional Prototypes Prototype Building Requirements Chapter 3 The Northeast: New England and Mid-Atlantic Coasts The Place Early Development Patterns Precedents The Wigwam The Cape Cod House Saltbox The Row House or Townhouse New York City Tenement Boston Three-Decker Common Themes Found in Traditional Buildings Along the Northeast Coast Shape and Placement Shelter, Construction, and Materials Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation Natural Resources Available for Construction Wood Stone Brick The Current Approach to Design and Construction Urban Development Today Architectural Character Popular Design and Construction Methods Future Environmental Concerns Design Strategies and Building Components Climatic Imperatives Orientation Overall Suggested Configuration and Layout Building Circulation – Halls and Staircases Roof Type Windows and Window Treatments Materials and Construction Outdoor Spaces Landscape Renewable Power and Mechanical Equipment The Prospect for Future Urban Development in the Northeast Summary of Suggested Building Practices for the Northeast Chapter 4 The Midwest: Eastern Prairies and Northern Woodlands The Place Early Development Patterns Precedents The Iroquoian Longhouse The I-House Chicago Bungalow The Polish Flat The American Foursquare or Prairie Box The Chicago Graystone (Two-Flat and Three-Flat) Courtyard Apartments Common Themes Found in Traditional Buildings Along the Midwest Shape and Placement Shelter, Construction, and Materials Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation Natural Resources Available for Construction Stone Brick Wood Iron The Current Approach to Design and Construction Urban Development Today Architectural Character Popular Design and Construction Methods Future Environmental Concerns Design Strategies and Building Components Climatic Imperatives Orientation Overall Suggested Configuration and Layout Building Circulation – Halls and Staircases Unit Plan Roof Type Windows and Window Treatments Materials and Construction Outdoor Spaces Landscape Renewable Power and Mechanical Equipment The Prospect for Future Urban Development in the Midwest Summary of Suggested Building Practices for the Midwest Chapter 5 The South: Coastal Plains and Interior Uplands The Place Early Development Patterns Precedents The Antebellum Plantation House The Dogtrot House The Shotgun House Creole Townhouse of New Orleans The Charleston Single House Common Themes Found in Traditional Buildings Along the South Shape and Placement Shelter Construction and Materials Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation Other Considerations Natural Resources Available for Construction Wood Brick Stone Tabby Concrete The Current Approach to Design and Construction Urban Pattern Architectural Character Popular Design and Construction Methods Future Environmental Concerns Design Strategies and Building Components Climatic Imperatives Orientation Overall Suggested Configuration and Layout Building Circulation – Halls and Staircases Unit Plan Roof Type Windows and Window Treatments Materials and Construction Outdoor Spaces Landscape Renewable Power and Mechanical Equipment The Prospect for Future Urban Development in the South Summary of Suggested Building Practices for the South Chapter 6 The Great Plains: Western Prairies The Place Early Development Patterns Precedents Tipis Earthlodges Sod House or Soddie German Building in the Texas Hill Country The American Farmhouse Common Themes Found in Traditional Buildings of the Great Plains Shape and Placement Shelter, Construction, and Materials Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation Other Considerations Natural Resources Available for Construction Reeds and Grasses Earth Stone Wood The Current Approach to Design and Construction Urban Development Today Architectural Character Popular Design and Construction Methods Future Environmental Concerns Design Strategies and Building Components Climatic Imperatives Orientation Overall Suggested Configuration and Layout Building Circulation – Halls and Staircases Roof Type Windows and Window Treatments Materials and Construction Outdoor Spaces Landscape Renewable Power and Mechanical Equipment Building Arrangement on the City Block The Prospect for Future Urban Development on the Great Plains Summary of Suggested Building Practices for the Great Plains Chapter 7 The West: Deserts and High Plains The Place Early Development Patterns Precedents The Hogan The Pueblo The Spanish Mission The Courtyard House The Monterey House Common Themes Found in Traditional Buildings of the West Shape and Placement Shelter, Construction, and Materials Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation Natural Resources Available for Construction Stone Earth Adobe Rammed Earth Clay Tile Timber Hay Bale Concrete and Concrete Block The Current Approach to Design and Construction Urban Development Today Architectural Character Popular Design and Construction Methods Future Environmental Concerns Design Strategies and Building Components Climatic Imperatives Orientation Overall Suggested Configuration and Layout Building Circulation – Halls and Staircases Unit Plan Roof Type Windows and Window Treatments Materials and Construction Outdoor Spaces Landscape Renewable Power and Mechanical Equipment The Prospect for Future Urban Development in the West Summary of Suggested Building Practices for the West Chapter 8 The Pacific Northwest: Marine Forest The Place Early Development Patterns Precedents Plank Houses Houseboats (Floating Homes) Victorian Townhouses Common Themes Found in Traditional Buildings of the Pacific Northwest Shape and Placement Shelter Construction and Materials Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation Natural Resources Available for Construction Wood Stone The Current Approach to Design and Construction Urban Development Today Architectural Character Popular Design and Construction Methods Future Environmental Concerns Design Strategies and Building Components Climatic Imperatives Orientation Overall Suggested Configuration and Layout Building Circulation – Halls and Staircases Roof Type Windows and Window Treatments Materials and Construction Outdoor Spaces Landscape Renewable Power and Mechanical Equipment The Prospect for Future Urban Development in the Pacific Northwest Summary of Suggested Building Practices for the Pacific Northwest Chapter 9 Building a Sustainable Future Based on Vernacular Principles Vernacular and Economics Vernacular and Nature Vernacular and Tradition Vernacular and Aesthetics Vernacular and Technology Vernacular and Natural Resources Vernacular and the Urban Context The Vernacular and a Better Style of Life Goals for Repopulating Cities Appendix Index With increasing population and its associated demand on our limited resources, we need to rethink our current strategies for construction of multifamily buildings in urban areas. Reinventing an Urban Vernacular addresses these new demands for smaller and more efficient housing units adapted to local climate. In order to find solutions and to promote better urban communities with an overall environmentally responsible lifestyle, this book examines a wide variety of vernacular building precedents, as they relate to the unique characteristics and demands of six distinctly different regions of the United States. Terry Moor addresses the unique landscape, climate, physical, and social development by analyzing vernacular precedents, and proposing new suggestions for modern needs and expectations. Written for students and architects, planners, and urban designers, Reinventing an Urban Vernacular marries the urban vernacular with ongoing sustainability efforts to produce a unique solution to the housing needs of the changing urban environment. Book jacket With increasing population and its associated demand on our limited resources, we need to rethink our current strategies for construction of multifamily buildings in urban areas. A New Urban Vernacular addresses these new demands for smaller and more efficient housing units adapted to local climate. In order to find solutions and to promote better urban communities with an overall environmentally responsible lifestyle, this book examines a wide variety of vernacular building precedents as they relate to the unique characteristics and demands of six distinctly different regions of the United States. Terry Moor addresses the unique landscape, climate, physical and social development by analysing vernacular precedents, and proposing new suggestions for modern needs and expectations. Written for students and architects, planners, and urban designers, "A New Urban Vernacular" marries the urban vernacular with ongoing sustainability efforts to produce a unique solution to the housing needs of the changing urban environment