The importance of cultural dimensions in the design process of the vernacular societies

Cultural dimensions play a crucial role in designing for vernacular societies, offering a remedy to the unintended consequences of modern architectural theories. This study highlights that integrating communal psychological patterns and local cultural characteristics into design processes can lead to structures that are both culturally and environmentally adapted. The research focuses on three UNESCO World Heritage Sites—Shibam (Yemen), Edfu (Egypt), and Draa (Morocco)—to analyze how vernacular prototypes and patterns can inform sustainable and contextually appropriate designs. By reconsidering modernity's impact on architecture, the study advocates for a design approach that prioritizes cultural specificity over universal modernist principles.

Abdel-Azim, G. G., & Osman, K. A.-A. (2018). The importance of cultural dimensions in the design process of the vernacular societies. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 9(4), 2755–2765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2017.09.005