Contemporary traditional architecture

Contemporary traditional architecture is the practice or product of architectural work that studies and continues the building traditions of its place, in order to preserve and strengthen local character and genius loci, as well as inherent and time-tested sustainability and resilience.

Practitioners address contemporary problems with a combination of traditional and innovative approaches, core of building design being the notion of locality and regionality,^[1] generally seeking to create thriving mixed-use urban spaces "that capture the character of yesterday while anticipating the challenges of the future."^[2]

Unlike vernacular, contemporary traditional architecture is professionally designed and deliberate. It overlaps with New classical architecture, however it puts local traditions (often folk or vernacular) before formalised architectural styles.

Schools teaching contemporary traditional architecture include Notre Dame School of Architecture,^[3] Utah Valley University School of Architecture^[4] and American College of the Building Arts.

Various groups, organisations and awards exist that promote traditional principles in architecture and urbanism, such as Traditional Architecture Group (UK), Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (US), The Urban Guild (US), Architectural Uprising (Sweden) or INTBAU (international).

Leon Krier argues that as a body of technical knowledge, traditional architecture and urbanism is a method of habitation in a way that is ethical, beautiful, and ecological. Eventually, their forms and materials, as well as their quantity, position, size and scale, will be defined by geography, climate and ecology.^[5]

According to Jiri Lev, traditional architecture's practicality and economy, in the natural, evolutionary meaning of the word means obtaining best outcomes with minimum possible outlay of energy and resources. Like in nature, this fine-tuned balance usually also leads to aesthetically pleasing results.^[6]

In context of sustainability, Steve Mouzon talks of historical and new buildings designed using the lessons of the past as the "living tradition" - a collective intelligence underpinning naturally sustainable buildings and places.^[7]

Incorporating regional materials, techniques, craftsmanship and skills into the built environment leads to lasting cultural narratives, maintaining architectural diversity and richness.

In the United States structural masonry is experiencing revival in contemporary traditional architecture, for instance in works by Building Culture.^[8]

In India, buildings with courtyards and balconies are made from handmade clay tiles and stone masonry for resilience and natural cooling.^[9]

In Australia simple traditional homes are built from locally sourced natural materials, utilising low-tech owner-builder construction to avoid increasingly costly industrialised methods (such as prefabricated trusses).^[10]

In Japan buddhist temples have been continuously rebuilt, expanded and updated with contemporary technologies while maintaining their traditional architectural character for many centuries.

Examples of government policy formed on contemporary traditional architectural principles include Saudi Arabia's design guidelines on its distinctive architectural styles,^[11] or European city councils increasingly attentive to traditional architectural principles, as in Norway's Bergen, Oppdal and Grünerløkka, or broader movements such as European Urban Renaissance.

• New classical architecture
• Vernacular architecture
• Contemporary architecture