Vernacular Architecture and Adaptation in the Context of Climate Risk Management.

00:00:00:20 - 00:00:53:04

Speaker 1

So disaster is is grouped into groups and natural and human based. It's called human beings. Human induced or anthropological. Each group is divided into types and subtypes. So under natural disaster, for example, it's, it's, it's natural hazards causing disaster. And more than natural disasters to be more correct. So under natural hazards, we find all epidemic and insect infestation classified as biological hazards and to this it would also be added like respiratory infections or viruses, including, for example, the the COVID crisis that we have now and or geophysical.

00:00:53:04 - 00:01:28:08

Speaker 1

We find volcanoes, earthquakes and and or hydrological floods and which mass movement. Meanwhile, storms are considered meteorological at extreme temperatures, droughts and wildfires, which are very common now in Europe and North Africa as climate climatological hazards. We have all the anthropological and human induced disasters, but the focus will be on natural disasters and we've neglected.

00:01:30:19 - 00:02:10:24

Speaker 1

So starting from this slide will see data for Africa and the Middle East North Africa region in separate graphs as they are reported on separately. North Africa will be a common subregion and so will be shown in all slides. This first graph shows data for the largest natural disasters that affected African countries from 1919 17 to 2019. We can see that the disasters are classified by number of deaths, but the result also valid for properties and heritage properties.

00:02:11:17 - 00:02:42:16

Speaker 1

And droughts and and floods are the most common disaster afflicting Africa for the last half century. I'm so sorry. Well, the slides are blank. Can you see this slide?

00:02:43:02 - 00:02:49:13

Speaker 2

Yes, we can see them actually. Of problem. So we can see the slides. And we saw the one that you moved onto yet. This one. Yeah.

00:02:50:06 - 00:03:36:14

Speaker 1

Okay, I. I can. I can feed from. From PowerPoint. It's okay. So this map shows the distribution of disasters in Africa. I mean, the three best decades, most common disasters are indeed floods and droughts and extreme temperatures in South Africa are also causing now wildfires since last year, which would also be added to the list based map for the MENA region shows the distribution of disasters by type and country.

00:03:36:14 - 00:04:26:13

Speaker 1

So floods are also by far the most common disaster and surprisingly, with the exception of Iran, which has extreme flooding and earthquake disasters, the following top five countries are north African countries and African countries, namely Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Djibouti and Morocco. The data here shows that along with floods, earthquakes are the second most hitting and disasters. So this is to show that these should never come alone.

00:04:27:09 - 00:04:59:06

Speaker 1

They always cause other crises, including human rights, one like communities, displacement and famine, etc., which makes any mitigation measures part of the solution. So anything we can do to mitigate will be very helpful. These pictures are from Ethiopia in 1983, where droughts caused famine and human displacement.

00:05:00:04 - 00:05:12:08

Speaker 3

Can I just quickly interrupt and could you just call out which slide number you're on if you're reading them from your PowerPoint so I can make sure that everything's coordinated in the screen if you can't see them yourself sometimes.

00:05:12:21 - 00:05:19:02

Speaker 1

I mean, it comes and goes back to but on slide ten, moving to 11 now.

00:05:19:02 - 00:05:20:12

Speaker 2

If you move.

00:05:20:23 - 00:05:24:07

Speaker 3

To a slide, if you just say, next slide, please, and I we'll keep in sync.

00:05:24:21 - 00:05:26:20

Speaker 1

Okay. Are you seeing the 11 now?

00:05:27:06 - 00:05:32:17

Speaker 2

Yeah, I yeah, we're seeing the the Egyptian building.

00:05:34:07 - 00:05:59:22

Speaker 1

Okay, perfect. So the question that we ask now, how can the national architecture answer or even reduce disaster risk? And it does not seem very realistic at a first glance, but we'll be able to to tell at the end of the presentation if there is any way we can adapt or mitigate. Also, beyond the at the built environment.

00:06:00:09 - 00:06:52:22

Speaker 1

So if we can also contribute in other sectors. So we'll look at a couple of points and see how vernacular architectures would be an added value at the intercept of other sectors. First, the carbon footprints at the intersection with the energy sector. So the need to significantly reduce the carbon footprint on the planet resulting from predatory practices of nonrenewable resources like minerals and and fossil based fuels, and an increased cleansing of renewable resources like water implies an obligation to reduce the use of energy intensive building materials, which are, for example, at a minimum, still cement, etc..

00:06:53:15 - 00:07:30:18

Speaker 1

The building sector contributes more than 35% to the global carbon emissions that cause global warming and climate change. Consequently, reducing the carbon footprint includes the manufacturing stage of pre-fabricated material that transportation, but also the preparation and application. The sum of all these combined energy portions called embodied carbon is added to the functioning. We call it functioning or upgrading energy to form the lifecycle footprint of the building.

00:07:31:07 - 00:08:15:04

Speaker 1

The materials used in vernacular architecture are found onsite. No transportation or industrial manufacturing processes are required and the building is to a very large extent, naturally comfortable without any fuel based heating or cooling system. The the carbon footprint of the network activities is almost, almost I mean, it comes to almost zero. So it's most of the time, I mean, it's, it's it's reduced to a minimum, to say least.

00:08:16:12 - 00:09:00:15

Speaker 1

The picture is from the library where you can get you. GRONDIN In Africa where from the picture we can feel the comfort and harmony. And this is without any any fuel based cooling or heating system, mostly heating because it's very hot climate the in terms of of lifecycle and recycling the virtuous lifecycle of earth in architecture which we call it birth as cradle to cradle, the complete recyclable materials and the complete recyclable materials are two remarkable assets.

00:09:01:01 - 00:09:09:02

Speaker 1

This picture from see when you did shows a use of pure raw material from certainly in the same place.

00:09:09:02 - 00:09:14:16

Speaker 2

I think we need to move on a slide actually soon. That's it. That's it.

00:09:14:16 - 00:09:19:14

Speaker 1

Okay. Can you see it now? Yeah. Sorry.

00:09:20:01 - 00:09:21:03

Speaker 2

No, not at all.

00:09:21:03 - 00:09:52:17

Speaker 1

The two item and I do like now the picture is is from zoo and in this I mean we can see that the site has been constructed with a material that was cropped from from the same place. So we can see that the recycling of earth can be 100% visible. And at the same time, the remodeling, reshaping, reconstruction are always possible.

00:09:52:24 - 00:10:21:06

Speaker 1

It's like a return to and from Earth. We can see that we have the same color, the same texture and everything. So we can see the way back and forth from the material to the building and vice versa. Our earth and sites are also they have a much longer lifespan than you once in their lifetime is estimated between 30 and 50 years.

00:10:21:19 - 00:10:54:06

Speaker 1

The following slide will show a 16th century earth inside a Yes, I can see this one and and the site is still standing despite maintenance difficulties. So this to say that also many other sites are thousand years old in Africa in the Middle East and they since then now we we we use this slide to also talk about flooding and the picture.

00:10:54:06 - 00:11:43:19

Speaker 1

We can see the side of the counties in Algeria, which like many, many sites built in areas with high rainfall and high probabilities of flooding, also, it has a particular urban layout. The site is is located on a hillside allowing rainwater to flow along the ridge lines, which are transformed now into into alleys. And when the site was inhabited, so so the the the rainwater would flow along the red lines until and until then.

00:11:43:19 - 00:12:30:24

Speaker 1

I mean, now the the the this discounting helps the runoff from the top to to the bottom, so to say, is about the flood resilient display presenting design and neighboring side experience of disaster. A flood disaster in 2001 which is the W had floods, but the site and its inhabitants remain. This site has remained completely safe with the inhabitants.

00:12:30:24 - 00:12:36:02

Speaker 1

Which Slide are seeing now.

00:12:36:02 - 00:12:50:01

Speaker 2

Oh, now you're on to the I think that's you in the front actually. We see the wall construction and so so construct earthen architectures less water and she.

00:12:50:01 - 00:12:50:10

Speaker 1

Seemingly.

00:12:51:24 - 00:12:52:17

Speaker 2

So droughts.

00:12:55:22 - 00:13:54:10

Speaker 1

All came perfect essence missing light on my screen so as be a we we previously said contemporary construction consumes water at three level of manufacture preparation but also application event of construction saves water because no prefabrication is required in addition to to the preparation and application, which is often done. I mean, the two steps are done together and on at the same time, other vernacular architectures in drought conditions required no water at all, such as the one on the right, which is a construction of a superimposed stones and without binder or water anything.

00:13:54:10 - 00:14:30:02

Speaker 1

And this is new. The south of Algeria, it's it's the southwest. It's in Tindouf. On the left, we have a site of rammed earth in Ghana, which is also a technique that does not require much water. The Earth is put into the tool that you can see on the right of the slide, and then it's rammed for compression.

00:14:30:02 - 00:14:31:06

Speaker 1

Can you see the next slide?

00:14:32:10 - 00:14:34:14

Speaker 2

Yes, now we can. The harmony.

00:14:34:14 - 00:15:15:00

Speaker 1

Okay, perfect. And we also mentioned earlier health problems, including respiratory difficulties as a natural, biomedical and health related hazard. Contemporary houses without proper ventilation systems would be a breeding ground for bacterial infections, especially in high humidity climates, where you would have also insect problems and insect infestations is, on the contrary, material that it's a material like it breeds exactly like humans this.

00:15:15:00 - 00:16:01:24

Speaker 1

So I mean these these breathability character allows to have like some some regulatory functions that make that the building with human being, the inhabitant and the claimant are the three of them in harmony. Of course, this is in addition to the, the built in ventilation systems of the Nicola active two that you find integrated in this picture is also from Burundi from the where you can library and you can you can see how there is a ventilation system is integrated with the material itself and we see lots of creativity in this design.

00:16:01:24 - 00:16:42:00

Speaker 1

So it's not only the the then the technicality, but also the presentation in a very creative way. Okay. So it is perceived as as a certain material, but in reality it's not. Additives, aggregates and preparations according to special recipes and techniques make it can be okay.

00:16:42:22 - 00:16:44:14

Speaker 2

Yes, it's sana on the picture.

00:16:45:17 - 00:16:51:05

Speaker 1

Okay. I. Hello?

00:16:51:12 - 00:16:53:22

Speaker 2

Hello. Can you hear us? We can hear you.

00:16:54:22 - 00:16:56:03

Speaker 1

Okay, because I'm here.

00:16:56:03 - 00:17:05:07

Speaker 2

My voice sounds good to us. So horrible to have the echo, but you sound fine to us.

00:17:07:00 - 00:17:58:11

Speaker 1

Okay? Okay. I will just use the mike, not the headset. So, yes, I'll. I'll saying that earth is not as as fragile as it seems. I mean, all that additives and aggregates that we use, but also them. The recipes and techniques makes it more resistant. And sometimes even than contemporary construction, it makes the picture on right is the old city of Sana'a in Yemen and these constructions at the first and the skyscrapers built in Earth in the world, in only Earth and in with with more than four levels on the left.

00:17:58:23 - 00:18:42:22

Speaker 1

Remember, in the disaster part, Iran was the country with the most earthquakes. This building is the citadel of yes. In Iran, it's located in a high seismic zone built entirely of earth and still standing intact. The communities, communities praying to bring to light the existence of a building culture that have integrated the intelligence capacity of men to respond to natural crisis situations.

00:18:43:08 - 00:19:32:16

Speaker 1

So these these cultures are the result of accumulated experiences, which be as they come with the effect of recurrent events and collective memory, also that what have gradually become experience when provided technological, economic and cultural responses to these risks and and has also promoted people self-reliance in supporting their resilience in past disaster solutions. So this tradition of knowledge in terms of dealing with risk is is strongly connected with vernacular architecture.

00:19:32:16 - 00:20:17:16

Speaker 1

Experimental research on earthen construction technologies has had a significant influence on the evolution of traditional techniques. This research and also innovative projects have strongly renewed the traditional principles of design and construction of even structures, as well as the relationship between them material. The I mean, the way the structure, the form and the appropriation of this space, it has contributed to the development of new architectural and constructional cultures of raw earth that can claim a bright future.

00:20:18:24 - 00:20:56:07

Speaker 1

Traditional techniques have been reused in construction through new contemporary styles. Here on the two pictures we see the Sudanese. And then he was with a new style that are very common in Western Africa. So then use it. And he sees obviously the new generation of the Sudanese style, which means a lot in terms of continuity. And often the choice is seen to be between them rather primitive or at least outdated building techniques.

00:20:56:19 - 00:21:48:18

Speaker 1

And the replacement by steel, cement, glass and other sometimes cheaper industrial materials, but which would represent modernity in one on in one way or another to people. The result of use of of raw materials is not satisfactory to the inhabitant who is increasingly looking for comfort, which is normal and expected. And even some some architects have have not adhere to the compromise of comfort, like the comfort related to modernity, not the thermal one in the face of cultural and ecological value.

00:21:48:18 - 00:22:19:12

Speaker 1

So some architects have successfully updated and modernized vernacular architecture to meet the standards of living of the time. One of the most famous ones is Francis Geary from Burkina Faso, the winner of the Robert Matthew Prize for Sustainable and Human Environment, which is the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in architecture. He also won other prestigious prizes. I think he might go to the Aga Khan before for the same project.

00:22:21:01 - 00:23:09:03

Speaker 1

So Gehry designed this school in Danone, Burkina Faso in Compressed earth like compressed air bricks with an integrated ventilation system in like a double roof. Combine the principles of a natural architecture with modernity at very low costs. The Kodagu Central Market Project also in in Burkina Faso and Aga Khan winning project and winner of the Terre Award in 2005 victory project also under the theater so it's it's role urban development project he designed and built with with community participation.

00:23:10:16 - 00:24:07:14

Speaker 1

This this project is particular because it has created more jobs than the contemporary project. They were producing around a thousand break per day and they were produced by communities. So them the people from communities were employed in this project and they also learned full capacity that the capacities were built. The site is built with compressed bricks involved to reduce the temperature with a very common technique in in hot climates in Africa, the project has won several awards, in particular for the socio economic aspects that it has been able to integrate.

00:24:07:14 - 00:24:47:14

Speaker 1

This is one of the very few contemporary examples in Adobe Sewing School still in Nigeria, one of the finalist projects of the Terre Award 2016. It's built in Adobe with more to finish an artistic paint color in local patterns. It represents one of the examples of change using only the means attend because Adobe is one of the cheapest and easiest techniques it consists of off earth modeled through through models like the ones that you can see on the picture.

00:24:49:11 - 00:25:22:22

Speaker 1

And after that the molded bricks are left to dry in the sun and they are ready to use. This is a manual library in Tanzania, another winning project of the Terra Fiber Award 2019, then the project is made of bamboo, and it's an example of the use of renewable materials in vernacular architecture. And that's I mean, vernacular architecture is not only about Earth.

00:25:24:06 - 00:26:15:22

Speaker 1

And the project also includes an updated ventilation system because it's built in in a high humidity area since any one of them most impressive sites in Africa, the one that that's on the cover page of this presentation, it's discussing very good state of conservation. Thanks to the community leadership. So the site is is built to rather come back to urban design to create mass in order to avoid heat infiltration, but also by creating very narrow alleys shaded by the Edison buildings, as shown in the photo.

00:26:17:19 - 00:26:55:21

Speaker 1

The site has been the subject of several books, describing it as one of the best examples of urban planning in hot climate. It was featured on the cover page of the book Historic Cities by the Getty Institute. And for information these the site is an old site so it's it's a heritage site then a World Heritage site. So the communities which are custodians of this site and our self builders, they have created in the past about five urban settlements locally called sir.

00:26:56:14 - 00:27:29:05

Speaker 1

How are they there? The communities were able to build a new up to date site, a following the same principles of the vernacular architecture of their original site. The site called Satterfield. It was awarded the Global Energy Award in 2020 and other awards for it. Respect of the culture and environment. So it's an example of local architecture visited updated to meet the needs of the inhabitants in terms of living standards, cultural values and climate target.

00:27:29:05 - 00:28:01:13

Speaker 1

But it also shows how the communities can be involved, to what extent they can be involved and what they can do. So the main points of this presentation is that the Nicola architecture is a tool for adaptation and mitigation of risks, including climate change, which goes beyond the built environment to include the human dimension. Therefore, then the human being should be at the center of our design.

00:28:01:23 - 00:28:37:24

Speaker 1

In the jury statement explaining why the Robert Matthew Award was end by Frank Gehry eight, it was mentioned that his buildings for and with communities are directed at those communities in their design, their material, and their unique character. Cultural diversity is a vector for climate and post-disaster action. Culture in their differences bring multiple, diverse and unique solutions. Disaster.

00:28:38:02 - 00:29:15:00

Speaker 1

Although it's it's an extreme situation, it's also an opportunity for the architect to find a solution instead of problem, because these are the constraints that make the design valuable. What is needed is a mindset which makes vernacular architecture in a context of risk not mean. This, but this. Thank you for your attention.

00:29:15:00 - 00:29:27:09

Speaker 3

Great. Thank you very much, shrimp. Absolutely fascinating presentation. And I'm just on your final slide here with I'm buildings on stilts. Could you explain what that is?

00:29:28:00 - 00:29:37:18

Speaker 2

That was that was the buildings. That's what risk should look like. Isn't it? Grim?

00:29:37:18 - 00:29:42:11

Speaker 3

Oh, you're on mute.

00:29:42:11 - 00:29:44:05

Speaker 1

Sorry. Can you repeat the question, please?

00:29:45:05 - 00:29:55:14

Speaker 2

Well, I think we missed a few of your slides at the end, and I think they're worth going back on because they're so beautiful. If I flip back a bit, I mean, to where.

00:29:56:06 - 00:29:58:04

Speaker 1

I see my screen, you.

00:29:58:04 - 00:30:19:22

Speaker 2

Know, and I can explain this is, again, the beautiful school balcony. I think it's just wonderful. And then we have the painting of the vernacular architecture. I said, that's the communal involvement, which is something I'd really like to talk to you about. So I actually will stop it there for a second because that's exactly where I wanted to begin this discussion.

00:30:19:22 - 00:30:47:12

Speaker 2

Because what we need to learn in the Global South, I think very much centers around that human understanding of how to build because, you know, if you if you know how a building is constructed and especially if you're using local materials, you also know how to maintain it. And repair it and adapt it. And of course, what we've done in the global north is to elongate ourselves from that.

00:30:47:12 - 00:31:13:08

Speaker 2

So not only to not most people not understand how a building goes together or why actually you find a lot of the trades working on buildings don't necessarily understand that. So do you find that in the cities and so that this is being lost? Is this something for the rural areas? Grim. You're on mute again.

00:31:13:08 - 00:31:56:04

Speaker 1

Yes. Thank you for the question. Probing. I think that the organization of of communities is different between the global north and south and even in the south. It's being transformed now, communities in the global south are like they are organized in families and they are all of them managers, conservation professionals and they are close to the self builders and their sense of identity is strong because this is their culture that they should present.

00:31:56:04 - 00:32:25:19

Speaker 1

If they if they don't feel by themselves, it will be lost. In the global north, there's more of a structure like an administrative structure, which we have employees doing this because this is their job. So the emotional link is different when I see people restoring, for example, in my communities helping the restoration, although it was a unique, co-funded project and, and we had international experience.

00:32:25:19 - 00:32:47:13

Speaker 1

But when you see people doing the restoration by themselves also we, I mean all the intangible dimension associated to this because we have festivals, they have seasons for maintenance and protection. You see the emotional link and we see that I mean the sense of identity is stronger now.

00:32:48:05 - 00:32:48:12

Speaker 3

In.

00:32:48:23 - 00:33:17:03

Speaker 1

Cities. This is somehow changing. You find, for example, as I'm modern in colonial sites. Yes, I we don't find this sense of identity. So you see that it's the administration that is taking charge and the restoration work. And you see this distance between the site and the communities, which is more or less similar than what's happening in the global north.

00:33:18:01 - 00:33:54:07

Speaker 2

Oh, that's so interesting because we've just been looking at the possibility of community maintenance groups because we have a continual problem with maintenance. We can't get people interested. But if you are not trying to to do it all yourself, which is how it feels, we've been wondering if we could get more action. And I know that some of our local high street is too high street action groups that are run not by government but by the local people, and they spontaneously already set up maintenance groups.

00:33:54:07 - 00:34:19:02

Speaker 2

So it'd be really lovely for them to be learning, reconnecting with some of these communities who are used to doing it that way and get a bit of enthusiasm for for where you can take it. Looking at that, we've just had a couple of questions. One of them was actually your beautiful slide of this. The city with it was on the cover.

00:34:19:11 - 00:34:23:09

Speaker 2

What city is that? What is the name of it?

00:34:23:09 - 00:34:29:14

Speaker 1

It is actually in Algeria. In Gardena. Exactly right.

00:34:30:07 - 00:34:55:14

Speaker 2

Excellent. Because it's it's absolutely wonderful. And I didn't know it. I absolutely love Sana'a. And I know that the only problem there that they've had has been associated with plumbing, leaking plumbing. But that's a huge problem here. Again, it's something that's not unique to urban architecture. Oh, the global stuff.

00:34:55:14 - 00:35:21:11

Speaker 1

I think is and the problems are also related to the state of conservation because due to conflate problems, there was this distance also created between the communities and the size. And people start to want more comfort that they're seeking through the introduction of materials like steel.

00:35:21:11 - 00:35:43:04

Speaker 2

And so and of course, you know, there's someone telling them that that solves all the problems, which is we hit that as a problem here as well. You know, where you buy something and then when it doesn't quite work, you think it's your fault. I think that's one of the classic things about buying comfort, where you don't have control.

00:35:43:04 - 00:35:50:19

Speaker 2

You just feel that you've just you don't say, well, maybe the whole principle is not sound. You just think you've got it wrong somehow.

00:35:52:04 - 00:36:23:19

Speaker 1

And so or when I see a comment from Linda saying, this is me, yes, it's me, is getting our day a bit. I mean, the whole side is composed. It's a printable it's five sides, one of which is is used in that we have like five and cars and I mean this whole setting of them five. What many urban settlements would constitute the whole World Heritage site.

00:36:24:23 - 00:36:32:19

Speaker 1

Yeah. And the new one that's added it's called tefillin, which I can type the name in the thread.

00:36:33:09 - 00:37:14:12

Speaker 2

Oh, that's brilliant, Hector is asking, do you know of any example of vernacular architecture dealing with vector borne disease, the critical issue in many African countries. In fact, many countries here is so, so vector borne disease. But yes. Do you know if anything, I suppose here too. And in Australia we've had problems with fruit bats transmitting viruses. And so so when you have that combination of animals making their homes within our constructions.

00:37:14:12 - 00:37:22:18

Speaker 1

I'm not sure I have enough information to answer the question, but I can take it for later and answer hand. I mean, my email.

00:37:23:04 - 00:37:52:09

Speaker 2

I think it's one those things that we need to research actually everywhere. But I know they always said that using dung in the in the surface coatings, well it was seen as an antibacterial thing to do. So there's probably lessons to be learned there as well. Just because I think people weren't stupid in the past, as you said, they had to learn from experience.

00:37:52:09 - 00:38:24:13

Speaker 1

So I think communities are then knowledge because we might not know everything, because what we do is to document and then look at the technical aspects and see how to employ these or how to put a technical name on it. But they didn't really. We find it with the communities who know. So if we go and ask them, I'm sure they have so many things to do and they know where, where each disease.

00:38:25:13 - 00:38:49:00

Speaker 2

Yeah, I mean I would like to see us all connecting up on that close away we have now this world where we can connect, whether there's ways from learning from each other by actually connecting communities in various places. You know, I have several of my colleagues on the call who deal with urban architecture in in in England, for instance.

00:38:49:00 - 00:39:21:18

Speaker 2

In fact, we find that that when we look, we see that the dominant motor business mortar here, too. So there's a lot more exchange of ideas that could happen. And it's very much, I have to say, an exchange of ideas from the south towards the north, because we have forgotten so much and now. Yes, Alison's just saying particularly another good example is Canela in can a Canelo in Arizona.

00:39:22:00 - 00:39:53:12

Speaker 2

Yeah. There are some very nice things going on but we need to make it, take it out of being a side interest into being quite crucial to how we we build. I liked your last two slides about the risk about you know, that risk shouldn't look like this, but which is the flooding ground houses in Sudan. But like this because things will be changing as well.

00:39:53:12 - 00:40:29:01

Speaker 2

I think one of the things it was interesting that you began with the risk being confused with the hazard, because that's something we are realizing here very much that that has actually that conflation of of say the risks the hazard being increased rainfall say or storminess is being conflated at the same level as the outcome, which is flooding, which means that there's a tendency to rush to bandage over the flooding rather than to really think, well, why is this causing flooding in towns and and why is it affecting buildings?

00:40:29:01 - 00:40:56:16

Speaker 2

It's in some cases, flooded traditionally. So sometimes we're dealing with a change that is permanent. So we change from, you know, we having coastal loss. But in other cases, it's just that we're using our buildings differently or running them differently or have done things to them like cement renders that make them less resilient.

00:40:56:16 - 00:41:46:17

Speaker 1

Yes, I see a couple of questions in that chat. Yeah, but before this, I think I completely agree. I mean, adaptation could be part of our daily lives then. I think that and people have always had this, they just know put a name on it. But if you look at how architecture was evolving, you see that people adapted their construction techniques and then they had like more hitting crisis than the one that we have now because there was no mitigation, no no emergency that so communities were dealing with with with that crisis by themselves.

00:41:46:17 - 00:42:01:11

Speaker 1

And you can track the adaptation in one they have been created you can see that adaptation has always been part of this is that they just didn't put a name on it as we.

00:42:01:11 - 00:42:31:11

Speaker 2

Yeah, that's right. Because climate change is a multiplier rather than something of itself or in addition to being something of itself. Yes, it's interesting. Hector was say he asked that, you know, have you looked at how Africa's climate has changed and hence the role of vernacular architecture when it's built? Is is there anywhere that actually has done some quantification of that for for people laying it out as you you did in this talk?

00:42:31:11 - 00:42:38:18

Speaker 2

But is there something more that we need to raise about this?

00:42:38:18 - 00:42:41:21

Speaker 1

So, Robyn, quantification of why I take.

00:42:42:08 - 00:42:58:12

Speaker 2

That that link between, say, changing climates and changing vernacular architecture or even just the the specific links and, and the details, the mapping of of of change to.

00:42:59:21 - 00:43:31:02

Speaker 1

I think that I mean, a couple of of methodologies at least exist. And I can see that people have doing research on like qualitative research on the matter. But we can see now that the more we dig, we find that going into the lattice we have, we've been using a lack accuracy because since the climate is changing, we, I mean, we have a problem.

00:43:32:00 - 00:44:12:03

Speaker 1

I mean, really problem with data with regard to climate, but also microclimate that's constantly changing. So when I speak of the few studies that have been conducted, I mean, you always find that you're right after saying that there was an accuracy and am I'm for the right moment to working on that and so, yes, I mean, there are some some mixed qualitative and quantitative approaches that are in use.

00:44:12:21 - 00:44:21:04

Speaker 1

But we we don't have like a like unified that we say this is what we will follow.

00:44:22:15 - 00:44:48:20

Speaker 2

Yes. And since it comes back to people having simple rules is probably not the way to go. This is so interesting. I think it does pull up this thing as more clarity beyond next says connection by collaboration will go a long way. And I think one of the things I like to see coming out of that is how we could actually do these collaborations and and get something much more ground roots going.

00:44:49:17 - 00:45:21:06

Speaker 2

I think though, we'd better swap onto the closing slides and say thank you so that you can finally go and recover from having had all sorts of things technically wave to you there too because that was absolutely ex ordinary and I know we could have kept talking about some of these things for a very long time. I hope this webinar is given lots of the people listening sorts for this idea of collaboration and how we might do that.

00:45:21:11 - 00:45:35:13

Speaker 2

We'd be interested to hear your thoughts on that. Please do get back to us. You've got the chat here and chat in future talks as well. But also you think of just getting in contact with us straight or straight to us with your ideas.