The Role of Vernacular Practices in the Mitigation of Impact of Climate: Insights from the Vernacular Settlement of Guledgudda in India

Vernacular architecture depicts the relationship between natural and manmade environments, which have evolved from their roots in climate and culture. Vernacular buildings link people and the environment through indigenous knowledge and values. They integrate local building traditions, passive design strategies, and community involvement to address the human needs of respective climatic conditions. However, technological developments and globalisation have resulted in contemporary designs that strongly impact the environment in terms of increased carbon footprint. For these, there is much to be learnt from the vernacular settlements. In this context, this study investigates the climatic solutions used in vernacular architecture that provide thermal comfort conditions and sustainability. It employs case study method and analyses the vernacular typologies in Guledgudda, a weaver's town of Bagalkot district in North Karnataka, India. The study examines documentation of residential types and generates data through onsite field studies, observations and interviews of the residents. The buildings are analysed to ascertain the effective passive cooling techniques for preventing heat gain, heat dissipation, and heat modulation. For this, it uses simulations in Design Builder software. The findings reveal the relationship between passive design strategies that involve shared walls which promote sustainable living environments in Guledgudda. Many other strategies also contribute. They are: passive design strategies using design elements like courtyards, thermal mass of thicker walls, shared walls, positioning of fenestration, wall-to-windows adding up to the first floor, and excessive parapet heights. The research thus concludes that they collectively contribute to creating comfortable living environments, reducing heat gain and dissipation. These passive design strategies in in built forms can enhance thermal comfort conditions.