Sustainable Living Environments and Cultures of Place Symposium

University of Huddersfield, 2022

Title: The Living Traditions of Sustainable Living: Learning from Vernacular Architecture and Settlements in Underrepresented Asian Geographies

I also participated in the Sustainable Living Environments and Cultures of Place Symposium, where, together with Xiang Ren, Xiaolu Wang, and Abhishek Bhutoria, I delivered a group presentation titled “The Living Traditions of Sustainable Living: Learning from Vernacular Architecture and Settlements in Underrepresented Asian Geographies.” My section focused on the vernacular architecture of the Salami region in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran, with particular emphasis on its architectural patterns and the relationship between traditional and contemporary building practices in the area. I discussed how the vernacular architecture of this region reflects locally developed responses to climate, available materials, and everyday life, and how these patterns offer valuable lessons for sustainability, cultural continuity, and regional identity. I also examined the contemporary architecture of the area to consider the extent to which it continues, transforms, or neglects these inherited vernacular principles.