VerSus: Vernacular heritage contribution to sustainable architecture

At present, there is little research focus on the relation of vernacular heritage with contemporary sustainable architecture. The methods and strategies of vernacular heritage are generally undervalued and excluded from contemporary constructive processes and concepts. The research problem addresses the contribution of vernacular heritage to the built sustainable environment and its interconnection with other disciplinary areas. This paper intends to enhance VerSus project's preliminary findings to fulfil the identified gap in knowledge. The research method was based on the identification of strategies and principles within vernacular heritage, to develop a conceptual approach that generates sustainable architecture results. Based on the analysis and reinterpretation of selected vernacular examples, the collection of data and the application of the research method developed provided operative knowledge that could be integrated on design studio processes, in order to improve the sustainability of contemporary architecture, at environmental, social and economical levels.