Abstract
The rural built environment, as a multiscale whole of human transformations aimed at accommodating agriculture-related activities, prompts various reflections on the bioclimatic approach in architectural design. This contribution, firstly, highlights the theme of the urban-rural continuum (an intermediate and contradictory place, which epitomizes on-going contemporary transformations) in order to demonstrate that the contrast between urban and rural—although it has been used, since ancient times, on both analytical and design level—has not only been superseded, but is also, theoretically, inadequate for identifying the rural built environment. The link between agricultural and construction activities confirms the overcoming of this contrast; a reading in technological terms is proposed, with reference to the spheres of the product and the process, whilst recollecting its remote and deeply rooted cultural origins. The possible dual and contradictory character (vernacular or scholarly) of the rural built environment is illustrated with reference to the specificity of the bioclimatic aspects recognized in traditional buildings (“ante litteram sustainability”), highlighting how the relationship with the site-factor (microclimatic characteristics and local construction culture) was almost annulled in the twentieth century, also creating the basis for a widespread emergency for the quality of the buildings employed in agricultural activities. Touching upon the question of whether the rural building can be a typology distinct from other production buildings, this paper highlights the importance of the relationships with the socio-economic aspects of the agricultural sector, underlining the fact that the main identity for rural buildings in every age, in addition to the role that they play in the landscape, should be a stronger bond with the environmental elements, showing the centrality of the bioclimatic approach in updating the primordial interactions between agriculture and construction. Furthermore, the distinction between vernacular or scholarly character of the rural buildings prompted a reflection on the contemporary epistemological bases of the bioclimatic approach to general architectural design, which risks being ineffective whether it remains on an empirical level or if it is confined to a hyper-specialized niche. Finally, the bioclimatic approach is indicated as a common analytical and design methodological basis, useful for addressing the contradictory nature of the urban-rural continuum, in the framework of contemporary challenges.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Akbari H et al (2016) Local climate change and urban heat island mitigation techniques—the state of the art. J Civ Eng Manage 22(1):1–16. https://doi.org/10.3846/13923730.2015.1111934
Assunto R (1973) Il Paesaggio e l’estetica. Giannini, Napoli
Basile M (1873) Il caseggiato delle aziende rurali. Trattato agronomico con mescolanze morali e politiche. Tipografia D’Amico, Messina
Beatley T (2011) Biophilic cities: integrating nature into urban design and planning. Island Press, Washington
Bosia D, Savio L (2014) Actions and tools for the conservation and valorisation of rural architecture and landscape. Techne. J Technol Architect Environ 7:87–93. https://doi.org/10.13128/Techne-14536
Carlos GD et al (2014) Research method and operative approach. In: Correia M Dipasquale L Mecca S (eds) VERSUS. Heritage for tomorrow. Vernacular Knowledge for Sustainable Architecture. FUP, Firenze, pp 23–31. Available at https://issuu.com/dida-unifi/docs/versus_fup_google
Chiesa G (2010) Biomimetica: tecnologia e innovazione per l’architettura, English edition (2017) Biomimetics technology and innovation for architecture. CELID, Torino
Chiesa G, Grosso M (2019) A parametric tool for assessing optimal location of buildings according to environmental criteria. In: Sayigh A (ed) Sustainable building for a cleaner environment. Innovative renewable energy. Springer, Cham, pp 115–129. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94595-8_11
D’Amore A (2020) Conoscere per conservare e valorizzare. Le masserie quale elemento di sviluppo del territorio delle Madonie. Ph.D. Thesis Università di Palermo
Daneo C (1972) Agricoltura e sviluppo capitalistico in Italia. Einaudi, Torino
Dewey R (1960) The rural-urban continuum: real but relatively unimportant. Am J Sociol 66:60–66. Available at www.jstor.org/stable/2773223
Dymitrow M (2018) Rural/urban: laying bare the controversy. Geographia Polonica 91:375–397. https://doi.org/10.7163/GPol.0126
Dymitrow M (2019) The concept of ‘Rural’ as a psychosocial process: From concept attainment to concept unlearning. Quaestiones Geographicae 38:15–28. https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2019-0036
Elmqvist T, Redman CL, Barthel S, Costanza R (2013) History of urbanization and the missing ecology. In: Elmqvist T et al (eds) Urbanization, biodiversity and ecosystem services: challenges and opportunities: a global assessment. Springer, Dordrecht Heidelberg New York London, pp 13–30. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7088-1_2
Fanfani T (2004) La ricostruzione in Italia nel secondo dopoguerra. Provvedimenti e linee guida per la ripresa dell’agricoltura. Rivista di Storia dell’Agricoltura XLIV: 125:154. Available at http://rsa.storiaagricoltura.it/scheda.asp?IDF=119&IDS=6&IDP=1
Fuller DQ, Stevens CJ (2019) Between domestication and civilization: the role of agriculture and arboriculture in the emergence of the first urban societies. Veg Hist Archaeobotany 28:263–282. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-019-00727-4
Gallo P, Casazza C, Sala M (2016) Performances and potential of a productive urban green infrastructure. Techne J Technol Architect Environ 11:104–112. https://doi.org/10.13128/techne-18408
Gambi L (1964) Per una storia dell’abitazione rurale in Italia. Rivista storica italiana LXXV:427–454
Germanà ML (1999) L’architettura rurale tradizionale in Sicilia: conservazione e recupero. Publisicula, Palermo. Available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297484996
Germanà ML (2005) La sostenibilità inconsapevole del costruito rurale tradizionale: l’esempio della masseria siciliana. In: Mecca S, Biondi B (eds) Architectural heritage and sustainable development of small and medium cities in South Mediterranean Regions. Results and strategies of research and cooperation. ETS. Pisa, pp 459–467. Available at http://hdl.handle.net/10447/3207
Germanà ML (2008) Ruolo delle tradizioni costruttive nella salvaguardia del costruito rurale storico. In: Dell’Acqua A, Degli Esposti V, Mochi G (eds) Linguaggio edilizio e sapere costruttivo. Edicom, Monfalcone (GO), pp 733–745. Available at http://hdl.handle.net/10447/35612
Germanà ML (2016) Criteri per la sostenibilità ambientale degli interventi nel centro storico di Modica. In: Trombino G (ed) Modica. Contributi per il recupero e la riqualificazione del centro storico. 40due Edizioni, Palermo, pp 273–292. Available at https://iris.unipa.it/retrieve/handle/10447/201137/342884/Germana_Modica.pdf
Gruber P (2011) Biomimetics in architecture. Architecture of life and buildings. Springer, Verlag/Wien
Guillaud H (2014) Defining vernacular architecture. In: Correia M, Dipasquale L, Mecca S (eds) VERSUS. Heritage for tomorrow. Vernacular knowledge for sustainable architecture. FUP, Firenze, p 33. Available at https://issuu.com/dida-unifi/docs/versus_fup_google
Heidegger M (1954) Vorträge und Aufsätze. Neske, Pfullingen. English transl. Hofstadter A. Building dwelling thinking. In: Krell DF (ed) (1993) Martin heidegger: basic writings, revised and expanded edition. Routledge, London, pp 217–65
ICOMOS (1999) Charter on the built vernacular heritage. Available at http://wp.ciav.icomos.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/charter-vernacular-en.pdf
Jonas H (1979) Das Prinzip Verantwortung. Insel Verlag, Frankfurt am Main. Eng. transl. 1984 The imperative of responsibility: in search of ethics for the technological age. University of Chicago Press, Chicago
Koch D (2014) The typological question and the formal basis of architecture. J Space Syntax 5:168–189. Available at http://joss.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/journal/index.php/joss/article/view/208/pdf
Koolhaas R (2020) Countryside, the future. Guggenheim Museum Exhibition catalogue and video. Available at https://www.guggenheim.org/exhibition/countryside
Koolhaas R (2014) Countryside architecture. ICON 35. Available at https://www.iconeye.com/architecture/features/item/11031-rem-koolhaas-in-the-country
La Mensa G (1880) Trattato sui fabbricati rurali e relativi alle industrie agricole che concorrono a formare una completa fattoria. Luigi Pedone Lauriel Editore, Palermo
Laborit H (1971) L’homme et la ville. Flammarion, Paris
Lechner N (2015IV) Heating, cooling, lighting. Sustainable design methods for architects. Wiley, Inc., Hoboken New Jersey
Losasso M (2019) Culture, project and environment for the development of rural and suburban territories. In: Fanzini D, Tartaglia A, Riva R (eds) Project challenges: sustainable development and urban resilience. Maggioli, Santarcangelo di Romagna (RN)
Maldonado T (1977) Agricoltura: un appuntamento mancato. Casabella 426:9
Marangoni B (ed) (2013) Paesaggi da ricostruire. Linee guida per la tutela, valorizzazione, ricostruzione del paesaggio rurale nella bassa pianura emiliana. Regione Emilia Romagna, Bologna. Available at https://territorio.regione.emilia-romagna.it/paesaggio/pubblicazioni/paesaggi-da-ricostruire
Micheli B (2016) Architettura solare del passato. I consigli di Vitruvio. Av. at https://docplayer.it/11490297-I-consigli-di-vitruvio.html
Morin E (1977) Le Mèthode. I. La Nature de la Nature. Édition de Seuil, Paris
Mumford L (1961) The city in history: its origins, its transformations, and its prospects. Harcourt, San Diego
Musso SF, Franco G (2014) “Guidelines” for sustainable rehabilitation of the rural architecture. In: Mileto C et al (eds) Vernacular architecture, towards a sustainable future. CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group, London, pp 531–536
NCSU North Carolina State University (2007) Mayday 23: world population becomes more urban than rural. ScienceDaily. Available at www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070525000642.htm
Niglio M (2018) Past as future in adaptive buildings. Climatic adaptation in ancient constructions. Adv Mater Res 1149:1–9. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1149.1
Nonaka I (1994) A dynamic theory of organizational knowledge creation. Organ Sci 5:4–37. Available at https://www.jstor.org/stable/2635068?seq=1
Olgyay V (1963) Design with climate: bioclimatic approach to architectural regionalism. Princeton University, New Jersey
Pacey A (1983) The culture of technology. MIT Press, Cambridge
Pagano G (1935) Documenti di architettura rurale. Casabella 95:18–25. Eng. translation by Sabadino M (2010) Journal of Architectural Education ACSA:92–98
Polanyi M (1966) The tacit knowledge dimension. Doubleday & Comp, New York
Rajapaksha I, Fiorito F, Lazer E, Sartogo F (2018) Exploring thermal comfort in the context of historical conservation. A study of the vernacular architecture of Pompeii. Architectural Sci Rev 61:4–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/00038628.2017.1405790
Rudofsky B (1964) Architecture without architects. An introduction to non-pedigreed architecture. Publ. The Museum of Modern Art, New York
Rykwert J (1972) On Adam’s house in Paradise: The idea of the primitive hut in architectural history, The Museum of Modern Art New York
Samonà G (1976) La città in estensione. Stampatori tipolitografi associati, Palermo
Sandak A, Sandak J, Brzezicki M, Kutnar A (2019) Bio-based building skin. Springer Open, Singapore. 10.1007/978-981-13-3747-5_1
Sartogo F, Calderaro V (2008) The Mediterranean: a cool temperate climate. In: Hyde R (ed) Bioclimatic housing. Innovative design for warm climates. Earthscan, London, pp 117–147
Schroeder J, Carta M, Ferretti M, Lino B (eds) (2016) Territories. Rural-urban strategies. Jovis Verlag, Berlin. Available at https://www.jovis.de/en/books/product/territories-rural-urban-strategies.html
Sciascia A (2013) The rough edges of the “expanding town” projects between Palermo and Partinico. FAMagazine 23:42–47. https://doi.org/10.12838/issn.20390491/n23.2013/5
Sereni E (1961), (second edition 1982) Storia del paesaggio agrario italiano. Laterza, Bari. English edition: 2014, Princeton University Press, Princeton
Thorbeck D, Troughton J (2016) Connecting urban and rural futures through rural design. In: Maheshwari B et al (eds) Balanced urban development: options and strategies for liveable cities. Water science and technology library 72, pp 45–55, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28112-4_4
Tirrito R (1881) Norme pratiche di architettura rurale per l’agronomo. Tipografia Lo Casto, Palermo
UN United Nations (2015) The 2030 agenda sustainable development goals, goal 11: make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Available at https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/cities/
UN United Nations (2017) Quito declaration on sustainable cities and human settlements for all, in “New Urban Agenda”. Available at http://habitat3.org/the-new-urban-agenda
UN-Habitat United Nations Human Settlements Programme (2019) Urban-rural linkages: guiding principles. Framework for action to advance integrated territorial development. Available at https://urbanrurallinkages.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/url-gp-framework-for-action_english.pdf
Vellinga M (2014) Vernacular architecture and sustainability: two or three lessons. In: Mileto C et al (eds) Vernacular architecture, Towards a sustainable future. CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group, London, pp 3–8
Violano A (2018) Beyond materials: the experimentation of biobased grown materials from mycelia. Techne J Technol Architecture Environ 16:299–307. https://doi.org/10.13128/Techne-23029
Wilson EO (1984) Biophilia. The human bond with other species. Harvard University Press, Harvard
Wilson PJ (2007) Agriculture or architecture? The beginnings of domestication. In: Cassidy R, Mullin M (eds) Where the wild things are now. Domestication reconsidered. Bloomsbury Academic Berg, Oxford, pp 101–122. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781474215954
Acknowledgements
I dedicate this chapter to the memory and example of my beloved father Virgilio, a great agronomist expert in the Sicilian rural world.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Germanà, M. (2021). The Urban-Rural Continuum. The Bioclimatic Approach to Design, Between Past and Future. In: Chiesa, G. (eds) Bioclimatic Approaches in Urban and Building Design. PoliTO Springer Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59328-5_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59328-5_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-59327-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-59328-5
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)