The final project for the Organic Architecture class asked us to look at a type of vernacular architecture of our choice and consider it in a contemporary context
2. Vernacular architecture of the Picts
“Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorise methods of construction which use
locally available resources and traditions to address local needs. Vernacular architecture
tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in
which it exists. It has often been dismissed as crude and unrefined, but also has
proponents who highlight its importance in current design.”
- Wikipedia
Who are the Picts?
The Caledonians or Caledonian Confederacy, is a name given by historians to a group
of the Indigenous peoples of Scotland during the Iron Age that the Romans initially
included as Britons, but later distinguished as the Picts.
3. Where did they live?
The indigenous Picts lived to the north of the Forth and Clyde rivers, in what was later to become eastern and
northern Scotland
Pictland, also known as Pictavia, was gradually absorbed by the Gaelic kingdom of Dal Riata to form the Kingdom
of Alba. By the 11th century the Picts lost their independent identity.
4. How did they live?
Buildings surviving from the Pictish period include brochs (round stone towers), souterrains (possibly underground storage
passages once attached to surface dwellings), hillforts, crannogs and houses of several different kinds.
The dwellings had to be made of stone because at the time there weren’t many trees around. These days the Eastern
Highlands are one of the most important forested areas in the UK. The majority of planting has taken place since the 1920’s,
primarily fast growing conifers.
A Broch was designed to impress and defend. Because they are perched on hills
and headlands, the brochs seem to have been built by resident lords to protect
their settlements from sea-borne raiders. Brochs are built with two concentric walls
of stone, with a stairway or gallery within the walls to the upper floors.
There’s only a few remaining souterrains (often referred to as Picts' Hooses) in
which the roof sections - the large slabs of stone forming the roof - remain intact.
Such passageways are believed to have been used as food stores (traces of
grain have been found at some sites). Other suggestions have included some
sort of ceremonial use, and that they were used as hideouts.
Broch Souterrain
Located on a position which provides commanding views over
all the surrounding countryside it is easy to see why the
hillforts became such important strategic sites.
Here in the wooded heartland of Scotland, the prehistoric
crannogs were originally timber-built roundhouses supported
on piles driven into the lochbed.
Hillfort Crannog
5. The Picts at home
Brochs usually had a single entrance, aligned
according to cosmological principles. The majority
were oriented towards the east for equinoctial
sunrise or the south-east for midwinter sunrise.
Their homes would have always had a fire as a
centre welcoming point. It was mainly used as a
source of heat for the entire house but also
doubled as a stove. A clay vase built into the
middle of the floor would have served as a fire
and would have stopped accidents and ashes
being spread about. The fire would have been
kept burning 24 hours a day. To be caught
without a fire would have been a social
disgrace.
Meat and fish were hung up in the roof of the
house where it would preserve and gain flavour
amongst the warmth and smoke.
6. What is the area like?
Flat or steep
The Scottish Highlands
• Predominately mountainous
• It is the most rugged region on
the island of Great Britain
• Contains some of the island’s
highest peaks
9. What is the area like?
Land and sub-surface geology
Atlantic Highland
plate collided with
the Scandinavian
Shield to form the
Scottish
Highlands
running from the
North-East to the
South-West
10. What is the area like?
Rural or urban
Rural – Countryside some
small villages
The most sparsely
inhabited section of
Scotland - in some areas
density is as low as 8
people per sq km (21 per
sq mi)
11. What is the area like?
Surface water
North Sea & the North Atlantic
Ocean are the largest bodies of
water that border the North of
Scotland
Scotland has an abundance of
rivers, streams and lakes
12. What is the area like?
Sun cycles - orientation
Scotland lies between latitudes of 55 degres and 61 degrees North,
and while the summer days are long, the sun is never high in the sky.
In winter the sun rises only a little way above the horizon and sinks
again within a few hours. This low sun angle, which causes the rays of
light to pass through a considerable thickness of the atmosphere, is
responsible for many of the optical effects and colours of the sky and
clouds which artists and visitors find so attractive.
13. What is the area like?
Sun cycles – Overhang design
Inverness, Admin HQ Highland Council: Latitude: 57°28' 0 N, Longitude: 4°13' 60 W
March Equinox (3/21):
Altitude: 32degree above horizon
Azimuth: 7 degrees east of south
June Solstice (6/21):
Altitude: 53 degree above horizon
Azimuth: 31 degrees east of south
September Equinox (9/21):
Altitude: 31 degree above horizon
Azimuth: 21 degrees east of south
December Solstice (12/21):
Altitude: 9 degree above horizon
Azimuth: 3 degrees east of south
14. What is the area like?
Orientation of site-access & views
The Highlands are noted for their unspoilt, wild beauty and scenic
grandeur. Precipitous cliffs, moor land plateaux, mountain lakes, sea
lochs, swift-flowing streams, and dense thickets are common to the
Highlands
15. What is the area like?
Wind patterns
Each wind brings its own characteristic weather, according to
the season. The Atlantic Ocean is always relatively warm, so
moist westerly winds bring most of Scotland's rain, which falls
principally on the western margins of the country. The north
winds of summer cross a chilly Arctic Ocean and bring
noticeably colder weather, often with light rain or showers. In
winter, when parts of the northern seas are frozen, the air can
be extremely cold and dry, giving remarkable visibility. Winds
from the east and south, having travelled over land, can be
warm and dry in summer, cold and dry in winter, although winds
passing over the North Sea can pickup enough moisture to
drop considerable amounts of rain or snow on Scotland's
eastern counties.
16. What is the area like?
Climate analysis
The most of the sunshine is for Ayrshire, Lothians, Angus and Fife, the least for the mountains in the
Highland region. The average sunshine hours are at their maximum in May and June and the least
in December and January. Because of the high latitude the winterdays are very short but are
compensated with long summerdays with only 5 hours of “almost darkness”.
Rainfall is another key element of Scottish weather although it is not as bad as sometimes told.
Some areas receive about 3,000 mm per year (the western Highlands) and other areas only 800 mm
per year (the east coast). Measurable rainfall occurs on over 250 days in the Highlands to 175 days
per year in other parts.
Rainfall Sunshine
17. What is the area like?
Impact and use of vegetation
The most common species of trees indigenous to Scotland are rowan, oak
and especially conifers – chiefly fir, pine and larch.
Except in the wooded areas, vegetation in the upland regions consists
largely of heather, ferns, mosses, and grasses. Saxifrage, mountain willow,
and other types of alpine and arctic flora occur on elevations above 600m
(2000 feet).
18. The Design
‘Vernacular traditions experimented with, consolidated and refined over
centuries, are among the most valuable and reliable sources of information on
the techniques appropriate to the soils of an area, and a guide to the structural
and climatic benefits of the systems employed’
- J. Norton, 1997
The aim of this project is to learn and utilise what we can from the indigenous
architecture of the north-eastern Highlands and use it in a modern context
with modern means of energy sourcing and preservation
19. Layout
Rainwater
catchment
and Treatment
system
Roof extent
WC
Utility Room
Bed 1
Master
Kitchen
Bed
Sun
Room
Dining
Earth cover
Living
Terrace
Raised terrace to keep structure
away from standing water
20. Construction
Cavity wall construction:
1. Waterproof membrane around construction parts covered with earth (back of the building)
2. Exterior wall: ‘Clay and bool’ similar to mud wall, often created by shuttering, where evenly
sized ‘bools’ (rocks) were placed against the shuttering faces, and the spaces between filled
with a relatively fine aggregate earth mix.
3. Waterproof insulation
4. Earthbricks
5. Interior finish – Earthplaster
The walls will be raised on a waterproof plinth out of reach from ground water, standing water and
splashing
A far overhanging roof will provide protection from rain as well as solar shading from the summer
sun
Additives and stabilizers are also used to improve wearing qualities
Earth brick
Waterproof membrane
Insulation
Earth plaster
Clay & Bool
21. Benefits of Earth construction
• It can facilitate good indoor air quality by regulating relative humidity
• Dense forms of earth construction are load-bearing and have high thermal mass
• Excellent sustainable characteristics:
Low carbon emissions
Efficient use of finite resources
Minimizing pollution
Minimizing waste
Use of benign materials
Local sourcing
• Can be produced in situ – no transporting
• Can be self-built
• Very durable
• Good fire resistance
Simplified graph showing Earth Material’s Properties
Local industry
‘Mudmason’ used to be an occupation and a thriving industry in Scotland.
Much of the existing manufacturing infrastructure can be re-adapted to allow for earth products to be produced parallel to
conventional products. This could create jobs in local communities and product availability will encourage use, reduce costs and ease
the environmental impact of buildings in Scotland
22. Electricity
Grid supplied
electricity
Personal windmills are available in various heights (determined by the site’s characteristics). These slim yet high-
performance wind generator can produce 400 kilowatt hours of energy per month, up to 90% of an average
household’s energy consumption. Most of them work efficiently with local utility grids switching back to grid power
when wind speeds drop below 8 miles per hour.
Scotland’s many fast flowing rivers and its lochs are an
important energy resource and a considerable amount of
the country’s electricity is generated by hydroelectric
power facilities. Northern Scotland contains most of the
UK’s largest hydroelectric generating stations.
There is also increasing use being made of wind farms,
with a number being opened in 2000-2001
23. Water
Rainwater harvesting and recycling
Surface water can easily be utilized in this
design to reduce the domestic water
consumption expenses. Being
earth-sheltered, the water tank is
protected from extremely low or high
temperatures. The earth falls around the
tank are profiled in such a way as to funnel
the rainwater into the tank
24. Heat
Summer sun
Passive solar
Winter
sun
Geothermal Heating system to heat water
which is used for the radiant flooring
system
Earthfloor throughout the house
26. Lighting
Sun tubes will help provide light in the back rooms where the earth shelter
does not permit for windows - these sun tubes intensify the light as they
reflect it back into the space and therefore remain efficient even on
overcast days
Large southfacing windows allow for direct sunlight during the day
Electric lighting for evenings and winter time when there is limited sun light
27. Features
Sun trap to help maintain indoor temperature –
Because this sunspace temperature is higher than the surrounding
outside air, the sunspace acts as a thermal buffer zone, reducing the
amount of heat lost from the living space at night and during prolonged
overcast periods.
The earthshelter and living roof provide external thermal mass,
reduce heat loss, and help to easily maintain a steady indoor air
temperature; as well as softening the structure’s visible impact
on the landscape
