Vernacular heritage solutions for sustainable architecture: the Phlegraean islands

The Phlegraean Islands, located into the Gulf of Naples, are characterized by a vernacular architectural heritage which belongs to the Mediterranean building traditions. According to this tradition, the Phlegraean architecture was developed in order to guarantee an efficient and functional exploitation of local sources in reason of the environmental constraints. During the last years, the scientific community has focused its attention to the bioclimatic features of the Mediterranean vernacular building culture (H. Coch, A. Monaco, A. Rogora, etc.) aiming at reusing it into the contemporary design solutions, as already occurred in the work of several contemporary architects, such as A. Siza, A. Campo Baeza, C. Ferrater and many others. Also in regard to the Phlegraean islands case of study, it can be highlighted the work of L. Cosenza, A. Libera, et.al., in which it is possible to recognize the reinterpretation of vernacular building solutions. Nevertheless, the Phlegraean islands’ built heritage, both vernacular and contemporary (but inspired by vernacular), has not been yet examined from the ecological point of view. According to the Project VerSus’ main aim, the paper aims at examine how contemporary architecture can take inspiration from vernacular building solutions, in order to improve the current environmental design knowledge. To reach this goal, the Phlegraean vernacular building tradition will be examined in the light of the existing literature about both Mediterranean architecture traditional environmental adaptation and contemporary bioclimatic knowledge. Afterwards, a qualitative comparative analysis will be done between Phlegraean vernacular solutions and some local contemporary architecture, with the aim of improving the scientific research in this field, which currently gave inadequate attention to this case of study.