The Impact of Socio-Cultural dimensions over the Dynamic Adaptation of Vernacular Dwellings: The case of Esna's traditional vernacular architecture in Egypt

This paper is part of a broader study on the interpretation of vernacular architecture in modernising heritage contexts in Egypt. It considers processes of change in traditional vernacular architecture, using the example of Esna in Upper-Egypt. The study proposes phenomenology as an approach to study, analyse and interpret processes pertaining to production, use and adaptation of traditional vernacular architecture through time. Data gathering methods included focused observations, sketches, and diagrams of different aspects of the traditional settlement, and sampled houses from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in Esna. Utilizing Lefebvre's theory of the production of space, the analysis uncovers the interconnection between architectural form and materiality, lifestyles and cultural norms, and the dynamic configuration of traditional vernacular dwellings through time. Socio-cultural dimensions including social-structures, and cultural values of privacy and gender segregation are core values governing the spatial configuration of traditional dwellings and their continued adaptation through time. Malleability, durability, adaptability, and logicality are key principles pertaining to the dynamic nature of traditional vernacular architecture in Esna. A discussion follows over the implications of this interpretation over current approaches for managing change in modernizing vernacular heritage contexts in Egypt and beyond.