5 Vernacular Architecture Lessons From The Chattel House

Vernacular architecture and the chattel house are familiar to us in Barbados. The chattel house is our most identifiable example of vernacular architecture.

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Many of us may have heard the term “vernacular architecture” before. The words can sometimes conjure in us a primitive style of building.

We may think about small, old-fashioned houses that lacked sophistication in design and articulation. In a way, that thinking may not be far off from the truth. However, I think that vernacular architecture is far from unsophisticated in its fundamental approach to pragmatic design.

What is Vernacular Architecture

Vernacular architecture is building design and construction that utilises local skills and materials of a specific region. They respond to the local needs and traditions of the place and its people. It is indigenous to its time and geographic location and often responded to climate, culture and socioeconomics. The historical context also played an important role and could evolve with the technology of the time. They responded to their environment efficiently and sustainably. All this was often done without the help of any formally trained professionals such as architects. Knowledge of how these homes were crafted was passed down from generation to generation.

Barbadian Chattel House

Across the Caribbean, they are many variations of this style of architecture. This is dependent on the various influences each country may have had throughout its history, as well as how it chose to express those influences.

In Barbados, one of the most common references to vernacular architecture is the Chattel House. These small timber houses date back to the post-emancipation of slavery. They got their name from the word chattel, which means moveable property. You could dismantle the houses and move to another site. This was because the owners were often plantation workers who did not own the land.

Hence, instead of a fixed foundation, these homes were placed on limestone blocks. The walls could be dismantled as panels, placed on a mule-drawn cart and taken to another location.

Most of us now own the land on which we build and hence do not need to be concerned with relocating our entire home. Hence, the fundamental purpose of the chattel house is no longer as relevant. However, these houses were amazing examples of what tropical architecture is.

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These small houses were packed with several sustainable features. They responded to the needs, climate and resources of the place and people of the time. Here are some of their features, we could benefit from today.

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1. Elevated Above The Ground

The floor of the Chattel House was usually elevated above the ground. Not only did this keep them dry from any moisture or flooding that may occur, but this also meant that air could pass under the floor. This made the floor and general space cooler.

Having a raised timber floor is not common now, partially because of issues of maintenance and durability. However, they can provide a cooler indoor environment.

2. Steep-Pitched Roof

A steeply pitched roof was traditionally used and had a few benefits. Steeper pitches are more resistant to high winds. Traditionally, these were simple hip roofs, which are one of the best-performing roofs in a storm or hurricane.  However, gable roofs eventually became more popular.

They also allow hot air to be kept far away from dwellers in the home.

Many of these roofs also carried a louvre vent in the gable ends, which allowed warm air to rise and escape out of the building. This made interior spaces cooler and allowed for the constant movement of warm air out of the home.

3. Shutters and Louvres

The outside of sash windows often had fixed louvred shutters. This meant that the sash windows could remain open while the shutters were closed. Fresh, cool air from outside could, therefore, enter the home even while offering privacy and security.

They also provided partial protection against windborne debris in storms.

The doors would also carry the added benefit of having jalousies/louvre windows. This allowed air in without having to open the doors.

Some other traditional homes also had louvred verandas, offering protection from the sun and allowing constant cross ventilation.

These locally made jalousie windows and doors offered a lot of functionality.

4. Window Hoods

Windows would also have a hood over them. The primary function these hoods performed was depending on their location and orientation. They provided shade from direct sun on the north and south-facing walls but also provided partial protection from the east and west sun as well.

Hoods also served to help protect the windows from rain entering while the windows remained open.

5. Expandability

Chattel houses often expanded as the family or financial resources grew. Many of these started as a single roof unit which consisted of 2 rooms. Behind that unit, a shed roof could be added later. However, as the finances increased and as the family became larger, additional units were added behind. Hence, a single gable roof unit could grow into three gable roof units with a shed roof.

Sometimes porches and verandas, as well as decorative features, were later added to the home.

This allowed people to easily build what they could afford at the time and increase as necessary.

Conclusion

Though vernacular architecture may often come out of humble and primitive beginnings, I believe the people who built those houses understood their environment very well.

The climatic response was a major consideration so that they and their families could be comfortable throughout the entire day. In the tropics, this meant keeping interior spaces cool by letting cool air in and hot air out. This was brilliantly done without sacrificing privacy and security.

They sourced locally available materials and skills because that was the most economical at the time. Consideration was also given to their social and economic situation, building only what they could afford.

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All these considerations are key elements of the green or sustainable design movement, that have taken over the world in recent decades. They existed in our most primitive structures and performed remarkably well.

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Our availability of materials and products from all over the world has changed how we approach building a home. Some of the features and limitations that made chattel houses necessary may not be necessary today. However, there are several components that I think we could benefit from in our home designs.

I am not suggesting replicating the vernacular architecture of your region from one hundred years ago. Architecture should reflect its time. We can still make full use of the current technologies, materials and products that are readily available to us. However, I do think we could learn a lot from those who came before us and how they approached designing their homes.

They took the time to create homes that were efficient and comfortable. These homes were well crafted with care for their families to enjoy.