Interaction or Uniqueness: A Comparative Study of Vernacular Houses in Guilan and Cordillera

The discourse of folk, vernacular or indigenous architecture often deals with the binary opposition of canonization and marginalization. Canonization attitude attempt to highlight the distinctiveness and uniqueness of vernacular architecture as an integral part of national identity while the marginalization attitude continues to regard vernacular architecture as an obstacle on the road of globalization, being contemporary and progress. This binary opposition can be also translated as a confrontation between heterogeneity and diversity, while the vernacular architecture pattern in many instances is the combination of interaction and uniqueness. This article is a comparative study of two different cultural_ geographical vernacular architecture aimed at seeking similar valuable Patterns between these two different types of vernacular architecture. This can refer to the permeability of cultural boundaries and the dynamic nature of vernacular architecture as a symbol of integration while remaining distinctive to a specific place.

Keywords:

Vernacular architecture , National identity , Guilan , Cordillera