Traditional building
In its widest sense, the term 'traditional' refers simply to things that are traditions, that is, they have been handed down from generation to generation. However, it may also be used to refer to things which are not 'modern'.
‘Traditional building’ is a similarly loose term, but such buildings are usually accepted as being those that date back to before the beginning of the 20th century when new materials and building techniques started to appear, particularly advances in concrete and brickwork.
For a detailed list of styles that pre-dated the 20th century, see: Architectural styles.
Developments at the beginning of the 20th century built upon innovations that had already appeared a few decades earlier. Prefabricated homes by mail order were available in kit form in the US in 1908, while the world’s first prefabricated, pre-cast panelled apartment block appeared in Liverpool around this time
It was also around this time that Le Corbusier designed his Dom-ino House (1914) – as a simple reinforced concrete housing prototype to address the housing shortages resulting from the Great War. A reinforced concrete building, even one built in the 1920s is regarded by historians as 'modern' and a pioneer of the Modern period in architecture.
The first brickwork cavity walls also appeared around this time as an alternative to solid brickwork. The technique evolved in the latter years of the 19th century and by the early 1900s had become common in northern and western Britain.
For more information see: Modern building.
However, the term ‘traditional building’ can also be used to define buildings according to different classifications: a building may be traditional on account of its age, typology, construction technique or the material from which it is made.
Style, for example, can sometimes dictate the classification of a building rather than the year it was built: a house designed in 2015 in a mock-Tudor style would be regarded by most people – especially estate agents – as ‘traditional’ even though it will most likely have cavity walls, a concrete-plank ground floor, modern kitchen and bathroom, modern lighting, air conditioning, etc. In this case, age is not the arbiter, it is style.
NB Energy Efficiency and Historic Buildings, Application of Part L of the Building Regulations to Historic and Traditionally Constructed Buildings, published by Historic England in 2017, suggests that: ‘For the purposes of the interpretation of the energy efficiency requirements of the Regulations, Approved Documents L1B and L2B, and this series of documents, ‘traditional buildings’ are defined in Paragraph 3.8 of both Approved Documents L1B and L2B as “buildings of traditional construction with permeable fabric that both absorbs and readily allows the evaporation of moisture”. This quality is often colloquially referred to as ‘breathability’.’
The Scottish Building Standards, Part I. Technical Handbook – Domestic, Appendix A Defined Terms, defines a traditional building as: ‘…a building or part of a building of a type constructed before or around 1919:
- using construction techniques that were commonly in use before 1919 and
- with permeable components, in a way that promotes the dissipation of moisture from the building fabric.’
Assessing risks in insulation retrofits using hygrothermal software tools, Heat and moisture transport in internally insulated stone walls, by Joseph Little, Calina Ferraro and Beñat Arregi, published by Historic Environment Scotland in 2015, defines traditional buildings as: ‘Buildings constructed with natural materials that tend to be moisture managing and are often vapour permeable, hygroscopic and capillary open. Examples of traditional building materials include clay bricks, stones, timber and lime plasters and mortars. Construction methods tend to focus on managing moisture and throw off rain rather than blocking and sealing.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Architect.
- Architecture.
- Art Deco.
- Art Moderne.
- Arts and craft movement.
- Bauhaus.
- Classical orders.
- Classical architecture
- Eclecticism.
- English architectural stylistic periods.
- High-tech architecture.
- Identifying non-traditional houses in the UK 1918-75.
- International Style.
- Modern building.
- Modernist architecture.
- Nineteenth century architecture.
- Polite architecture.
- Postmodern architecture.
- Types of building.
- Vernacular architecture.
IHBC NewsBlog
'Restoration and Renewal: Developing the strategic case' Published
The House of Commons Library has published the research briefing, outlining the different options for the Palace of Westminster.
Brum’s Broad Street skyscraper plans approved with unusual rule for residents
A report by a council officer says that the development would provide for a mix of accommodation in a ‘high quality, secure environment...
English Housing Survey 2022 to 2023
Initial findings from the English Housing Survey 2022 to 2023 have been published.
Audit Wales research report: Sustainable development?
A new report from Audit Wales examines how Welsh Councils are supporting repurposing and regeneration of vacant properties and brownfield sites.
New Guidance Launched on ‘Understanding Special Historic Interest in Listing’
Historic England (HE) has published this guidance to help people better understand special historic interest, one of the two main criteria used to decide whether a building can be listed or not.
"Conservation Professional Practice Principles" to be updated by IHBC, HTVF, CV
IHBC, HTVF, and CV look to renew this cross-sector statement on practice principles for specialists working in built and historic environment conservation roles.
Context No 177 Issued - Themed on working with Glass
Topics range from Manchester Cathedral’s stained glass to the long reign of Vitrolite, plus the IHBC North-West Branch conference and more.
Part of historic Old Courthouse in Cockermouth collapses into river
A section has fallen away and landed in the River Cocker below, including the back walls over three floors, sections of flooring and parts of the roof.
Scaffolding removed from Salisbury Cathedral after 37 years
Starting with a survey in 1986, the 'topping out' ceremony took place 7 Sep 2023.
Demolition of Kirkcaldy’s Category B former Kitty’s nightclub
Following a fire, engineers confirmed that the building faced complete demolition.