Cost of construction: how globalization impacts on vernacular houses

Abstract

Historically people in vernacular area did not have to pay to become a householder or a landowner, or even to buy materials. But that is not the case in modern era any more. Besides the fact that one has to buy land or house, modern materials and technology, spread out by the flow of globalization, has also been associated with increasing cost. In this study on vernacular houses in Northern Iran, traditional (Kali, Lar deh ee, and Mud Houses) and modern (load bearing brick wall structure, concrete structure and steel structure) construction technologies have been investigated with regards to their cost. Residents, experts and contractors were interviewed to collect the data. Findings showed that the perception of cost is a skewed one, and decision to choose a new material or technical over san old one needs to be rational.