ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the concept of smart housing in rural areas. As many rural communities modernise, and are exposed to the effects of globalisation, the lifestyles of their inhabitants are likewise changing. The chapter explores more importantly, how contemporary smart approaches to housing intersect with the vernacular and traditional is very important. It focuses on the changes most relevant to rural housing. These changes can be categorised into the following clusters of observations: contemporary design approach to houses; advent of new building materials and construction technology; modifications to sociocultural and religious meanings; and changing dynamics of energy use. A. T. Nguyen et al. found similar climatic role for courtyards in Vietnamese vernacular houses where “building courtyard played a significant role on ventilation flow rate of the rooms facing the courtyard”. The aspirations of villagers for building new houses are supported by changing market dynamics.
