Resiliência ao clima: a responsividade dos elementos de envoltória em construções vernaculares do semiárido

Abstract

The growing concern about climate change has driven the search for resilient solutions in architecture, especially in the Brazilian semi-arid region. This dissertation investigates resilience in three vernacular buildings located in the semi-arid region of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, aiming to identify the aspects of these constructions that help them withstand severe climatic events, such as droughts. To achieve this, the following methodologies were employed: literature review and case study. Representative buildings of the vernacular architecture in the semi-arid region of Rio Grande do Norte were selected based on criteria derived from the research of Feijó (2014), Diniz (2008), and Borges (2015). The resilience analysis followed the criteria established in the literature, divided into four stages: vulnerability, resistance, robustness, and recovery. To assess vulnerability, occurrences of drought since the construction of the buildings were identified, along with climatic data that contribute to the analysis of the other stages. The analysis of material resistance and construction techniques considered factors such as the responsiveness of the building and its surroundings, according to the method proposed by Borges (2015), the amount of carbon stored in the thimber elements, and thermal transmittance, absorptance, and the window to wall ratio, according to the recommendations of NBR 15.220-3 (ABNT, 2005). The detection of pathological manifestations in the vernacular buildings, as a reflection of robustness, was carried out using thermographic images and diagrams, while recovery was analyzed through the assessment of material deterioration, use of local materials, and maintenance practices. The results demonstrate that the investigated buildings possess significant potential to withstand the impacts of climate change, particularly with regard to desertification and rising temperatures. This potential is linked to the ability of these structures to adapt to local climatic conditions, as well as to the integration of traditional knowledge with scientific and technological expertise, especially in the use of vernacular construction systems and techniques. The resilience of these dwellings is evident in their architectural and environmental solutions, which are specifically adapted to the semi-arid context.