Architecture of the Eurasian Steppe: Continuities, Contrasts, and Lessons for Sustainable Regionalism

Abstract

This article explores the architecture of the Eurasian steppe as a field of ecological reasoning and regional design intelligence. Rather than focusing on stylistic or symbolic aspects of cultural identity, it examines how vernacular traditions across the steppe-spanning from Inner Mongolia to Eastern Europe-articulate shared strategies of material economy, spatial compactness, and environmental adaptation. Drawing on a wide range of architectural literature and theoretical frameworks, the study positions the steppe not as a collection of isolated ethnographic cases, but as a coherent ecological zone with latent architectural continuity. The concept of ecological regionalism is proposed as a lens through which vernacular strategies can be understood as generative rather than nostalgic. Historical figures such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Hassan Fathy, and Balkrishna Doshi are discussed as precedents for integrating local materials and climate responsiveness into modern design thinking. While several recent projects are briefly cited as illustrations, the article’s primary aim is theoretical: to situate the architecture of the Eurasian steppe within broader discourses on sustainability, regional identity, and place-based architectural logic.