Funded projects

Endangered architecture: In 1897, The British colonial government in Nigeria started the construction of railway infrastructure to access raw materials and food production from the hinterlands of Nigeria. Ebute-Meta was going to be the central yard for the Lagos railway infrastructure which is the terminal city to the harbour. The wooden buildings to be surveyed were part of the residential and station infrastructure built by the British government within the compound during the first phase of construction between 1897 - 1920.  Different housing typologies were made for the different cadre of railway personnel, the British colonial-style houses typically have deep verandas around the house (on lower and upper floors). The roof was made from shingles, but most have now been replaced with long-span cement composite roofs. The joinery details of the building are such that very few nails were used in the joinery. There is divided opinions on where the wood came from, with some suggesting it was shipped prefabricated and assembled on-site while others believe wood importation only happened at the earlier stages of construction. Most of these wooden buildings have been lost in recent years due to dilapidation, development needs, and other safety and economic reasons.

Aims: The aim of the project is to document each typology of the wooden buildings that exist in the compound and in the neighbouring Ibadan railway compound, spatial layout, construction methodology, and ethnography through photogrammetry, BIM modelling, photography, 3D point cloud and interviews of record keepers, former or current inhabitants, and people who were involved in restoration work (carpenters, mason, architects etc).

Project Lead: Tubi Otitooluwa

Collaborators: Chuka Uzo, Norbert Edomah 

Location of Research: Nigeria

Host Institution: Pan-Atlantic University

Collaborating Organisations: James Cubitt Architects, Legacy 1995

Type of Grant: Small Grant

Ilukwe House (Quaters 21), Railway 

Endangered architecture: The First Nation dwellings in Baviaanskloof, South Africa, date back over 100 years and represent a building tradition that has been handed down from generation to generation. The dwellings are self-built on common land owned by the indigenous community, using local materials such as bamboo, reeds and mud. The valley was relatively isolated allowing these traditions to continue. However, tourism and economic activities are bringing more people to the valley and with increased contact the traditional building techniques are becoming lost as new, more ‘modern’ materials are adopted. An ageing population is also resulting in poor maintenance and abandonment of many dwellings. 

Aims: This project aims to survey a minimum of 15 dwellings in the Baviaanskloof valley. Being an oral tradition there is no record of the traditional ways of building and so this project will produce the first ever archival and documentary record of this cultural tradition.

Project Lead: Magda Minguzzi in coordination with Gaos (Chief) Margaret Coetzee of the Inqua People

Collaborators: Lucy Vosloo, Yolanda Navarro, Kim Harmse

Location of Research: South Africa

Host Institution: Nelson Mandela University

Collaborating Communities: Gaob Thomas Augustus;  Gaob Daantjie Japhta; Gaob Brato Malgas; Xam ≠ Gaob Maleiba; Paramount Chief Gert Cornelius Steenkamp; Chief Wallace Williams; Gaos Anna Williams; Head Person Flip Pieterse, Sappie Kleinbooi and Inqua People of Baviaanskloof.

Type of Grant: Small Grant

Baviaanskloof house © Magda Minguzzi  

Endangered architecture: This project will document the structures, forms, construction, social life, and repair processes as well as the traditional knowledge system of Urhobo vernacular architecture. The forms of architecture include a dwelling; a shrine; a kitchen; an oven; a traditional altar; a traditional wooden pulley mill press system for pressing grind cassava; and a yam barn. These structures have various components that are made with wood, bamboo, palm fronds, and other plant parts. The architecture is historically significant because of its ties with the early migration of the Urhobo people through riverine territory before settling in the hinterland. Threats to the vernacular architecture of Urhobo include flooding, globalisation, and urbanisation. 

Aims: The aim of the project is to document, promote and preserve the dying traditions and this knowledge system. The project will take place in Eghwu-Oto, Olodiama-Eghwu, Oria-Abraka, and Okpe-Olomu communities in Delta State, southern Nigeria. Working with commissioned local collaborators and consultants, the project will use architectural drawings, hand draft prints, 3D design, photographs, audio and video recordings to document the tradition.

Project Lead: Uyoyou N. O. Edewor

Collaborators: Sunday Adunbi Omosayan, Augustine Oborakpororo Omohwo, Emily Akpomedaye

Location of Research: Nigeria

Host Institution: Akpo Re Ufuoma Development Initiative

Collaborating Organisations: Edoid Cultural Heritage Enterprise

Type of Grant: Small Grant

Endangered architecture: Hamer Woreda in Ethiopia, contains three unique architectures: 1) the Hamer field hut, a very rare example of a fully conical dwelling within the African continent,  2) village huts built by women,  and 3), village huts built by men. Each type exhibits a type of coded system found rarely in architecture, in that locals who can read the buildings know the status of the occupant (and their children), through adaptations made to the building itself. All three types are short lived ephemeral architectures that last little more than ten years without being substantially rebuilt. However, change is coming quickly to southern Ethiopia with the building of a major road that is leading to industrialisation and modernisation of the whole region. Consequently, the conical field shelters are now rarely built, and most are disappearing from the landscape.

Aims: The project aims to record three structures within one community along with their compounds, and to map the village layouts. This project will considerably increase the depth of detail known about these architectural types, as it will not only explore the finished form of the building but also document  the construction materials, management, tool use and patterns of occupation of the whole village area. 

Project Lead: Gordon Clarke

Collaborators: Linda Hurcombe, Takele Merid Afessa

Location of Research: Hamer Woreda, Ethiopia 

Host Institution: University of Exeter

Type of Grant: Small grant

Endangered architecture: The reed architecture of Marsh Arabs of southern Iraq represents the survival of one of the oldest known building traditions in the world. The most distinctive architectural form is the Mudhif; a large meeting hall, usually commissioned by a sheikh and used for community gatherings and the entertainment of guests. These halls are made entirely of reed, consisting of a long tunnel-like structure formed by large reed arches bound together under tension. Between these arches, woven reed mats form the walls and roofs of the mudhif, while the end walls often feature elaborately woven designs. In-depth knowledge of the various reeds which grow in the Iraqi marshes are also essential as different types of reeds are needed for different structural components. Having barely survived the deliberate draining of the marshes in the 1990s, the Marsh Arab communities now face an even greater threat; climate change and dam building, which have reduced the flow of water into the marshes to a critical level.

Aims: The project will seek to document the reed structures, the method of construction and the specialist knowledge required. The latter will include issues such as what sort of reed is used for what part of the building, what time of year building takes place and how the work is organised. The buildings will be recorded through photogrammetry (drone and handheld) and through the production of detailed diagrammatic records.

Project Lead: Mary Shepperson

Collaborators: Jassim al-Asadi

Location of Research: Iraq

Host Institution: University of Liverpool

Collaborating organisation: Nature Iraq

Type of Grant: Small grant

Mudhif near Chibayish, Iraq

Photographer: M. Shepperson 2016

Endangered Architecture: The Bocco House, constructed in 1886 by Chief E.E. Bassey, stands as one of the last remaining examples of prefabricated wooden architecture in Old Calabar, Nigeria. This unique structure, originally shipped in parts from Germany and Scotland, was assembled on-site and served as the palace for the late Obong of Calabar. The Bocco House reflects a blend of European colonial design and local Efik cultural elements, with features such as hardwood columns, intricately carved balustrades, and Nsibidi symbols—a traditional form of writing used in Southeastern Nigeria. Over time, the building has suffered from severe deterioration due to climate change, neglect, and the ravages of time. The ground floor walls are now covered with corrugated sheets as a temporary measure to prevent further collapse, while the first floor and roof structure are in critical condition. The recent storm in November 2022 further exacerbated the damage, making the preservation of this historic building more urgent than ever.

Aims: The aim of this project is to meticulously document the Bocco House before it is lost to history. The documentation will involve capturing the spatial layout, construction techniques, and cultural significance of the building through advanced methods such as photogrammetry, Building Information Modeling (BIM), photography, and 3D point cloud generation. Additionally, the project will include oral histories from local community members, including descendants of Chief E.E. Bassey, to enrich the historical narrative of the house. By preserving the architectural and cultural details of the Bocco House, the project seeks to contribute to the broader efforts of safeguarding Nigeria’s endangered heritage.

Project Lead: Dr Tokie Laotan-Brown

Location of Research: Nigeria

Host Institution: Foundation for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Nigeria

Project Type: Small Grant

 

The Historic Bocco House in Old Calabar (1886), taken by Laotan-Brown, Feb 2023.

Endangered Architecture: The southern region of Iran boasts a distinctive form of nomadic architecture, highlighted by the intriguing structures known as Kapar. These structures are notable for their unique construction, crafted primarily from branches and woven materials, which reflect the craftsmanship and ingenuity of the local inhabitants. Though at first glance the architecture of the Kapar may seem simple, it is in fact a complex and diversified system that integrates the technical skills of the builders with their surrounding natural environment. 

Given the arid and hot climate of the region, where access to traditional construction materials like wood is limited, residents have turned to more readily available resources such as palm tree leaves. The process of weaving the coverings for these structures is not only practical but also represents an important handicraft, a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the area. The variety in size, shape, and design of different plans, others with or without stone walls—further adds to the architectural richness of the landscape.

The construction of kapar is influenced not only by the easy accessibility of palm tree leaves and branches but also by other factors such as low cost, short construction time, compatibility with the environment, the possibility of being built near work sites, and earthquake resistance.

Kapars are circular, square, or rectangular spaces, and their dimensions depend on the available materials and their intended use. If a kapar is designed for long-term residence, it tends to be larger, whereas smaller kapars are built for purposes like kitchens or sleeping areas. The typical width of a kapar ranges from 2.5 to 3 meters, and its length reaches between 5 to 6 meters, though these dimensions can be adjusted according to individual needs.

Kapars are predominantly constructed from straight, long branches arranged around a core framework, with roofs typically covered by bark, dry grass, and other locally sourced materials. The entire structure is a handmade, intricately woven mesh, much like the handcraft traditions of the region's nomads.  Of particular interest in this research is the documentation of the weaving techniques used to create this mesh network, which is a critical aspect of Kapar construction.

Unfortunately, recent years have seen a decline in the region’s nomadic lifestyle due to harsh environmental conditions, which have adversely affected animal husbandry, a primary means of livelihood. As a result, many inhabitants have migrated to permanent villages, leading to the abandonment and subsequent loss of numerous Kapars. By documenting these unique structures, this research aims to contribute to the preservation of this endangered form of indigenous architecture.

Aim of the Research: This research aims to thoroughly investigate the structure, construction methods, and interior design of Kapar, highlighting their significance within the nomadic culture of southern Iran. The project will delve into the architectural characteristics of these wooden vernacular houses, offering insights into their form and the cultural knowledge required to build them.

In the documentation process of kapars, various aspects are examined, including the methods and processes for preparing construction materials, the division of labor and kapar building techniques, site selection, site conditions, and the time frame for constructing and erecting the kapar.

The primary objectives include the documentation of traditional Kapar houses through the production of architectural drawings and the recording of construction methods. This will be captured through a combination of photogrammetry, detailed photographs, and video documentation. By doing so, the research not only aims to preserve the technical knowledge behind Kapar construction but also to safeguard the cultural heritage embodied in this unique form of nomadic architecture.

Project Lead: Najmeh Hassas

Collaborators: Justyna Broucka, Amir Tabe Bordbar, Somayeh Maraqi

Location of Research: Iran

Host Institution: Gdansk University of Technology, Poland

Collaborating Organisations: 

Type of Grant: Small Grant

An example of a Kapar, a traditional nomadic structure 

Endangered architecture: Throughout history, teak – from farmer to king – was the mainstay building material and holds a special place in the consciousness of the Burmese people. The harvesting of teak required ceremony and blessings; its handling was a matter of respect. Teak, in the context of a monsoon climate, resists decay, rot, and insect infestation, and its strength is ideal for supporting tremendous weight. The basic form is a stilted elevated platform upon which is erected a structure of singular or multiple gabled roofs. Columns are usually sturdy vertical teak logs embedded below ground, a superstructure perforated with a mortise-and-tenon system of joinery supporting a uniquely Burmese network of girders, joists, and boards. The destruction of Myanmar's teak farmhouses is part of a larger rapid socio-economic transformation that undermines the survival of traditional architectural forms and building craft. The combination of industrialized building materials, a tightening of teak markets, and recent political turmoil are placing incredible pressures on surviving traditional farmhouses, and in doing so, the lifestyles of their inhabitants.

Aims: This project aims to support the documentation of Burmese Teak farmhouse typologies in Myanmar. Engaging with farmhouse owners, the project will contribute to the understanding of Myanmar’s rich vernacular architectural legacy and provide the foundation for future research on its evolution and regional and ethnic variations.

Project Lead: Jeffrey Allen

Collaborators: U Aung Soe Myint, Htet Htet Phyo, Ko Soe Naing Oo

Location of Research: Myanmar

Host Institution: World Monuments Fund (https://www.wmf.org/)

Type of Grant: Small grant

Ko Kyi Naing Win’s home in Mawlaik, Myanmar exemplifies the overlapping residential and agricultural uses of architecture being surveyed under this grant. 

Photographer: Tim Webster, September 16, 2017

Endangered architecture: The Tamang Heritage Trail (THT)in Nepal  was introduced as part of the Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Program (TRPAP) to showcase local culture and heritage. Traditional houses here consist of dry-stone masonry (gable-end and rear walls) and wooden elements incorporating load-bearing elements, balconies, and a roof structure, as well as a wooden carved wall on the front façade. Most traditional houses are built in a row, inducing a high interdependency of these constructions. The dwellings and settlements are notable for their cultural significance, their adaptation to daily and seasonal uses and their adaptation to the local climate. However, the Tamang built heritage is currently under severe threat. Almost all the houses have been damaged (at different levels of severity) due to the 2015 Gorkha earthquakes. Despite their will to preserve their cultural heritage, inhabitants have had to make repairs using non-traditional methods such as RCC frame to meet the government building standards and regulations, and in many cases, they have been forced to rebuild a new house in spaces formerly dedicated to other uses or still live in their damaged house. 

Aims: This project aims to document buildings and settlements at varying scales along the Tamang Heritage Trail, with a primary focus on the village of Gatlang. The project will build on research by ASF Nepal and AE&CC-CRAterre to involve inhabitants, artisans, and communities in its documentation of the technical elements of this built heritage and the   local cultural knowledge and practices that shaped it. This documentation will aid in the support of reconstruction projects and self-recovery.

Project Lead: Reshma Shrestha

Collaborators: Minar Thapa Magar, Salena Sangachhe, Philippe Garnier

Location of Research: Nepal

Host Institution: CRS Nepal

Type of Grant: Small Grant

The image above shows a traditional housing pattern in the village of Gatlang, Rasuwa, a few months after the 2015 Gorkha earthquakes.

Photographer: Remi Buscot, July 2015.

Endangered architecture: The wooden townhouses (havelis) of Gujarat are of high historical, cultural and architectural significance owing to their elaborate decorative motifs, which developed out of an amalgamation of Hindu, Jain, Islamic, Mughal and European design traditions. In addition, the houses are excellent examples of how local construction techniques responded to the availability and management of scarce resources, as wood is not abundant in certain regions of Gujarat and each region developed its own system of design. Today many of these traditional buildings are in disrepair or being demolished and local building knowledge is being lost. Gujarat is also in an earthquake prone area and regular small tremors are slowly but steadily causing the townhouses to collapse.

Aims: This project aims to document up to 100 wooden havelis in Gujarat through 3D LiDAR scanning technology and architectural drawings. The project will record representative typologies and variations in construction techniques, as well as the knowledge of construction systems, ideologies of ornamentation and community histories. Archival research and oral histories will be used to support the surveys.

Project Lead: Jigna Desai

Collaborators: Gauri Bharat, Brinda Pancholi Shah, Ashna Patel, Shriraj Gohil, Mrudula Mane, Shaily Gandhi

Location of Research: Gujarat, India

Host Institution: Center for Heritage Conservation, CEPT Research and Development Foundation

Type of Grant: Large grant

Wooden House in Dharmaj, Central Gujarat is an example of elaborately carved wooden houses, now in a state of disrepair. 

Photographer: Jigna Desai, June 2021.

Endangered architecture: There are three variants of timber-laced masonry constructions that have been in practice in Kashmir, Frontier Pakistan and Himachal Pradesh. A popular construction system, particularly in Frontier Pakistan (regionally called bhatar) and parts of Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir, employs a technique in which horizontal timber bands are embedded within the masonry walls. The alternating horizontal courses of these timber bands, usually placed at regular distances, act as seismic bands and have been widely adopted in new builds in the earthquake- prone areas of Pakistan after the devastating earthquake of October 2005. The second variant of the timber-laced masonry construction is the cator and cribbage construction – which is mostly seen in buildings of religious significance (such as khanqahs and mosques) in Kashmir, dating back to at least the 15th century. Until the turn of the 19^th century, there were many surviving khanqahs built in this technique in Kashmir. However, only 3 such khanqahs of high architectural value survive today. Further, the cator cribbage is a declining form of construction, owing largely to the fast-depleting deodar (cedrus deodrara) forests and the introduction of modern building material and techniques. These buildings are also vulnerable to fire and two khanqahs have already succumbed, being rebuilt in modern materials, thus losing not only the construction techniques but the spirit of the structure.

Aims: This project aims to survey the three-surviving wooden Khanqahs in Kashmir. Measured drawings using traditional methods will be complemented by digital scanning techniques to develop richer and more accurate detailing of joinery and other timber and composite masonry details. 

Project Lead: Mohammad Ajmal Shah

Collaborators: Saima Iqbal, Takeyuki Okubo

Location of Research: Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Indian

Host Institution: University of Kashmir

Type of Grant: Large grant

Khanqah of Shah Hamdan, Srinagar, UT of Jammu & Kashmir © Archaeological Survey of India

Endangered architecture: Mohannas, an indigenous community of fishermen in Pakistan, live on boat-houses along the banks, lakes and islands of the Indus River in Sindh province. The Mohanna villages comprise of fleets of varying sized house-boats and other smaller vessels, forming the tangible expression of the cultural landscape. The Indus boat-houses are richly ornate and uniquely designed flat-bottomed vessels, specially developed to navigate the shallow and turbulent waters of the unpredictable Indus River. Custodians of ‘Indus Boat-House’ culture are today faced with displacement, and deprived of their ancestral livelihood due to pollution, reduced freshwater supplies, and other industrial exploitations that have played havoc with the ecology of Manchar Lake. Many boat-dwellers have either shifted to affordable housing on adjoining lands or migrated to other locations along the Indus, in search of livelihoods.

Aims: This project aims to document this dying culture of Indus boat-houses to generate a visual and technical record of the processes and traditional ways of boat building and their maintenance. Being an oral tradition there is no record of the traditional ways of building the boat-houses, nor is there a record of the rituals related to this unique lifestyle. The produced documentation will be a first-time attempt at creating an archival and documentary record of the central and most tangible material aspect of this cultural tradition. 

Project Lead:  Anila Naeem and Farida A. Ghaffar

Collaborators: Shazia Abro, Muhammad Ahmed

Location of Research: Sindh, Pakistan

Host Institution: N.E.D University of Engineering and Technology

Type of Grant: Small grant

Mohanna Boat-houses banked on Indus near Sukkur up till 2010 (now displaced)

Photographer: Anila Naeem, December 2004

Endangered architecture: Once an important tributary to the historic Silk Route, Gurez valley contains some of the last vestiges of early medieval traditional wooden architecture in Kashmir. The present study is focused on the population of 38,000 Shina-speaking Dards of the Gurez valley in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir. Various varieties of cedar (deodar) are the most preferred construction material for the houses, mostly in the form of stacked undressed simple wooden logs or dressed planks. The multi-storeyed structures with truncated apex, have gabled roofs ascending in tiers of pyramidal form, with overhanging eaves. The traditional ways of life and the cultural landscape of the region are rapidly disappearing under the combined impacts of armed conflict, the new wave of adventure tourism, and ambitious redevelopment. Consequently, the local population is forced to transform their traditional ways of living, threatening the continued use of traditional techniques and styles of construction which have been practiced since early medieval times.

Aims: This project aims to locate and survey at least 10 of the most significant and endangered wooden structures in the Gurez valley. This study will also collect oral histories and plans to open possibilities for integrating local communities and heritage conservation.

Project Lead: Rafiq Ahmad

Collaborators: Fayaz Ahmad, Aamir Latief Wani, Emily S. Doerner

Location of Research: Kashmir, India

Host Institution: Govt. College for Women Nawakadal

Type of Grant: Small grant

 A residential log-house in Tulail, Gurez, Photographer: Rafiq Ahmad

Endangered architecture: The Dong people are a marginalized minority group who have been living in peripheral southwestern China for more than 600 years. Unusually with no written language until the 1950s, Dong has carried on their distinctive orally-based culture. The social and cultural identity of the Dong is intimately tied to their most important public building type: the drum tower. The construction technique, craftsmanship and inhabitation ritual of drum towers in Dong villages constitutes the group’s shared living heritage and is a cornerstone of Dong society, space and everyday practice. There are only around 600 drum towers on record, with 167 of them in Congjiang county, which is this project’s focused fieldwork location. Over the last 20 years rapid development and intervention from the modern economy, transportation, material and construction technology, the Dong people’s production system, construction system, cultural customs, and daily activities are all undergoing drammatic changes. This has resulted in the rapid decay and destruction of traditional Dong buildings. 

Aims: The project aims to digitally document the drum tower wooden heritage at risk, together with its immediate historic surroundings (ca. 15 drum towers and ca. 35 surrounding wooden structures), across the Dong minority’s vernacular villages of Congjiang county in southwestern China. The project engages with Dong minority groups and carpenters in the digital documentation process, to better understand cultural meaning and tacit knowledge of the drum tower and Dong minority group through an interdisciplinary collaboration of architecture and anthropology.

Project Lead: Xiang Ren

Collaborators: Derong Kong

Location of Research: China

Host Institution: The University of Sheffield

Collaborating Organisations: Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture 

Type of Grant: Large Grant

The heaven, the land and the drum tower © Derong Kong

Endangered architecture: The Wancho people reside in secluded villages at the border region of India and Myanmar. The villages are divided into ‘khels’, which represent residential divisions. The traditional architecture is visually distinct, and it is closely associated with age-old socio-religious beliefs and practices. Building construction is carried out as a community activity by the men, while the women’s role is in the preparation of food for the ritual feasts that are hosted for the workforce by the house owner during the period of construction. The family homes and community centres of the Wancho cultural tradition are constructed of locally obtained materials: wood, bamboo and palm leaf thatch. The knowledge about the architecture and the building techniques that have been practised since time immemorial is now threatened and endangered, as the loss of local knowledge is accelerated by the pressures of modernization.

Aims: The project will survey and document the traditional male dormitories (Paa) and chiefs’ houses (Wang-kam) in several Wancho villages of the upper region of Longding District, in Arunachal Pradesh. The surveys will produce not only architectural drawings and 3D documentation, but also observations and interviews on the cultural knowledge relating to the traditional building construction. 

Project Lead: Tara Douglas

Collaborators: Jatwang Wangsa, Changam Wangsa, Arnav Saikia, Amol Mankeekar

Location of Research: India

Host Institution: Adivasi Arts Trust

Collaborating Organisations:

Type of Grant: Small Grant

The family home of Chawang Wangham, Chief of Kamhua Noknu village, 2023 © Tara Douglas

Endangered architecture: Shimla, India, was established as a sanatorium during the British Raj in the early 1820s, and by 1864 it had evolved into the Summer Capital of the British Empire in India. The architectural vocabulary and spatial planning of these structures highlight Colonial Architecture of the hill stations established in the early phase of the British Empire. Shimla's wooden architectural heritage demonstrates the evolution of the use of wood from a basic load bearing Dhajji structural system (wooden bracing with stone or brick infill and mud plaster) to an articulated facade and interiors. Due to developmental pressures and growing affinity towards modern construction methods the buildings are being insensitively maintained, ignoring the traditional crafts, and causing a decline in the traditional knowledge system.

Aims: The project aims to document around 30 buildings in Shimla producing architectural drawings and 3D documentation.  

Project Lead: Dr Amritpal S Sagoo

Collaborators: Saumya Sharma, Lovnish Kumar

Location of Research: India

Host Institution: Nottingham Trent University

Collaborating Organisation: Panjab University 

Type of Grant: Large Grant

A listed heritage structure on the verge of becoming a ruin due to neglect and constant disrepairs © Saumya Sharma, 2016

Endangered architecture: Uttarakhand state is commonly referred to as Devbhoomi which means ‘The Land of Gods’. It is home to many sacred temples associated with mythological narratives and river systems that originate from the Himalayan Glaciers. This study looks at documenting the endangered wooden temples that are related to Kauravas in the Mahabharata epic. In the epic of Mahabharata, the tales revolve around the power struggle of two clans i.e. Pandavas and Kauravas, where Pandavas are portrayed as positive personalities and some of the Kaurawas are considered in a negative sense. There are no such wooden temples that still survive today in Uttarakhand, especially relating to the Kaurava caste and the demonic deities such as pokhu devata narrated in the Mahabharata epic. Apart from the Shani temple, unlike the popular gods revered by the Hindu communities, others are lesser known due to their negative impression expressed in the Mahabharata epic and remote access in mountain settings. Currently, the Duryodhana Temple in Uttarakhand is referred to as Someshwara Temple (Lord Shiva) by the locals, where the temple identity itself is transforming concerning its reverence. These temples are situated in the valleys of the Himalayas and are prone to multiple hazards. Some of the major hazards are wildfires due to their proximity to forests, floods due to their proximity to rivers, earthquakes, landslides, and so on. The rapid climatic change is also posing a threat to these structures due to extreme weather conditions. 

It is important to document authentic intricate carvings, paintings, and architectural aspects of such wooden temples relating to the Kauravas of the Mahabharata epic. The wooden temples in Uttarakhand follow the 'Canopied Composite-roofed' architectural style, with a superstructure supported by massive deodar wooden beams on an elevated masonry platform. However, the use of timber has decreased due to strict laws, economic constraints, and a lack of skilled resources.

Aims: This project aims to comprehensively document the historical and architectural aspects of selected endangered historic wooden temples associated with the Kaurava caste and the demonic deities narrated in the Mahabharata epic using digital technologies including photogrammetric tools.

Project Lead: Ram Sateesh Pasupuleti

Collaborators: Kamal Jain, Akshay Pandey

Location of Research: Uttarakhand, India

Host Institution: Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

Type of Grant: Medium grant

Pokhu Devta Temple at Netwar Village; Source: Handa, O., & Jain, M. (2003). Art and Architecture of Uttaranchal. Delhi: Bhavana Books and Prints.

Endangered architecture: Nepal is home to more than 100 different ethnic groups who have their own typical dwelling which largely contribute to the vernacular architectures of Nepal. Amongst these, one unique typology of house found in the mid hills of Nepal is the oval/round shaped house. The uniqueness of its shape and size, construction techniques and technology is the most significant character of this building typology. These oval-shaped houses are known locally as Gol Ghar (by the Gurung), Kudule Ghar (by the Magar) or Ghumaune Ghar (by the Darai). They are the expression of the cultural identity of these populations. Locally available materials, traditional building knowledge and skills are combined to produce and maintain these authentic architectures. The masonry is made of earth and stone, the secondary walls are built of wood and earth, as are the floors. Roofing is made out of wooden structure and thatch cover or wooden tiles. Other timber elements are introduced in the form of openings (decorated), slabs, stairs and struts at various levels. The rounded shape of the masonry elements combined with the flexible interior timber structure are particularly adapted to the climatic conditions, and provide inner comfort. The shape further aids in the exposure to more sunlight.  Moreover, these were built in the areas having high annual rainfall which resulted in the overhanging roofs.

But recently, their numbers are dwindling as the craftsmanship and building tradition is largely under threat due to modern building materials and construction techniques; the social index, materials unavailability and degradation in traditional construction trend is further endangering this architecture.  

Aims: This project aims to document 8 round/oval houses at various locations. Detailed documentation of these houses will help in bringing awareness among the people of their significance and the need of preservation. It would also support a larger process of rebuilding confidence in vernacular traditional knowledge and building practices, including a Disaster Risk Reduction perspective and a technical approach. 

Project Lead: Salena Sangachhe

Collaborators: Julien Hosta, Ram Suwal, Reshma Shrestha

Location of Research: Nepal

Host Institution: ASF Nepal

Type of Grant: Medium Grant

150 years old Ghumaune Ghar at Bheerkot, Syangja - © ASF Nepal 2024

Endangered architecture: The Yamuna and Tons river valleys located in the western part of the Indian state of Uttarakhand  were once dotted with multi-storey wooden structures, known as pherols in the local dialect. Built as earthquake-resistant structures, they have successfully withstood numerous earthquakes. Their structural style, somewhat similar to that of modern framed structures, testifies to the unique skills and expertise of past generations who, despite any formal training, had understood the logic of earthquake engineering.

Pherols originated in a society where a co-operative form of living was the prevalent practice. The large size of pherols clearly suggests that it was the handiwork of an entire community.

Currently, most of the pherols lie abandoned and are deteriorating fast due to the lack of regular use and maintenance. The intricate woodworking adorning the structures too is in an extreme state of damage. In places, people are also demolishing these old structures so as to use the disassembled building material for construction of new and modern dwellings.

Aims: The aim of the project is to attempt a comprehensive, inclusive, intensive documentation of some of the still-standing tower houses in the remote river valleys of Yamuna and Tons for posterity on priority basis. The documentation can pave the path for a policy formation for protecting these heritage structures and promoting suitable, sustainable adaptive reuse.

Project Lead: Sriparna Saha

Collaborators: Dhenesh Raj, Sanjay Painuly, Anand Karmakar

Location of Research: Uttarakhand, India

Host Institution: Graphic Era Hill University (https://www.gehu.ac.in/)

Project Type: Medium Grant

Endangered architecture: The project focuses on traditional Balti houses and mosques in the North-western part of India (Ladakh). They are composed of a timber frame/grid and a stone infill forming a unique technology called ‘cator and cribbage’. Stone is inserted in the wooden frame and all horizontal structures are entirely made of timber. Wood is therefore significant both structurally and symbolically considering the way these elements are joined and carved. In a high-altitude desert where trees are scarce, the sophisticated use of wood in Balti architecture is exceptional. Considering that the only studies previously conducted on Balti architecture regard only Pakistan, the surviving buildings in India are a unique opportunity for documentation. Due to the fast-changing economy, tourism and the introduction of new building materials most of the built heritage in these villages have been destroyed and substituted in less than a decade, leaving only a few examples that can be documented.

Aims: This project aims to document houses and mosques in three Balti villages. Along with it is an ethnographic documentation of the traditional craft practices that are still known by a very limited number of craftspeople. This work is conducted with the support of locals interested in heritage preservation in order to benefit the community and its culture.

Project Lead: Dr. Edoardo Paolo Ferrari

Collaborators: Danilo Rosati, Mohammad Wasim Ashoor, Abeer Gupta

Location of Research: Nubra Valley, Ladakh, India

Host Institution: Achi Association India

Project Type: Small Grant

Endangered architecture: Our proposed wooden architectures from the residential area in Ulaanbaatar are immovable wooden house named “Goojingin Undur”, movable wooden house “Borjigon baishin”, yurt* and a fence with wooden gate, representing historical architectural typologies in a residential area from the beginning of the 20th century in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The reason these objects were selected is that, while historical wooden temples are well-investigated in the field of conservation architecture, there is a gap in the study of historical residential typologies. Moreover, building methods and knowledge of vernacular architecture in housing have not been well investigated in Mongolia.

The Goojingin Undur, for instance, has survived a mass demolition that cleared about 100 movable and immovable Buddhist temples and historic buildings of the city in 1937 followed by Stalinist mass repression among monks and the noble class in Mongolia.

Yurt, a fence with a wooden gate and a small house (Borjigon baishin) can be considered as a unit that forms the historic image or original structure of the yurt district in the city. In particular, yurt and Borjigon baishin are mobile vernacular architectures designed for nomadic culture. Due to rapid changes of the city form and circumstance of privatisation after the 90s, “the original form and image” and “historical architectural typologies” of yurt district tends to rapidly disappear. Architecture that is lost without documentation is effectively heritage lost forever. 

Aims: This project aims to produce the first full digital documentation with 3D models on these 4 objects in the city, upgrading existing data by multidisciplinary approach. Before it will decay or change, it's important to study and document traditional building skills and indigenous or vernacular knowledge based on the proposed objects.

Project Lead: Munkh-Erdene Togtokhbayar

Collaborators: Enkhjin Nyamtsogt, Ariunzaya Baldorj, Ochbayar Gerel

Location of Research: Mongolia

Host Institution: Khuree Architects NGO, Mongolia

Type of Grant: Small Grant

Endangered architecture: 

The Kath-Kuni buildings of the Kullu District in Himachal Pradesh are a remarkable reflection of India’s rich  architectural heritage. These structures, crafted from locally sourced wood and stone, feature a distinctive style that  employs horizontal beams and a “criss-cross” bracing technique. This design not only provides stability but also  grants the flexibility needed to withstand seismic activity, making Kath-Kuni architecture both innovative and  resilient. 

Despite their historical and cultural significance, the decline of Kath-Kuni construction began during the colonial era,  when rapid deforestation led to a scarcity of deodar wood, a key material in these buildings. Today, these  architectural marvels face increasing threats from neglect, environmental degradation, urbanization, and a shortage  of skilled artisans capable of maintaining the intricate techniques required for their preservation. 

As these structures continue to deteriorate, there is an urgent need for focused conservation efforts. Such initiatives  must aim not only to preserve the physical integrity of these buildings but also to revive the traditional craftsmanship  that defines them. Without these efforts, the invaluable legacy of Kath-Kuni architecture (a vital part of the region’s  cultural identity) risks being lost forever in the face of modern challenges. 

Aims: This project focuses on documenting up to 10 Kath-Kuni buildings in Anni Town, Himachal Pradesh, using 3D  scanning technology and architectural drawings. It aims to capture the diverse typologies and construction  techniques of these structures, along with the construction details of buildings, structural details, and the local  histories of the community. The project will be enriched by incorporating archival research and interviewed histories,  providing a comprehensive understanding of the architectural and cultural significance of these buildings. 

Project Lead:  Safiullah Khan 

Collaborators: Abdul Quadir, Mohammad Salman, Manish Chandel 

Location of Research: Anni Town, Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh, India 

Host Institution: Faculty of Architecture Planning and Design, Integral University, Lucknow

Type of Grant: Small Grant 

Wooden Structure in Kath Kuni Style, Himachal Pradesh

Endangered architecture: Filipino Bahay na bato at Kahoy (lit. `House of Stone and Wood`), is a building type unique to the Philippines which evolved in the 17^th and 18^th centuries. It reached its peak in the 19^th century but then completely disappeared shortly after World War II. It originally evolved from the native and rural Austronesian Bahay Kubo (lit. `Farmer`s House` of wood, bamboo, and thatch) into its urban counterpart and is the quintessential Filipino-Hispanic house of the Spanish and US-American colonial periods. It is perfectly adapted to the frequent earthquakes and tropical climate of the Philippines, combining the wooden structural framework of the Bahay Kubo with Spanish-imported stone architecture and Chinese, Japanese, and Middle-Eastern elements (clay tile roof, shell windows, enclosed wooden balconies that maximize natural cross-ventilation). Today only a few examples survive, often in advanced stages of neglect and decay, threatened by redevelopment.

Aims: The project will document six historic wooden houses of the Bahay na bato type in the Philippines, producing architectural drawings and 3D documentation.  

Project Lead: Erik Akpedonu

Collaborators: Javier Galván Guijo, Cheek Fadriquela, Marianito Luspo

Location of Research: Philippines

Host Institution: Ateneo de Manila University

Type of Grant: Small Grant

Chan Camarin, San Nicolas, Manila, 1860s: One of the oldest remaining houses of Manila, and the only one in Metro Manila that has preserved its original Spanish-era clay tile roof. (Image courtesy of Andrew Chester Ong, 2012)

Endangered architecture: The distinctive conical houses of wood, bamboo and thatched construction reaching 15 meters high, known as Mbaru Niang, are representative of the living culture of Wae Rebo, a remote village located within the regency of Manggarai in the rainforest mountains of Flores, Indonesia. These dwellings are the communal domestic and ceremonial space for an entire clan, sheltering up to eight families, their crops, food and ritual belongings, over five storeys. There are some species of plants used by the community of Wae Rebo for the manufacture of their traditional houses, but since the forest is now a protected forest, it is hard for people to get the woods. Similarly, Todo village is one of the oldest traditional villages in Manggarai, located at the foot of Mount Anak Ranaka and has several typical traditional houses including Niang Todo, the traditional high cone-shaped thatched roof. Wae Rebo and Todo have historical, cultural, and architectural significance for Manggarai people. Being an oral tradition there is no record of the traditional ways of building and much of this knowledge is now lost. 

Aims: This project aims to document the traditional vernacular houses within the Wae Rebo and Todo villages, producing architectural drawings and 3D documentation.  

Project Lead: Yulia Nuriani Lukito

Collaborators: Miktha Farid Alkadri, Gunawan Tjahjono, Gregorius Antar Awal

Location of Research: Indonesia

Host Institution: Universitas Indonesia

Type of Grant: Large Grant 

Traditional Village of Wae Rebo in Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia © Gregorius Antar Awal, 2014

Endangered architecture: The Bajau Laut are regarded as one of the major maritime communities of both ancient and modern Southeast Asia. Until the mid-1950s, the Bajau Laut of Semporna district, Sabah, lived a nomadic life entirely on houseboats. These houseboats, called lepa, served both as a family’s living quarter and as its principal productive asset. Many important rituals, symbolic and cultural meanings are attached to the boat-dwellings, however, there is a lack of understanding over contemporary practices, changes and challenges. Due to resettlement on land and reduced access to wood and fishing grounds, the boat building skills and the living heritage of lepa are declining rapidly.  

Aims: This project intends to take urgent steps to document the Bajau Laut’s fast-disappearing seaborne lifestyle and the unique boat-dwelling traditions. The project will produce a wide range of documentation outputs, comprising sketches, digital 3D models, maps, photographs, drone footage, recorded interviews, and interview transcripts. 

Project Lead: Keng-Khoon Ng

Collaborators: Mukmin Nantang

Location of Research: Malaysia

Host Institution: National University of Singapore

Collaborating Organisations: Borneo Komrad

Type of Grant: Small Grant

A scattered Bajau Laut village in Timbun Mata Island © Keng-Khoon Ng, Dec 2023

Endangered architecture: The Classic Māori Period was one of architectural distillation, creating Māori whare (house) distinct from Polynesian fale (house). Unlike the fale, which visibly binds the frame together with rope acting as a connector, the whare used a hidden building system called mīmiro, which transversely post-tensions the entire building frame. Built not from the ground up with the roof laid on top of supporting walls, the whare is constructed from the roof down. The only remaining whare to have been built using mīmiro, Whakaata in Okains Bay Museum, was carved and built by John Rua and Murray Thacker in 1976. A traditional whare, Tānewhirinaki, built in 1874 using mīmiro has been in storage for 100 years and is scheduled to be reconstructed in 2023. Documenting the reconstruction of this whare will preserve this rare building tradition and uphold cultural identity in a transcolonised society.

Aims: This project will record the dimensions, materiality, and morphology of the components in detailed drawings and document the processes of fabrication and assemblage in photography and animation. Related research will also record lateral movement and seismic resilience.

Project Lead: Anthony Hoete

Collaborators: Ngāti Ira O Waioweka, Dante Bonica, Jeremy Treadwell

Location of Research: Aotearoa, New Zealand

Host Institution: University of Auckland

Type of Grant: Small grant

Te whare rangitupu, Photo: Anthony Hoete, 2022

Endangered architecture: Aceh has a long history of disasters, particularly repeated tsunamis and earthquakes, which have caused some old structures to sink underwater and led to the destruction of heritage buildings and archives. Due to developmental pressures, the growing trend of modern construction, the threat of disasters, the loss of traditional building skills, and the scarcity of materials like high-quality wood and rumbia trunks and leaves, four types of endangered architecture are not being properly maintained, leading to a decline in their numbers. The four types of architecture documented in this project belong to the Acehnese, an ethnic group living along the coastal areas, and the Gayonese, who have lived in the mountainous regions. There are two types of endangered wooden houses in the area: the Gayonese Umah Pitu Ruang, which is over 100 years old (only two original houses remain in the entire region of Aceh), and the Rumoh Aceh, made from rumbia trunks (for walls) and rumbia leaves (for roofs), which is nearly extinct due to the scarcity of the rumbia tree, a local plant that is gradually disappearing. In addition to these two types of houses, it is very difficult to find the original wooden stilt meunasah and tiered mosques in Aceh. The mosques and meunasah (community prayer, education and meeting spaces) play significant roles in these communities.

Aims: This project will survey, and document four types endangered wooden architecture in Aceh in five areas: Aceh Besar, Pidie, Bireuen, Gayo Lues, dan Aceh Tengah, a prone disaster area which heavily destroyed by the 2004 Tsunami Disaster. This project will produce VERNADOC drawings, 3D documentation, and Virtual Reality Videos of the structures and their surroundings. In addition, we will also do ethnography interviews to collect the narratives of the buildings. 

Project Lead: Cut Dewi

Collaborators: Julie Nichols, Era Nopera Rauzi, Muhammad Heru Arie Edytia, and Pratitou Arafat

Location of Research: Indonesia

Host Institution: International Centre for Aceh and Indian Ocean Studies (ICAIOS)

Collaborating Organisation: Universitas Syiah Kuala and University of South Australia 

Type of Grant: Medium Grant

An endangered Meunasah, Community hall for praying, education, and community meeting purposes, in Bireun, Aceh @Multia Zahara

Endangered architecture: Recognized as the oldest long-roofed traditional Malay house in the  state of Perak, the Kutai house embodies a fading architectural tradition of the traditional Malay  timber house construction. In the traditional native dialect of Perak, the word “Kutai”  (pronounced as “Kuta”) means old, where this “old” house can be found located along the vicinity  of the Perak riverbank in the Perak Tengah region. Constructed with excellent traditional Malay  timber craftsmanship, the house was constructed using a unique traditional nail-less tongue and  groove construction system. Kutai house features not only a unique wooden construction system  but also fine and exquisite timber carvings in some of the houses that symbolize a certain social  status of its owner. This showcased the excellent architectural tradition and ingenuity of the  Malay craftsman' that has long been forgotten. Despite its past popularity, Kutai house  construction started to decline in 1890, yielding to the much later house style in the region. This  transition that has been driven by easier construction methods, rendered the Kutai house  obsolete. With the current wave of rapid modern development, climatic, cultural, and lifestyle  changes, Kutai houses face a severe threat of extinction due to deterioration and abandonment. 

Aims: This project aims to digitally document the architectural significance of four examples of  surviving Kutai houses in Perak that were previously owned by the nobility and commoners. This  will contribute to preserving and understanding the architectural and cultural heritage of Perak,  Malaysia, and open future research opportunities on architectural origins and its influence in the  Nusantara region. 

Project Lead: Iryani Abdul Halim Choo 

Collaborators: Mohd Sabrizaa Abd Rashid, Shahrul Yani Said & Najat Affendy Dzulkifly

Location of Research: Perak, Malaysia 

Host Institution: Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) https://uitm.edu.my/

Photo credit: Hardy Adrian Amir Chin

Endangered architecture: The wooden architecture of Desa Manlima, located in the Kamanasa District of Malaka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, is part of a rich cultural tradition found throughout Southeast Asia. These stilted structures are unique for their construction techniques, which rely on slotted and pegged joints, and rattan rope instead of nails or rigid connections. The use of local materials and centuries-old assembly methods reflects the community's deep-rooted cultural and social values.

In the past, the construction of dwellings was a communal effort, with families and volunteers working together based on agreed intervals. This collaborative approach exemplified traditional community life and highlighted the close-knit social fabric of the region. The design and construction of homes, as well as secular and sacred structures, were deeply influenced by local belief systems and ways of life.

Our project aims to document and preserve these endangered wooden structures, capturing not only the architecture but also the cultural knowledge and social significance embedded in them. Elders familiar with traditional building methods will provide valuable narratives that enrich our understanding of these disappearing practices.

Desa Manlima is home to the Uma Salibir cultural group, and its largest building—a 12x16 meter, 8-meter-tall house—belongs to the village’s highest leader. As modern development encroaches, traditional architecture is increasingly seen as outdated. With the loss of building materials and knowledge, maintaining these structures is challenging. The documentation of these few remaining wooden buildings is urgent, as they face the risk of disappearing entirely.

Aims: The project aims to document a selection of endangered traditional wooden buildings, architectural traditions, and traditional building techniques in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Using analog and digital documentation methodologies the project will map this traditional village where local contact has already been established, and will include detailed documentation of four-to-six  endangered wooden buildings of social, cultural and architectural significance, The project also seeks to build a foundation for  initiating a collaboration between Texas Tech University (TTU) in the United States, and Warmadewa University (WU) in Bali, Indonesia, and the local community in East Nusa Tenggara for future projects.   

Project Lead: Joseph Aranha, and Mahyar Hadighi, TTU

Collaborator: Nyoman Gede Maha Putra, WU

Location of Research: Desa Manlima, Kamanasa District, Malaka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Timor, Indonesia.

Host institution: Texas Tech University, USA

Collaborating institutions: Warmadewa University, Bali, Indonesia

Type of Grant: Small Grant

Endangered architecture: The water mill is rarely found across the Indonesian Archipelago. However, the Minangkabau people who inhabit the highlands of Sumatra are found to have developed the technology of a water wheel for irrigation and building integrated with a watermill for pounding rice called ‘kincia lasuang’. Several water mills still used by the people can be found in West Sumatra. The ‘kincia lasuang’ which is made of wooden material has lost its worth in rivalry with modern machinery, and the number has decreased drastically. The rapid development of technology and the high cost of wooden materials threaten the existence of these vernacular architecture. Therefore, it is necessary to document the architectural objects as the representation of the agricultural society of Minangkabau people in West Sumatra.

Aims: This project aims to document a series of watermill buildings used by the community in agricultural activities in West Sumatra by combining the method of digital documentation and the Vernacular Documentation (VERNADOC) technique to produce high-quality drawings with precise measurements. The result of documentation can be developed into various forms of digital representations. This method is chosen to raise the community's perception of the building's significance so that the buildings can continue to be used and promote their value. This project will also investigate the technical knowledge, process, and relationship between buildings and the community in daily lives. 

Project Lead: Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan

Collaborator: Yulsi Munir, Vebryan Rhamadana, Faizful Ramdan

Location of Research: Indonesia

Host institution: Universitas Indonesia

Collaborating institutions: Universitas Andalas

Type of Grant: Small Grant

Lasuang Zaumir, the wooden rice pounder watermill in South Solok, West Sumatra. Photographer: Yulsi Munir, 2023.

Endangered architecture: Tuvalu, a low-lying Pacific Island nation, bears witness to a unique wooden architectural heritage that encapsulates the essence of the island's cultural identity. The traditional wooden structures, crafted from locally sourced materials such as wood, pandanus leaves, and coral, stand as a testament to the island's rich history. From pre-colonial traditions to the blending of traditional and colonial influences, Tuvalu's wooden architecture showcases the ingenuity and creativity of its people. However, this distinctive heritage faces imminent endangerment due to the impacts of climate change, rising sea levels, and evolving construction practices. This project seeks to document and assess a minimum of 8 traditional predominantly wooden structures in Tuvalu, representing the island nation’s unique building systems.

Aims: The survey aims to capture the diversity of architectural styles, construction techniques, and materials used, providing a comprehensive understanding of Tuvalu's vernacular architecture. Complementary data, including cultural narratives, oral histories, and environmental factors, will be gathered to create a consolidated database that not only records the architectural details but also tells the stories embedded in these structures. As Tuvalu grapples with the delicate balance between preserving tradition and adapting to modernity, this project endeavours to be a beacon for the safeguarding of its wooden architectural heritage.

Project Lead: Thomas Cooper-Johnson

Collaborator: Nyoman Gede Maha Putra, WU

Location of Research: Tuvalu

Host institution: The University of Newcastle

Collaborating institutions: Tuvalu Police Service

Type of Grant: Medium Grant

Endangered architecture: The Riau Province is home to a significant portion of preserved Malay cultural history. The unique architecture of the vernacular Malay houses along the Rokan and Kuantan Rivers reflects the distinct characteristics of different tribes, yet they all belong to the same Malay cultural family, symbolizing the diversity of Malay culture. The traditional stilt houses of Riau Malay are not only adorned with distinctive Malay decorations but also carry memories and messages that previous generations wished to pass down to their descendants, with each component of the Malay house holding deep meaning.

Aims: The project aims to document around 16 vernacular Malay houses along the Rokan and Kuantan Rivers including architectural drawings and 3D documentation.

Project Lead: Nitih Indra Komala Dewi

Collaborator: Wahyu Buana Putra, Gun Faisal, Tutin Aryanti, Dwi Kustianingrum, Dian Fitria, Restu Minggra, Yohannes Firzal, Dwi Eva Lestari

Location of Research: Indonesia

Host institution: Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia

Collaborating institutions: Institut Teknologi Nasional Bandung, University Riau, Institut Teknologi Sumatera

Type of Grant: Small Grant

Endangered architecture: Levuka Historical Port Town serves as a notable representation of the substantial exchange of human values and cultural interactions that transpired during the 19th-century European maritime expansion in the Pacific Islands. As a distinctive late colonial port town, it highlights the cultural amalgamation of non-settler communities in the Pacific, seamlessly integrating local settlement traditions with colonial standards in its urban design. Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2013, Levuka town consists of low profiles of buildings among trees that line the main beachfront in the town. Levuka town was Fiji's first colonial capital, which was ceded to the British in 1874. Levuka is an outstanding example of a port settlement in the Pacific, which is reflected in the unique landscape integration between local building tradition and colonial styles. The buildings comprise storage facilities, commercials, social, educational, religious and residential properties developed along Beach Street and around the village. These structures are made of single or two-storey timber frame structures, timber weatherboards, and gable roofs.

Aims: The objective of this project is to digitally document the houses of Levuka town. Despite being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013, this documentation is deemed essential to address potential risks such as natural disasters, deterioration, and accidents that could threaten the town's preservation.

Project Lead: Mohamed Elkharboutly

Collaborator: Suzanne Wilkinson, Sitoki Tuiteci, Sipiriano Nemani,Elizabeth Erasito

Location of Research: Levuka in the Island of Ovalau in Fiji

Host institution: National Fiji Trust (NFT)

Type of Grant: Medium Grant

Endangered architecture: Vunisei and Saione Motu‘a demonstrate two different building traditions from two ancient and neighbouring Pacific institutions (Fiji and the Kingdom of Tonga) that have managed to withstand some impacts of modernisation, and maintained the original architectures despite ongoing natural disasters. But their futures remain uncertain given increasing climatic disruptions and social change. Owned by regal and chiefly institutions, these wooden buildings are significant examples of Tongan and Fijian prominent architecture of the 1800s, representing rare examples of ancient building technologies. There is urgency to document and record the endangered buildings because of unpredictable natural disasters that impact both buildings. Vunisei is located in a coastal village that is experiencing erosion and currently has no sea wall to protect the site from further soil erosion. Saione Motu‘a is located on Tongatapu Island which was greatly impacted by a tsunami and ashfall after the 2022 volcanic eruption. Both buildings are experiencing the encroachment of modern building technologies to replace original parts of the building to accommodate new needs. Building custodians are considering dismantling Saione Motu‘a to replace it with a larger building for example. Both buildings have limited architectural documentation and written accounts. Historical and construction insights reside with ageing knowledge holders that are yet to be interviewed. 

Aims: This project will architecturally document and measure each building using LiDAR scanning, 360 camera and drone photography and videography. On-site surveying with digital still photography is also planned. Oral histories of Vunisei and Saione Motu‘a will be recorded, translated, transcribed and summarised into English.

Project Lead: Charmaine 'Ilaiū Talei

Collaborators: Lēveni ‘Aho, Tongan, Paula Latu, Inoke Momoedonu,

Location of Research: Fiji

Host Institution: Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Type of Grant: Small Grant

Endangered architecture: The Churches of Chiloé represent an architectural tradition begun by Jesuit itinerant preachers in the 17th and 18th centuries; a successful fusion of indigenous culture and European techniques. There are a total of 151 still-standing churches across the remote Chiloé Archipelago. Located in the south of Chile, these wooden buildings withstand a cold and rainy climate that forces constant maintenance and replacement of structural materials due to pathologies caused by different types of rot. The physical conservation of these buildings is difficult, due to a lack of local knowledge of wooden building techniques, which has gradually been lost, and the need for regular professional inspections to assess their state. Out of the 151 Churches of Chiloé, 16 were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000 as a unique example of religious architecture in Latin America, being one of the seven listed sites in Chile.

Aims: The project will document around 15 Churches in Chiloé, important wooden structures currently at risk, some of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage. The churches will be selected according to their state of conservation and cultural significance, directing the efforts where most needed. The accurate three-dimensional documentation of these structures will provide a virtual platform for disseminating vernacular wooden building techniques and allowing expert technical assessment to ensure their physical conservation. Using mixed methods of terrestrial LiDAR, drones and photogrammetry, the churches and their immediate surroundings will be documented and shared online, making them available and virtually visitable by a global audience. 

Project Lead: Bernadette Devilat

Collaborators: Umberto Bonomo, Natalia Cruz, Lorenzo Berg, Gamal Abdelmonem, Felipe Lanuza, Andrés Morales and Santiago Bernales.  

Location of Research: Chiloé, Chile

Host Institution: University of Nottingham 

Collaborating Institutions (Chile): Centro del Patrimonio Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (CENPUC); Fundación Iglesias de Chiloé; Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo Universidad de Chile (FAU), Nottingham Trent University (NTU) 

Type of Grant: Large grant

Church of Caguach, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Chiloé Archipelago, Chile. 

Photographer: Natalia Cruz (Fundación Iglesias Patrimoniales de Chiloé), 2021

Endangered architecture: Within the Ribeira Valley in Brazil, 14 buildings are today listed as Japanese Immigration Cultural Assets. These buildings represent a unique hybrid form of Brazilian wooden architecture that combines the architectural traditions of Japanese immigrants who settled in the region during the early 20th century with the knowledge, skills and crafts of the Indigenous and Maroon groups already present in the region, resulting in a unique wooden architectural tradition that successfully merged disparate architectural traditions while being adapted to the Brazilian landscape and climate. Most of the hundreds of houses that were built at the time no longer exist today, while the remaining ones are uninhabited and in a precarious state, partially deteriorated, destroyed, or at risk of imminent collapse. 

Aims: Using a literature review and detailed architectural survey methods (including descriptions, drawings, plans and photographs), this project aims to record an exemplar of these unique Japanese immigrant houses, identifying construction components, jointing systems and the construction processes of the carpenters within the wider cultural context. 

Project Lead: Akemi Hijoka

Collaborators: Alain Briatte Mantchev, Hector Yuji Yokoyama Inafuku, Makoto Kawajiri

Location of Research: municipality of Registro, Brazil

Host Institution: Institute of Education, Science and Technology of São Paulo

Collaborating institutions: FUNARBE, (Arthur Bernardes Foundation)

Type of Grant: Small grant

Endangered architecture: The Aysen region in Patagonia, the last region in Chile to be inhabited, is currently the most isolated region in the country. Its wooden architectural heritage was built by inhabitants who spontaneously arrived in the region from other areas of southern Chile and from Europe, between 1910 and 1960. The vernacular architecture reflects the traditional occupations, techniques and tools that were introduced in the area by inhabitants from different places of origin, which together define a unique Aysen cultural and heritage identity. Marked technical differences can be seen between the structures, with wooden structures combined with baked bricks, thatch or stones and wooden shingle. There are also constructions of carved sticks and/or logs of the "palo amordazado" [“gagged sticks”] type. The architecture is currently in an advanced state of deterioration due to abandonment, the devaluation of native wood, the loss of traditional occupations and construction techniques, and the arrival of new construction materials and industrial production.

Aims: The project aims to carry out a survey of around 30 wooden structures that represent the self-made building systems of the Aysen region, in addition to gathering complementary data. With these records, a consolidated database will be created, which will allow for a more nuanced analysis of the vernacular architecture in the Aysen region.

Project Lead: Carlos Nicolás Castillo Levicoy

Collaborators: Constanza Pérez Lira, María Ximena Urbina Carrasco, Amalia Nuevo Delaunay

Location of Research: Chile

Host Institution: Corporación Memoria Austral

Type of Grant: Large Grant

Old administration house Estancia Ñirehuao, built in 1913 (XX Century), Coyhaique, Aysén Region, Chile. © Carlos Castillo Levicoy, 2022.

Endangered architecture: As the major port of the region from the mid-19th century to 1914 (when the Panama Canal was opened), Valparaiso, Chile, is a singular representation of early Latin American industrial heritage. The period saw the construction of homes, as well as the most advanced technologies for urban development, including mechanical elevators that connected the lower part of the city with residential hills. These buildings were varied in architectural styles and were predominantly built with local wood or north-American Oregon timber, which was one of the first standardized materials to abundantly arrive in Chile as ship ballast. Specific techniques were based on vernacular knowledge, which was greatly influenced by the arrival of migrant craftsmen. Architectural styles included horizontal and vertical wooden frames that were filled and clad with earth. A desire for prefabrication influenced more sophisticated systems such as the adobillo: a specially formed block with wooden dry joinery that is only registered in Chile. Many of these structures are under threat due to environmental impacts, such as insect infestations and earthquakes, as well as inappropriate interventions to conserve the buildings that have compromised their integrity. 

Aims: The project aims to register cases within Valparaiso’s heritage protected areas and conduct an in-depth survey of a minimum of six significant examples of its architecture, producing architectural drawings and 3D photogrammetry. These will include different examples of Ascensores (Larraín, Artillería…), as well as representative examples of housing typologies and architectural styles. 

Project Lead: Carmen Gómez

Collaborators: Tomás Bahamondes, Cristopher Vrsalovic, Cristian Ribalta, Luis Cuevas, Luis Torres

Location of Research: Chile

Host Institution: Fundación Instituto Profesional Duoc UC

Collaborating Organisations:  Ministerio de Obras Públicas, Servicio Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural, Corporación La Matriz

Type of Grant: Large Grant

Ascensor Lecheros. Gómez, 2023.

Endangered architecture: The Wajãpi wooden architecture is a living heritage embedded in the rich knowledge system of the Wajãpi Indigenous People, who live in the Brazilian Amazon and are acknowledged by UNESCO (2008) for their intangible heritage. Their construction tradition utilizes wood, leaves, and vines in the production of different houses and multi-purpose spaces. Imminent threats, including conflicts triggered by mining activities, large infrastructure plans, and rapid urbanization, amplify environmental stress and the scarcity of vital construction materials employed in traditional practices. Furthermore, the Wajãpi face the impact of climate change, experiencing prolonged droughts in the Amazon forest, leading to a shortage of essential resources such as thatch and specific wood. Builders have been experimenting with industrial materials, emphasizing the urgency of prompt documentation. The heightened threat of these alterations extends beyond immediate changes in building materials; it permeates the Wajãpi knowledge system, since a lack of appreciation for such knowledge from youngsters poses significant risk to its continuity.

Aims: The project aims to document Wajãpi building traditions through the record of two villages, featuring different house types and additional components, applying a collaborative approach with the Wajãpi People. As a living heritage, the proposal also aims to celebrate and promote the perpetuation of Wajãpi knowledge, fostering its resilience amid the evolving socio-environmental landscape.

Project Lead: Mariana Petry Cabral

Collaborators: Marco Antônio Penido de Rezende, Renata Cima, Roseno Wajãpi

Location of Research: Amapá, Brazil

Host Institution: Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) & Fundação de Desenvolvimento da Pesquisa (FUNDEP)

Collaborating Community: The Wajãpi Indigenous People

Type of Grant: Medium Grant

A typical jura-house, featuring elevated floor and carved stair. Karapijuty village, October 2014. Photo: Mariana Cabral.

Endangered architecture: The trojes are the typical vernacular wooden buildings from the purepecha highlands (also known as Tarascan plateau), a geographic region in the State of Michoacan, in Mexico. The Purépecha are the predominant indigenous group in the state, especially in this region, with many cultural traditions and manifestations including the local architecture. These distinctive buildings, which have residential and storage uses, are entirely built with pine wood, including all the structure and the finishings without using any nails or adhesives to join the beams and construction components. This interesting feature gives the users the capacity of dismantling the structure and moving it to other places, inheriting the trojes from generation to generation. Despite the outstanding characteristics of these traditional buildings, at the present time most of them have been abandoned or replaced by modern self-constructed structures, resulting in the potential loss of this heritage. In addition, many trojes have been restored or repaired with bad interventions, due to the loss of the traditional techniques and the lack of artisans and carpenters that still preserve the artisanal knowledge.

Aims: This project proposes a complete documentation of these vernacular structures, by means of architectural surveying and drawing, photogrammetry techniques, audiovisual recordings, oral interviews and participatory design and integration with the local community. The project expects to survey a significant number of trojes (over 20) to record a representative sample and, most importantly, to understand the architectural characteristics of this vernacular typology.

Project Lead: Jelia Mercedes Alonso Guzmán

Collaborator: Adrià Sánchez Calvillo, María del Pilar Giraldo Forero, Marieta Núñez García

Location of Research: Mexico

Host institution: Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo

Type of Grant: Small Grant

Endangered architecture: The wooden churches of Romania date back to the 16^th century and represent architecture at the crossroad of several cultural and religious influences in eastern Europe. In 1999, eight wooden churches of the Maramureș region were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, highlighting their significance. Today over 1400 churches exist, demonstrating several different building techniques: A) horizontally stacked logs jointed at the corners (also known as the blockbau system), B) vertically framed logs jointed with horizontally stacked beams, C) wattle and daub, and D) earth-lodging (similar to the folk pit-houses, which were mostly semi-recessed into the earth with a roof standing out). Today these churches, some in small remote villages, are being abandoned and damaged at increasing rates. There is also much to be recovered and understood about traditional carpentry by preserving and thoroughly documenting these buildings.

Aims: This project aims to ensure the long term 3D digital preservation of 30 endangered and valuable wooden churches in Romania. The project also aims to set up a regional technology teaching hub integrating the project equipment into future training and recording programmes.

Project Lead: Cosmin-Bogdan Ilieș

Collaborators: Ileana Burnichioiu, Călin Șuteu, Celina Gora, Mihai Moldovan (RA)

Location of Research: Romania

Host Institution: Monumentum Association 

Collaborating organisation: Wooden Churches Association (Asociația Biserici Înlemnite), Universitatea “1 Decembrie 1918” Alba Iulia, National Heritage Institute (Institutul Național al Patrimoniului)

Type of Grant: Large grant

The "Saint Paraskeva" Wooden Church of Mirosloveşti (Iaşi county, RO), dating back to 1756, with an architecture that displays a unique influence, usually found in the brick and stone masonry of the regional monasteries and known as the "Moldavian style".

Photo credits: Călin Șuteu, 2022

Endangered architecture: Traditional wooden architecture has historically been widespread in the continental part of Croatia. Today the greatest concentration is found in central Croatia, in the regions of Banovina/Banija, Pokuplje, Posavina and Turopolje. The local environment, terrain, abundance of timber and ways of farming influenced the typology of rural settlements and the characteristics of traditional architecture in the region. The houses are typically constructed with hewn planks, joined with wooden wedges, making it possible to disassemble and reassemble the units. Walls are typically smeared with mud, earth, or clay with mixtures of chaff or chopped straw, and then whitewashed with lime. Carvings or decorations may appear on parts of the buildings, usually on the street or courtyard façade. Unfortunately, the wooden architecture in the Banovina/Banija, Pokuplje and Posavina regions has been highly endangered for several reasons, including damage and demolition from earthquakes, depopulation, and neglect.

Aims: This project aims to develop a multidisciplinary methodology for documenting historic environments and structures, survey over 100 villages, and record in detail houses within eight villages. Importantly, it aims to raise awareness of the wooden heritage in the region by recording village histories, the ways of life and usage of buildings and spaces, life stories of families and individuals, and woodworking skills and traditions. In particular, the project will organise a crowdsourcing campaign with high school students in order to collect information on wooden buildings and craftsmen in the region.

Project Lead: Sanja Lončar

Collaborators: Goran Andlar, Hrvoje Tomić, Filip Šrajer

Assistants: Tanja Kremenić, Grga Frangeš, Davor Konjikušić

Location of Research: Banovina/Banija, Pokuplje and Posavina Regions, Croatia

Host Institution: Društvo "Terra banalis" / Association "Terra banalis" (https://terrabanalis.wixsite.com/terrabanalis)

Type of Grant: Large grant

Neglected house in Bok Palanječki, Municipality of Martinska Ves, Sisak-Moslavina County, Croatia 

Photo: Sanja Lončar 2021

Endangered architecture: Croatian chardaks are structures that have several meanings and appearances. One type is an elevated storage for corn that can still be found in rural settlements as an element of the traditional farm households and yards. Corn storages along the Drava River were made as baskets woven from willow and hazel branches, but only few of them can still be found nowadays. The structures are raised on wooden supports (transverse logs) and usually placed in an open place in the yard where the air flow allows better drying of the cobs. They were usually decorated with carvings on nicely shaped beams. Another type of chardak found in Osijek-baranya County is a more utilitarian kind of corn storage building that can be up to two stories with a masonry base and wooden upper floor. Due to depopulation in the countryside and modernisation these structures are not maintained and many of the skills to build them are being lost. 

Aims: The goal of this project is to create a database of chardaks for around 45 villages along the rivers Drava and Danube, documenting volume, material, construction, design, building technology, location, and so on. The field research will also include the collection of stories about the use of chardaks and their construction. For each typology, several chardaks will be selected and recorded in detail. Two workshops will be organized in which local artisans will demonstrate the construction techniques for chardak construction. 

Project Lead: Dina Stober

Collaborators: Jasenka Kranjčević, Danijela Domljan, Margareta Turkalj Podmanicki, Sanja Lončar Vicković, Damir Doležal, Vasilije Vranić, Darija Kuharić

Location of Research: Croatia

Host Institution: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture Osijek

Collaborating Organisations: Institute for Tourism, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, The Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek (The Centre for Cultural Heritage)

Type of Grant: Large Grant

The chardak in Kenđelovec, Saint Ivan Žabno municipality, Koprivnica – Križevac County, Croatia, ©  Jasenka Kranjčević, 2023

Endangered architecture: All the objects to be investigated during the project are unique examples of Ukrainian wooden folk architecture or author's architectural projects that have no analogues but are also based on the traditions of folk architecture. All the buildings are either already in a state of disrepair or are used as ancillary facilities. These include residential buildings, outbuildings, public and religious buildings, and one commercial facility. Some of them unfortunately have significant damage. An important factor that poses a threat to architectural objects, in addition to their age and general state of disrepair, is military action on the territory of Ukraine. The methods and technological construction techniques used in the construction of these facilities are either not used at all or have been preserved only in isolated areas with difficult access.

Aims: The main goal of the project is to create architectural and ethnological documentation and a digital database of nine wooden buildings located in the western part of Ukraine that are under a high threat of extinction. During the project implementation, it is planned to study the best examples of wooden construction of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The project is aimed at researching traditional methods of wood processing and the ethnographic component of the region, associated with these buildings and its popularization in the scientific environment and educational programs. The project is also directed for the creation of a scientific base in the museum for the development of multidisciplinary documentation methodology, study of technologies and preservation of this type of architectural objects.

Project Lead: Serhii Tsypyshev

Collaborators: Lesia Harasym, Ihor Bokalo, Viktor Melnyk,

Location of Research: Ukraine

Host Institution: World Heritage Watch e.V.

Type of Grant: Medium Grant

A house in the village of Berezhnytsia, Verkhovyna district, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Ukraine, 2023. Serhii Tsypyshev

Endangered Architecture: Ottoman period housing compounds of timber structures at several remote villages at the Western Balkan mountain represent the lifestyle of farmers and cattle breeders at the end of the nineteenth century. Once a part of the same cultural region of Western Outlands within the predominantly Bulgarian populated territory, the region was split in the middle after WWI in the 1920s between Serbia and Bulgaria, cutting community and cultural ties. Once a thriving, vivid rural community, due to the split, and its isolated mountain location, it became detached from major routes and modernisation, and so the region declined to become economically the poorest in EU and with the shortest life expectancy.  Timber buildings of high architectural quality in terms of plan typology, links between interior and exterior spaces via verandas, wood carving details of pillars, ceilings, doors and windows remain in several villages, hit by depopulation and ageing.  They are worth documenting as a part of an elaborate timber building tradition - a unique regional variation of the Late Ottoman period Western Balkan mountain type of house.    

Aims: The project aims to create a database of housing compounds of timber structures at four villages on both sides of the border documenting their siting, orientation, plans, materials, construction, design, building technology and timber structure details. The field research includes the collection of stories about the use of various timber structures and the related housing spirits’ stories. For each typology, examples from four villages will be selected and recorded in detail. Two fieldwork trips will be organized in which local residents will share oral stories about building process traditions and related housing spirits’ stories. 

Project Lead: Milena Metalkova-Markova

Collaborators: Georgi Georgiev, Gordana Rančev, Miomir Vasov

Location of Research: Bulgaria, Serbia

Host Institution: University of Portsmouth, UK

Collaborating Organisations: none

Type of Grant: Small Grant

House in Chuprene village, Bulgaria (photo by M.Metalkova-Markova)

Endangered architecture: The wooden architectural heritage of Transcarpathia is represented by beautiful authentic monuments, which vividly reflect the folk architectural creativity of Ukraine in the period from the 15th to the 19th century. Some objects are so unique that they have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The wooden churches in Ukraine have experienced many challenges: wars, fires, locking, neglect, deliberate demolition, and unprofessional repairs. During the struggle for Ukraine's right to exist, the preservation of cultural markers of self-identification is one of the most important aspects of preserving the nation. Through the latest methods of laser scanning and photogrammetry, it makes it possible to preserve these churches digitally in a time of uncertainty. By capturing the diversity and uniqueness of these churches, along with the traditional craftsmanship involved, it ensures that future generations can appreciate and learn from this invaluable part of Ukrainian history.

Aims: This project aims to conduct an architectural-historical study of up to 20 wooden sacred churches through measured surveys, 3D recording techniques and interviews. This documentation will aid in conservation efforts, research, and educational initiatives aimed at safeguarding these important cultural landmarks.

Project Lead: Mykhailo Khokhon

Collaborator: Yurii Prepodobnyi, Ihor Bukalo, Khrystyna Dubnytska

Location of Research: Ukraine

Host institution: NGO "Vyriy"

Collaborating institutions: 

Type of Grant: Medium Grant

Endangered architecture: “Documentation of Wooden Architecture in World Heritage Istanbul, Zeyrek” aims to document wooden buildings of Zeyrek within the Historical Areas of Istanbul, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The project focuses specifically on the endangered wooden architecture in the area. The primary purpose of the project is to document three key structures that, while retaining their original character, are in a fragile condition due to factors including but not limited to neglect, insufficient maintenance, and continuous alterations in social structures. In addition to comprehensive documentation of the current condition of three structures, the project involves an in-depth assessment of the structural risks these buildings face. By employing both on-site studies and interviews with master builders, the traditional construction methods will undergo detailed analysis. The original state of the structures will also be exhibited through key visuals, supported by extensive research. Additionally, the contrast between the current state and the original use of the structures will be illustrated through a narrative that encompasses the transformation of local dynamics and histories of the users and owners.

Aims: The project aims to offer valuable information globally, making it accessible to people worldwide. It introduces innovative storytelling approaches to contribute to an enhanced awareness of the importance of conserving these structures. With a primary focus on structures that have suffered considerable damage over time, this undertaking holds significant potential to benefit the entire Zeyrek area while also fostering the interpretation and presentation of the significance of Zeyrek's endangered wooden architectural heritage.

Project Lead: Demet Binan

Collaborators: Tulay Cobancaoglu, Koray Guler, Gulce Guleycan Okyay Bayazit

Location of Research: Turkey

Host Institution: Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Istanbul

Type of Grant: Small