Knowing the Vernacular: Critical Reflections and Future Directions

British Academy Conferences bring together scholars and specialists from around the world to consider and evaluate new research in the humanities and social sciences.

Vernacular architecture refers to locally specific forms of architecture, which are rooted in community, place and tradition, and that have been made without the involvement of architects. The international and interdisciplinary field of vernacular architecture studies aims to document, safeguard, apply or advocate for the knowledge embodied in the vernacular traditions of the world. This conference reflects on the current state of play: to critically question what we think we know about the subject, how we got where we are, and the methods and concepts we use; to identify shortcomings, gaps and biases in our studies, and to identify new areas of research and new ways of engaging with vernacular architecture; and to explore ways to make the knowledge embodied in vernacular traditions more widely available beyond academia.

Conference convenor:

Professor Marcel Vellinga, Oxford Brookes University

Speakers across the two-day conference include:

• Professor Simon J. Bronner, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Dr Marwa Dabaieh, Malmö University
• Dr Edoardo Paolo Ferrari, Oxford Brookes University
• Dr Charmaine ‘Ilaiu Talei, University of Auckland
• Professor Tim Ingold FBA, University of Aberdeen
• Yasmeen Lari, Pakistan Heritage Foundation
• Elizabeth Lee, CyARK
• Dr Hossam Mahdy, ICOMOS-CIAV
• Professor Trevor Marchand, SOAS
• Professor Daniel Maudlin, University of Plymouth
• Professor Paul Memmott, University of Queensland
• Clare Nash, Clare Nash Architects
• Professor Aylin Orbasli, Oxford Brookes University
• Dr Barry O'Reilly, Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht, Ireland
• Dr Jorge Tomasi, CONICET, Argentina

Ticket prices:

• Admission: £20 per day (£40 for both days).
• Concessions: £10 per day (£20 for both days).

The conference will be livestreamed; please join for free using the following links:

• Session 1: Saturday 26 October, 9am-1pm: https://brookes.zoom.us/j/84917611081
• Session 2: Saturday 26 October, 2pm-5pm: https://brookes.zoom.us/j/89466440982
• Session 3: Sunday 27 October, 9.30am-12.30pm: https://brookes.zoom.us/j/89935290710
• Session 4: Sunday 27 October, 1.30pm-6pm: https://brookes.zoom.us/j/85256071187

If you have any questions about this event please refer to our events FAQs or email [email protected]

Image: Aerial view of a Baoule Village