Our Methodology
The proposed research and teaching methodologies involve working and learning alongside students and colleagues in the field, to utilise this insight for ways to work with heritage buildings whilst offering contemporary solutions for adaptive reuse opportunities for communities. The capacity to opt for adaptive reuse projects above 'new-builds' also addresses our collective passions of sustainability for the future of the architectural industry.
Our Story
The Vernacular Knowledge Research Group at UniSA was conceived through an initial collaboration with University Syiah Kuala [USK], Banda Aceh, Indonesia to reinstate their lost 'built cultural heritage archives' post-tsunami 2004. The majority of the paper-based archives and local people with the oral traditions and intergenerational knowledge of Acehnese heritage, were destroyed and killed. The process to begin documenting remaining 'vernacular' buildings [by non-architects], their socio-cultural environment, and rules for design began in 2016.
The VKRG team trained in a specific manual drawing method [VERNADOC] suitable for archival collections in Thailand under the lead Dr Sudjit Sananwai, from Bangkok, Thailand. The first Indonesian camp was in Lambunot Village, Aceh Besar, in 2017. VKRG was officially launched in Jakarta in the same year, at the Australian Embassy with a formal signing by Indonesian Vice Chancellors and UniSA's Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor for our Memorandum of Understanding. These partnerships are still current and in continued collaboration.
UniSA team at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta,Indonesia in July 2017 for the signing ceremony of the International collaborations of the VKRG.
L_R Dr Susan Avey; Darren Fong; Darren Turner [UniSA International]; Professor Denise Meredyth [Pro Vice Chancellor] Associate Professor Jane Lawrence [Head of School Art, Architecture and Design]; Dr Julie Nichols [Founder VKRG]; Assistant Professor Thana - Thai colleague.
Our Work
Since 2016 VKRG have continued to investigate different methods for recording, documenting, curating, disseminating heritage materials across digital platforms from their inception to linking into existing data storage repositories. It has been a unique opportunity to incorporate shared interests in built environments research in Southeast Asia, currently concentrating on Indonesia and Australia, around built cultural heritage and architectural representation, in addition to educating our students. Moving between skill-sets of historical knowledge, immersive on-site measuring while producing architectural drawings and teaching this know-how to students, brings together aspects of the best of academic and professional worlds.
Memorandum of Understanding
