Zoom Link (Registration is not required): https://bham-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/85408905053
Working language: English (no translation will be provided)

We are thrilled to announce a new project on the „Caucasus Traditional Building Revival“ implemented thanks to the support of the European Heritage Hub pilot Project co-funded by the European Union and supported by the ALIPH Foundation supported by the Europa Nostra’s pilot project European Heritage Hub co-funded by the EU and ALIPH Foundation. This project is the collaboration between Georgian Arts & Culture Centre (GACC) and Caucasus Through Time Network (CTTN).
The aim of the project is to promote the cultural heritage represented by traditional building methods, highlighting their historical and contemporary relevance. The first public activity of the project will be on the 9th September during the ‘Caucasus Traditional Building Revival’ webinar, showcasing ongoing and finished projects in the sphere of traditional architecture in the South Caucasus with a focus on the use of sustainable materials. Our speakers explore the rich traditional architectural heritage of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia bringing their case-study projects in their field in the South Caucasus with a focus on the use of sustainable materials. Our speakers explore the rich traditional architectural heritage of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia bringing their case-study projects in their field. The event will be recorded and made available on the CTTN YouTube channel.

Programme

4:00 – 4:15 Welcome & Opening remarks

Representative of Europa Nostra (TBC) Maka Dvalishvili, GACC & Project Director, Europa Nostra representative in Georgia; Narmin Ismayilova, representative of Caucasus Through Time Network; Ruben Davtyan, representative of Caucasus Through Time Network and Webinar moderator.

4:15 – 4:30 Envisioning a prosperous coexistence of cultural heritage, tourism and environment in the village community of Latali (Georgia)

Prof. Dr. Stefan Applis, 4:30 – 4:35 Q&A

4:35 – 4:50 Vernacular architectures with geo-sourced and bio-sourced materials in Armenia

Prof. Suzanne Monno, 4:50 – 4:55 Q&A

4:55 – 5:10 Sustainable Architecture in Azerbaijan: Lessons from Sheki, Baskal, and Khinalig

Gumru Mirzaliyeva, 5:10 – 5:15 Q&A

5:15 – 5:45 Discussion

5:45 Concluding remarks

Speaker Abstracts

Envisioning a prosperous coexistence of cultural heritage, tourism and environment in the village community of Latali (Georgia)

Prof. Dr. Stefan Applis

Svaneti benefited enormously from the tourist boom since the 2010s with the highest number of visitors of 150,000 in 2019. Svaneti is searching for a new identity in a continuous field of friction between an emerging local economy and the region‘s rich traditions. Against the background of emerging tourism, the region faces severe changes: an unregulated mass tourism destroys the region’s ecological heritage and decreases the possibilities of the population to contribute to their self-sufficiency through agriculture. “Envisioning Svaneti” was an invitation to the local population in Svaneti to discover the nexus of heritage, tourism and environment. “Envisioning Svaneti” was planned to mark the beginning of a process which aims at providing the Svan population a knowledge-based approach to conceive the possibilities of tourism with a sustainable use of cultural heritage in a profitable way.
The municipality of Latali is the gateway to the region that was once called “Free Svaneti”. Latali marks the beginning of the most scenic and architecturally spectacular part of Svaneti. Deliberately outside the tourist hotspot of Mestia, the project began in Latali with the offer of a self-directed and accompanied self-discovery of local development opportunities without endangering their own heritage. The project is meant to be the beginning of a process that the people of the Latali community in Svaneti should implement and shape themselves. The perspectives for a sustainable further development of Latali brought the workshop participants directly back to the scene, the municipality of Latali. The localization of these perspectives in space, in the geography of the village Latali, was finally recorded with a digital map, which documents the project`s results. https://stefan-applis-geographien.com/latali-project-envisioning-svaneti/ https://latalirecords.com/

Vernacular architectures with geo-sourced and bio-sourced materials in Armenia

Prof. Suzanne Monnot

The title of my presentation proposes to address „vernacular“ architectures: this term will be evoked in the broad sense, that is to say that it will refer to any construction mobilising local materials and know-how, whether monumental – the work of „experts“ (archaeological sites, churches, public buildings, etc.) – or more modest, often self-built popular dwellings, more or less old. I will discuss based on various articles that I have published – first the problem and hypothesis at the origin of my research followed by the methodological strategy of „research transformation“ implemented. Then to complete the existing bibliographic resources, I will briefly present a corpus – showing the diversity of forms, uses, resources and construction techniques observed during targeted investigations on Armenian territory. Finally, with the Timelines tool, I will conclude on the complex interplay of actors and ongoing projects set up between France and Armenia: including Kond, the last historic district of Yerevan, then the project of the archaeological sites of Erebuni and Karmir Blour, finally the question of reuse (in Gyumri and Vanadzor) to raise awareness of the ecological problem and relaunch eco-responsible construction sectors.

Sustainable Architecture in Azerbaijan: Lessons from Sheki, Baskal, and Khinalig

Gumru Mirzaliyeva

The traditional architecture of Azerbaijan, exemplified by the regions of Sheki, Baskal, and Khinalig, offers valuable insights into sustainable building practices. These regions showcase how local materials like stone, mudbrick, and wood have been used for centuries to create structures that are both durable and environmentally friendly, seamlessly blending with their natural surroundings.
In Sheki, the intricate craftsmanship in buildings such as the Sheki Khan’s Palace demonstrates how local materials can be used to create structures that are not only functional but also culturally significant. Similarly, the stone houses of Baskal and the terraced homes of Khinalig highlight the adaptability of traditional architecture to diverse terrains and climates, emphasising resilience and sustainability.
These examples serve as models for modern sustainable architecture. By revisiting and adapting these traditional methods, contemporary architects can design buildings that are not only energy-efficient and environmentally responsible but also rich in cultural heritage. The integration of these time-tested practices into modern construction can help preserve Azerbaijan’s architectural legacy while addressing the urgent need for sustainability in today’s built environment.