Within framework of the World
Heritage Earthen Architecture Programme (WHEAP), an international colloquium on
the conservation of earthen architecture was organized at UNESCO Headquarters
in Paris, in partnership with CRAterre-ENSAG, on 17 and 18 December 2012.
This conference, which brought
together 240 participants, including experts, professionals and students, was
the first international event on earthen architecture in the context of World
Heritage. Held at the midpoint of the WHEAP programme (2007-2017), it offered a
critical look at the progress and achievements of the WHEAP programme and
presented the diversity of earthen architecture on the World Heritage List.
"Apart from the fruitful exchanges
among experts, the increased knowledge and reinforcement of our network, it is
my hope that this meeting will provide guidance for World Heritage earthen
architecture and the sustainable development of its communities around the
world," said Mr. Francesco Bandarin, UNESCO Assistant Director for Culture during
his opening speech.
Mr. Lazare Eloundou, Head of the
Africa Unit of the World Heritage Centre, UNESCO, emphasized that: “It is
important to find a common position on how to go about the future of earthen
architecture on the World Heritage List because it is part of the intangible
heritage, part of cultures' beliefs systems and part of the way people built
their environment. This is a very fragile material so it is important to
discuss an integrated approach on how to deal with the conservation because this
material continues to be used even today in modern construction.”
Highlights of the conference
The meeting was marked by the
presence of 40 experts from all regions of the world, from institutions like
the Aga Khan Trust For Culture, the World Monuments Fund and the Getty
Conservation Institute, who were able to share their research in the areas of
prevention and conservation of World Heritage earthen architecture.
It should be noted that an
important role was given to site managers in the panel presentations, which
allowed various field experiences around the earthen architecture to be put
forward.
Two exhibitions “20 years of
contribution to the World Heritage” and “Women Builders of Africa: Perspectives
in Burkina Faso and Niger”, made by CRAterre ENSAG and Bâtir et Développer,
showcased a concrete demonstration of the progress achieved since the WHEAP
programme's inception in 2007.
Key Ideas
This conference focused on four
main themes:
Research,
The methods and practices related
to earthen architecture,
Capacity building,
Raising awareness and outreach
programs both on a local level but also on a large scale.
Experts in general emphasized the
importance of earthen architecture in development issues. Mr. Eloundou pointed
out how “more than 1/3 of the world population lives in houses built from the
earth material and this material is at the heart of sustainable development
issues.” But this type of housing is increasingly neglected.
Ignorance of earthen architecture
by the people and leaders increases the abandonment of earthen architecture
housing sites. But one of the major challenges steaming from development is
population pressure on housing and earthen architecture is one way to meet this
requirement.
Perspectives
UNESCO Assistant Director for
Culture, Mr Bandarin, noted that "This colloquium enabled us to prepare a
road map for the future of World Heritage earthen architecture conservation.”
These two days of exchange were
concluded by an appeal by the Scientific Committee of the Colloquium,
highlighting the singular nature of World Heritage earthen architecture and
emphasizing the need to develop specific guidelines for the conservation and
promotion of this type of heritage.
The experts have also called for
an annex to be added to the Operational Guidelines for the implementation of
the World Heritage Conventionspecific to earthen architecture. Furthermore, the
possibility of producing a reference manual dedicated to the conservation of
earthen architecture is an option that could be considered.
