Skip to main content

History, Heritage and Conservation

We work collaboratively to tackle crucial issues relating to our historic environment, both in theory and practice, including sustainability; the climate crisis; decolonisation; and equality, diversity, and inclusivity.

The History, Heritage, and Conservation Research and Scholarship Group serves as a nexus for multidisciplinary knowledge and cross-sector expertise, fostering collaboration among its diverse members.

Our work explores intersections between architectural history, heritage studies, building conservation and management. Research topics explored by the group include: sustainable heritage management and conservation, critical heritage studies, heritage and memory, contested heritage, digital heritage, energy transition in heritage contexts, industrial heritage and history, urban heritage and history, social and political theory, design history and theory, heritage and contemporary architectural design, intercultural heritage, and architectural history in non-Western contexts.

The group tackles the crucial issues emerging in the subject fields, including decolonisation, the climate crisis, sustainability, diversity and inclusivity, and bridging the gap between academic research and professional practices.

Projects

Embodied pedagogies

Embodied pedagogies: introducing ‘otherness’ in architectural education

The research examines the educational and ethical value that embodied pedagogies and pedagogies of alterity hold for architectural education.

Terrestrial Laser Scan of Port Eynon, April 2021

Harbourview

Raising awareness of the importance of harbours as coastal heritage.

An archtectural drawing of the Temple of Ashapuri, India.

Temples of Ashapuri

Feasibility studies for the recovery, conservation and presentation of about twenty-six ruined medieval temples at Ashapuri.

A damp interior

Correlating maintenance, energy efficiency and fuel poverty for traditional buildings in the UK

The study seeks pathways to demonstrate that better maintenance of traditional buildings could reduce energy costs in the context of climate change.

Exterior of an old library

Shelf-Life – Re-imagining the future of Carnegie Public Libraries

Shelf-Life asks if the uniquely controlled procurement of over 2600 public buildings across Britain and America around 100 years ago by the Carnegie Library Programme could benefit from some systematic thinking for their re-vitalisation at a time of crisis.

AoA

Architectures of Alterity: Body/Media/Space

We support the interdisciplinary exploration of historical and contemporary architectures of alterity and initiate discussions on how design may defy cultural orders and support more diverse and inclusive forms of dwelling from past to present.

Publications

Schools

School of Architecture

Next steps

academic-school

Research that matters

Our research makes a difference to people’s lives as we work across disciplines to tackle major challenges facing society, the economy and our environment.

microchip

Postgraduate research

Our research degrees give the opportunity to investigate a specific topic in depth among field-leading researchers.

icon-chat

Our research impact

Our research case studies highlight some of the areas where we deliver positive research impact.