Research
The Architectural Heritage Centre undertakes and supports research that advances the understanding of architectural heritage and the built environment. Our research explores traditional and contemporary architecture, conservation practices, cultural landscapes, and sustainable heritage management. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and scholarly inquiry, we contribute evidence-based knowledge that informs policy, education, and the preservation of heritage assets.
Value to Architectural Education
The Architectural Heritage Centre of Papua New Guinea is a unique research facility in the Pacific region. In 2000 the Validation Board of the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) visited the Department of Architecture and Building to inspect its programs as part of the process of international validation of its courses. In its report the CAA visiting panel made special note of the value of the Architectural Heritage Centre, citing its collection as “unique in the world” and stating that it “must not be allowed to deteriorate through inadequate resources”, and that it could be used to strengthen the research profile for the Department.
A base for on-going, post-graduate research by both national and international scholars could be established at the AHC, but would require improvements to, and enlargement of, facilities including improving the archival and accessibility standards of the collection. Substantial funds are needed to do such improvements, and then to staff, run, and maintain them.
Research Program
Department of Architecture & Building’s mission is to Conduct research and development work to promote environmentally, culturally and economically sustainable forms of tropical architecture and building, conservation of architectural heritages, beneficial utilization of local natural resources, and advance the creative, technical and entrepreneurial talents of indigenous architects and building managers.
Research priorities are closely aligned with the Department’s mission with a major effort being centred on the preparation of a comprehensive survey of traditional architecture under the auspices of The Papua New Guinea Architectural Heritage Centre.
Other research projects focus on the development and promotion of contemporary architectural forms in response to local cultures and climatic conditions; locally produced building materials; grass roots tourist accommodation; management procedures for national building contractors; and investigations of appropriate housing solutions for the poor.
The Centre has identified the following projects as having priority:
- a digital archive of all materials collected to date
- a major high-quality exhibition publication of selected materials from the collection in monograph form, and as an encyclopedia of the traditional architecture of PNG, and/or on CD ROM and/or the WWW
- a collection of a selection of full-size building artefacts
- construction of a permanent heritage village comprising a selection of significant building types
- a web site with the main aims of: dissemination of information on the richness of this PNG Heritage resource, participation in international discourses in the area indigenous cultures, the electronic sale possibilities for downloadable digital material.
The Architecture Heritage Centre Digital Project
Being equally aware of the fast disappearance of traditional building culture and under the Board of Management, the Architecture Heritage Centre embarked upon the digital project in 2006.
Purpose
- To facilitate the alignment of the Architecture Heritage Collection with time as humanity moves into the digital age.
- To preserve the information knowledge contain in the collection on traditional built forms and especially, architecture, buildings, arts, culture and other related areas for use by future generations.
- To provide fast and easy access to information from the collection to interested users both locally, and internationally.
- To facilitate research by a wider audience through the Internet Search Engine.
- To organize the information knowledge into a databank that can be continuously and easily accessed by interested academic institutions and individuals.
The Collection
The centre has a collection of books and other documents on the traditional architecture of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and other related material. Much of the material on architecture is in books in the fields of anthropology, explorations, travel and Pacific arts, and so on.
Material has been produced at the centre since 1972, particularly by ‘Mac’ Ruff and through the Village Studies project in the Architecture and Building Department. “The Ruff Collection alone (work done from 1968-1992) comprises over 8000 black and white prints; 12000 black and white negatives; 900 colour prints; 4500 colour negatives; 10 hard cover sketch books; 12 field note books … 80 large scale drawings; 1000 small scale drawings; and 400 abstract drawings.” The Architectural Heritage Centre of Papua New Guinea p.2. Posters and cards can be purchased from the Centre and there are a limited number of books available for sale.
There is a rich amount of material held that is now being catalogued and some is being digitally recorded. The material awaits proper research analysis and preparation for its wider dissemination. The material, in addition to that itemized above, includes surveys, sketch books, draft compilations of graphic material and field notes on the architectures of the Sepik and Ramu rivers; the Abelam and the Murik Lakes areas in the East Sepik Province; the Gogodala in the Western Province, and the Purari Delta in the Gulf Province. There is other material with less detail on parts of the Highlands, and on some other parts of PNG and reports on investigation projects done by students.