Upcoming Heritage Symposium at University of Melbourne

Traditionalism, Colonialism and Modernism: Asian Heritage Transformed Symposium

6:00pm, Wed, 02/10/2013 to 4:00pm, Fri, 04/10/2013
Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Coordinator: Dr. Amanda Achmadi

Keynote: Associate Professor Johannes Widodo, National University of Singapore

Other Confirmed Speakers: Mr. Yori Antar, Mr. Mike Boon and Mr. John Ting, Mr. Revianto Budsantoso, Prof. William Logan, Prof. Gerard Lico, Ms. Khoo Salma Nasution, and Assoc. Prof. Tim Winter

Drawing on the expertise of researchers, designers and advocates from across South East Asia and Australia this two day symposium will examine recent trajectories in heritage practice, teaching and thinking in Asia. It will focus on the conservation of buildings as well as the wider context of urban and cultural heritage and will address the immediate challenges confronting the field today.

In recent years heritage conservation has become a notable dimension of civil society activity in a range of Asian nations. New organisations and perspectives have encouraged an expanded view of heritage, which encourages people to look beyond the framework of tourism development.  One organisation that has played an important part in this is the Modern Asian Architecture Network (mAAN). This network of researchers and heritage practitioners has developed a distinctive voice during the past decade and now stands as a very influential advocate for better understanding and preserving the heritage of nineteenth and twentieth century industry, architecture and urban development across Asia.

This symposium will examine ways in which the heritage field in Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia and Singapore and elsewhere in Asia is moving beyond a paradigm that has been strongly focused on colonial and traditional built forms, and embracing the conservation of the sites of modern industry and modern architecture. The event will facilitate a conversation between mAAN and leading conservationists who have a deep knowledge of practices, histories and organisations in Asia.

Please email Amanda Achmadi ( aachmadi@unimelb.edu.au ) for expressions of interest and to pre-register.