Center for Heritage Conservation

Reframing Vernacular Architecture for a Decolonised World
February 26–27, 2026
CEPT University, Ahmedabad, India

Last date to register: 31 January 2025

Reframing Vernacular Architecture for a Decolonised World invites scholars, practitioners, and researchers to critically rethink inherited definitions of vernacular architecture and to challenge the colonial frameworks through which it has historically been understood.

The conference brings together four interconnected thematic areas:

- Language & Meaning: interrogating terminology, etymologies, and architectural language;
- Production & Use: examining processes of making, craft, materials, knowledge systems, and contemporary adaptations;
- Documenting & Archiving: questioning disciplinary methods, digital futures, and ethics of authorship and representation;
- Valuing, Conserving & Adapting: critically engaging with conservation doctrines, sustainability narratives, and practices of transformation.

Jointly hosted by Oxford Brookes University, UK, and CEPT University, Ahmedabad, India, the conference seeks to foster a global dialogue that brings together diverse scholarly, professional, and practice-based perspectives. The Scientific Committee, comprising internationally recognised scholars and practitioners, will guide the intellectual direction of the conference, reflecting a wide range of approaches to unpacking the complexities of vernacular architecture, its reinterpretations, and its contemporary relevance.

The conference is expected to culminate in a critical edited publication, curated by experts appointed by both organising institutions.

Join a global dialogue that brings together scholars and practitioners from diverse disciplines and geographies.
Register soon and be part of the conversation shaping how vernacular architecture is understood today.

For more information, visit here - https://crdf.org.in/event/reframing-vernacular-architecture-for-a-decolonised-world

Or check the link in bio

Center for Heritage Conservation
CEPT Research and Development Foundation
Faculty of Architecture, CEPT University
Master's in Conservation and Regeneration Program
Jigna Desai

The Tankshal-ni-pol Masjid is listed as a Grade IIA heritage structure and one of the rare surviving timber mosques in the historic city, and is under the custodianship of the Ahmedabad Sunni Muslim WAQF Committee. The project is currently in Phase 1 of repair, with safeguarding measures and repair works underway. The open house offers an opportunity to closely observe the conservation work in progress and engage in dialogue on the structure and the approach guiding its conservation.

Venue: Tankshal-ni-pol Masjid, Tankshal Road, Old City, Ahmedabad

Date: 24th December, Wednesday

Timing:11:00 am to 5:00 pm

CEPT University
CEPT Research and Development Foundation

Center for Heritage Conservation, CRDF, CEPT University is inviting applications from students and fresh graduates for a one - month internship.

Apply Now!

CEPT University
CEPT Research and Development Foundation

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Sharing some snippets from the ‘Endangered Material Knowledge Programme’ (EMKP) training week at British Museum in September 2025. The training was for the new grantees to prepare them for material culture documentation and post-fieldwork components of their projects.

Jayashree Bardhan, co-investigator of the project, ‘From Earth to Inhabited Space: Life Cycle of Mud Plastering in the Tribal Agricultural Landscape of Jharkhand’ attended the training along with the other representatives of the 2025 cohort.

The sessions orientated participants to audio-visual documentation and processing, metadata, ethics of documentation and community engagement, fieldwork techniques, etc. through theoretical and practical sessions, encouraging communication amongst participants.

The week was an excellent introduction to the project process along with being an opportunity to get to know the cohort and the EMKP team!

We look forward to the project and appreciate EMKP for the training week!

Photographs:
1. Group photograph of the 2025 trainees. Photo Credit: Emily Tarry
2. Orientation by Lissant Bolton. Photo Credit: Paula Granados
3. Session by Paula Granados. Photo Credit: Jayashree Bardhan
4. One of the practical sessions on audio-visual documentation. Photo Credit: Paula Granados
5 & 6. At the ethnographic drawing workshop. Drawings: Jayashree Bardhan; Photo Credit: Paula Granados

Jayashree Bardhan
Endangered Material Knowledge Programme
CEPT Research and Development Foundation
Tata Steel Foundation

Gauri Bharat
Ankita Toppo

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗽𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝗷!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 ‘𝗕𝗵𝘂𝗷, 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀, 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮’ celebrated its Watch Day on 10th October along with officials of local government agencies, representatives from local educational institutions, NGOs, residents of Bhuj and visitors.

The event was organised by World Monuments Fund India (WMFI), Center for Heritage Conservation at CEPT Research and Development Foundation (CHC, CRDF), Homes in the City (HIC), and Bhuj Nagarpalika.

Jayantilal Gorsiya from Arid Communities and Technologies (ACT), led a guided tour for invited representatives from local agencies and educational institutions through the dilapidating Lakki-Mochirai catchment. The tour ended with citizen-led discussions at the site of Chouvis Kuva, a qanat-like system, one of the key attributes in the catchment.

In the evening, Khengarji Park on the banks of Hamirsar Lake became a space for a public understanding of the Watch Site with displays, discussions and stories! The event moderated by Jay Anjaria from HIC hosted talks by Jigna Desai (Head of CHC), Malini Thadani (Executive Director of WMFI) and Yogesh Jadeja (Director of ACT). A 20-minute video was screened, narrating the water system’s history, associated folklores, features and issues in the present functioning of the system.

We thank all participants at the event and we look forward to collective positive actions to rejuvenate this ingenious historic water system of Bhuj!

World Monuments Fund
Homes In The City - HIC
CEPT Research and Development Foundation
Arid Communities and Technologies
Jigna Desai
Jayashree Bardhan

Celebrating Bhuj’s Historic Water Systems: Watch Day on October 10, 2025

World Monuments Watch 2025 site ‘Bhuj, Historic Water Systems’ is celebrating its Watch Day on October 10th, with a series of events, organised by World Monuments Fund India (WMFI), Center for Heritage Conservation at CEPT Research, the Development Foundation, Bhuj-based Homes in the City, and Bhuj Nagarpalika.

Join the Watch Day at Bhuj at the special public event celebrating Bhuj’s historic water systems, part of the 2025 World Monuments Watch! 🌍💧

Event Details:

📍 Venue: Khengarji Park, Near Hamirsar Lake, Bhuj
🕡 Date and Time: October 10, Friday | 6:30 pm onwards

Discover the fascinating history, heritage, features and current challenges of the water systems that have sustained Bhuj for centuries. The evening will feature engaging talks, displays, and stories that bring this living heritage to life.

All residents, students, and visitors are welcome to take part in this celebration of Bhuj’s unique living heritage!

Jigna Desai
Jayashree Bardhan
CEPT Research and Development Foundation
CEPT University

World Monuments Fund
Homes In The City - HIC

As we approach the deadline, we’re excited to introduce the Scientific & Organising Committees for the upcoming conference:

Reframing Vernacular Architecture for a Decolonised World
February 26–27, 2026
CEPT University, Ahmedabad, India

The scientific committee will guide the intellectual direction of the conference. Their expansive expertise reflects the diversity of approaches to unpacking the complexities of vernacular architecture, their reinterpretations, and their relevance today.

Jointly hosted by Oxford Brookes University (UK) and CEPT University (India), the conference will critically rethink what vernacular architecture means in today’s decolonised context. The conference is expected to produce a critical publication on the subject that will be edited by experts appointed by both organising institutions.

Submit your abstracts now and be part of this global conversation.
For more information, visit here -
https://crdf.org.in/event/reframing-vernacular-architecture-for-a-decolonised-world

Faculty of Architecture, CEPT University
CEPT Research and Development Foundation
Center for Heritage Conservation
Oxford Brookes University

Join a hands-on design workshop at Tankshal ni Pol Masjid, a historic landmark in Ahmedabad’s old city and the first Conservation Site School at CHC, CRDF. Explore how architecture can engage with culture, memory, and urban life while developing proposals for the Institute for Studies in Cultural Harmony.

Guided by architects Mehul Bhatt and Rizwan Kadri, and enriched by expert lectures on sustainability, heritage, and society, this program offers a unique opportunity to reimagine place-making in a living heritage context.

Course Code: W25FA010
Dates: December 15, 2025, to December 24, 2025
Apply by 26 September 2025!
Click this link to register: https://sws.cept.ac.in/course-detail/place-memory-and-design-workshop-W25FA010

JIgna Desai
Mehul Bhatt
Nigar Shaikh
CEPT University
CEPT Research and Development Foundation

Call for Applications!

We are excited to announce the first joint CEPT-NTU Winter School on ‘Counterpart Museums’ from 11th to 20th December 2025 at Dharmaj, Gujarat.

The course is designed as a curatorial experiment in bringing forth local community stories and family histories through creative storytelling shaped by deep community engagement and co-created narratives. Participants will explore the potential of small, community-led museums to open pathways for diaspora to reconnect with their roots, and sustain a sense of belonging and cultural continuity across borders.

The sessions will bring together students, researchers, and faculty from both institutions for an intensive learning experience through practical workshops combining lectures and on-site knowledge exchange.

This course offers an opportunity to advance your knowledge, cultivate international scholarly connections, and engage with a vibrant academic community.

To learn more and apply, visit this link: https://sws.cept.ac.in/course-detail/counterpart-museums-from-local-histories-to-global-connections-W25FA003

Registrations close on Friday, 26th September 2025

Nottingham Trent University
Ashna Patel
Simona Cosentino

Jigna Desai
Shubhra Raje
CEPT University
CEPT Research and Development Foundation

CHC hosted Olivia Thornberry from USA for an internship from June to August 2025 through the International Exchange Program (IEP), organised by World Heritage USA in support of ICOMOS-USA. Olivia has recently completed her post-graduate education in Sustainable Cultural Heritage from The American University of Rome.

Sharing her experience with CHC, Olivia said,

“My time with CHC in Ahmedabad was nothing short of wonderful. I had the opportunity to meet so many people who taught me about the rich heritage of Ahmedabad and of the state of Gujarat.

..My internship wasn’t all work, though; I had some unbelievable experiences exploring Ahmedabad and traveling to other places in India in my free time. I had the chance to see Rani ki Vav, boat on the backwaters of Kerala, navigate Chandni Chowk, and of course, witness the beauty of the Taj Mahal. From shopping at Ravivari to trying pani puri with my friends to wandering through the historic walled city of Ahmedabad, I developed my own collection of incredibly vivid experiences living in another country.”

Nigar Shaikh, who supervised the internship commended her sincerity, commitment and attention to detail in all her tasks.

Olivia’s internship concluded with a presentation in the course on “Materials and Structures” for the 1st semester students of the Master's Program in Conservation and Regeneration and a presentation on the internship overview to the CHC team. We wish her success in her future endeavors!
Olivia Thornberry
Nigar shaikh

Jigna Desai
Jayashree Bardhan
World Heritage USA
CEPT Research and Development Foundation

CHC is pleased to share that Dr. Gauri Bharat, Jayashree Bardhan and Ankita Toppo have been awarded the Endangered Material Knowledge Programme Grant (EMKP) 2025, supported by the British Museum and Arcadia.

Their project ‘From Earth to Inhabited Space: Life Cycle of Mud Plastering in the Tribal Agricultural Landscape of Jharkhand’ is one of the 6 large grants awarded, of a total of 21 new projects of the EMKP 2025 cohort.

Dr Gauri Bharat is the Principal Investigator of the project. Jayashree Bardhan and Ankita Toppo are the Co-Investigators. Center for Heritage Conservation, CEPT Research and Development Foundation (CHC, CRDF) is the host organisation for the grant. CHC’s ongoing collaboration with Tata Steel Foundation (TSF) will be continued through this project.

The project will document the endangered material knowledge system of ‘mud plastering’ in the tribal agricultural settlements in the Kolhan Division of Jharkhand in India. The documentation will focus on two tribes ‘Santhals and Hos’, who employ elaborate and distinct techniques and rituals of working with different types of naturally coloured clay and admixtures sourced from the surrounding landscape to plaster surfaces of their lived spaces.

The documentation will carry forward Dr. Bharat’s previous scholarly research on Santhal habitats in the region. It will also build on Jayashree Bardhan’s previous supervision of Directed Research Projects on the region’s material heritage and cultural landscapes conducted through CHC-TSF collaboration.

More information is available on the EMKP website.
Click here to visit EMKP website : https://lnkd.in/ebNJ5xpV

Image of mud house; Image credit: Gauri Bharat
Gauri Bharat Jayashree Bardhan and Ankita Toppo

Jigna Desai
CEPT Research and Development Foundation
Endangered Material Knowledge Programme
Tata Steel

The Wooden Havelis of Gujarat are remarkable not only for their intricate carvings but also for their composite structural systems - blending timber, brick, stone, and lime with incredible craftsmanship.
This joinery detail highlights how carved brackets, often admired for their beauty, are also an integral component of the timber frame and flooring system.

The 3D modelling and analysis were based on the digital documentation, on-site joinery details observations, and inputs from traditional carpenters, preserving knowledge that's often passed down orally.
This documentation, part of the Endangered Wooden Architecture Programme (EWAP), funded by Arcadia and delivered in collaboration with CyArk — is now live on the Arches archive site.

Click here to explore the archive : https://ewap.brookes.ac.uk/report/b8f40687-7656-44ad-a4e4-7b86a323878c

CyArk
Oxford Brookes University
CEPT Research and Development Foundation
CEPT University