Assessment of Structural and Conservation Practices on Vernacular Houses of Axum, Ethiopia

Gebremeskel Teweldemedhn Desta

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13

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Assessment of Structural and Conservation Practices on Vernacular Houses of Axum, Ethiopia

Gebremeskel Teweldemedhn Desta

Published in International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications (Volume 5, Issue 1)

Received: 14 February 2019 Accepted: 19 March 2019 Published: 11 May 2019

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Abstract

Historical buildings are one of the physical testimonies of early settlements and civilizations. The creativity of space, form and order of their houses, the techniques and technologies they have used, the methodologies of construction and building material selection is a mirror of the society’s knowledge and wisdom. But, those traditional houses that are heritages of Aksum are not documented yet. In order to document those traditional historical houses, identifying whether it is on its original fabric or transformed is a critical lesson. Therefore the main aim of this study is to investigate the physical condition of the selected vernacular houses and to assess their conservation practices. Using field visit, observations, structured and non-structured questionnaires and interviews, cross checking different data sources are used for qualitative data collections and the data has analyzed. From the selected case studies, most of them their physical structure is not at a good condition because of ownership issues and improper conservation practices due to need of modernization and urbanization like cement plastering, chemical paint, electricity installation and others that affect its original fabric. Responsible parties like governmental offices, universities, professional experts and stakeholders should document the vernacular houses and the conservation practices at different time and they should prepare conservation management plan or guidelines for the specific site to manage the conservation activities and practices. The responsible parties should work with the community in awareness creation to preserve those vernacular houses.

Published in	International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications (Volume 5, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13
Page(s)	18-28
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Vernacular Houses, Heritage, Structural Assessment, Conservation Practice Assessment, Aksum, Ethiopia

References

[1]	P. Oliver, Dwellings; the vernacular houses world wide, London: phainor press, 2003.
[2]	J. P. Bourdier, Dwellings, Settlements and Traditions: Cross-cultural Perspectives., Boston: University Press of America., 1989.
[3]	A. Rapoport, House Form and Culture., USA: Englewood cliffs, 1969.
[4]	P. Oliver, Encyclopidia of Vernacular Architecture., London: portland, 1997.
[5]	Silva, HE; Henriques FMA., Preventive conservation of historic buildings in temperate, climate., Attens: Energy build, 2015.
[6]	Z. Geogres, Cultural heritage and economic theory., Norwich: University of East Anglia;, 2003.
[7]	ARCCH, Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada, Canada: ARCCH, 2004.
[8]	Y. F. Tuna, Space and place: the perspective of experience., London: Edward Arnold Ltd, 1977.
[9]	p. Hubbard and K. R., Key thinkers on space and place., London: SAGE, 2010.
[10]	Kuyan, Conservation of heritage buildings: maintaining old government buildings in Kuala Lumpur after gazetted period., Kuala: university of Malaya, 2003.
[11]	CSA, central statistics of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa: CSA, 2008.
[12]	D. W. Phillipson, Archaeology at Aksum, Ethiopia 1993-7, Nairobi: British Institute in eastern Africa, 2000.
[13]	ICOMOS, "Conservation Evaluation Report of the World Heritage Site of Aksum," ICOMOS, USA, 2012.
[14]	UNESCO/ICOMOS, "High Level Reactive Monitoring Mission to Aksum," ICOMOS, USA, 2013.
[15]	U. ICOMOS, "Conservation Evaluation Report of the World Heritage Site of Aksum," ICOMOS, USA, 2012.
[16]	D. Phillipson, Foundations of an African Civilization. Aksum and the Northern Horn., Suffolk: James Currey, 2012.
[17]	G. Naizgi, some traditional housing types of Ethiopi, Britain: Barrie and Jenkins ltd, 1971.
[18]	E. Littman, Deutsche Aksum Expedition, Berlin: Reimer, 1913.

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Gebremeskel Teweldemedhn Desta. (2019). Assessment of Structural and Conservation Practices on Vernacular Houses of Axum, Ethiopia. International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications, 5(1), 18-28. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13

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Gebremeskel Teweldemedhn Desta. Assessment of Structural and Conservation Practices on Vernacular Houses of Axum, Ethiopia. Int. J. Archit. Arts Appl. 2019, 5(1), 18-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13

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AMA Style

Gebremeskel Teweldemedhn Desta. Assessment of Structural and Conservation Practices on Vernacular Houses of Axum, Ethiopia. Int J Archit Arts Appl. 2019;5(1):18-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13,
  author = {Gebremeskel Teweldemedhn Desta},
  title = {Assessment of Structural and Conservation Practices on Vernacular Houses of Axum, Ethiopia},
  journal = {International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications},
  volume = {5},
  number = {1},
  pages = {18-28},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijaaa.20190501.13},
  abstract = {Historical buildings are one of the physical testimonies of early settlements and civilizations. The creativity of space, form and order of their houses, the techniques and technologies they have used, the methodologies of construction and building material selection is a mirror of the society’s knowledge and wisdom. But, those traditional houses that are heritages of Aksum are not documented yet. In order to document those traditional historical houses, identifying whether it is on its original fabric or transformed is a critical lesson. Therefore the main aim of this study is to investigate the physical condition of the selected vernacular houses and to assess their conservation practices. Using field visit, observations, structured and non-structured questionnaires and interviews, cross checking different data sources are used for qualitative data collections and the data has analyzed. From the selected case studies, most of them their physical structure is not at a good condition because of ownership issues and improper conservation practices due to need of modernization and urbanization like cement plastering, chemical paint, electricity installation and others that affect its original fabric. Responsible parties like governmental offices, universities, professional experts and stakeholders should document the vernacular houses and the conservation practices at different time and they should prepare conservation management plan or guidelines for the specific site to manage the conservation activities and practices. The responsible parties should work with the community in awareness creation to preserve those vernacular houses.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Assessment of Structural and Conservation Practices on Vernacular Houses of Axum, Ethiopia
AU  - Gebremeskel Teweldemedhn Desta
Y1  - 2019/05/11
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13
T2  - International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications
JF  - International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications
JO  - International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications
SP  - 18
EP  - 28
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-1131
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13
AB  - Historical buildings are one of the physical testimonies of early settlements and civilizations. The creativity of space, form and order of their houses, the techniques and technologies they have used, the methodologies of construction and building material selection is a mirror of the society’s knowledge and wisdom. But, those traditional houses that are heritages of Aksum are not documented yet. In order to document those traditional historical houses, identifying whether it is on its original fabric or transformed is a critical lesson. Therefore the main aim of this study is to investigate the physical condition of the selected vernacular houses and to assess their conservation practices. Using field visit, observations, structured and non-structured questionnaires and interviews, cross checking different data sources are used for qualitative data collections and the data has analyzed. From the selected case studies, most of them their physical structure is not at a good condition because of ownership issues and improper conservation practices due to need of modernization and urbanization like cement plastering, chemical paint, electricity installation and others that affect its original fabric. Responsible parties like governmental offices, universities, professional experts and stakeholders should document the vernacular houses and the conservation practices at different time and they should prepare conservation management plan or guidelines for the specific site to manage the conservation activities and practices. The responsible parties should work with the community in awareness creation to preserve those vernacular houses.
VL  - 5
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Gebremeskel Teweldemedhn Desta

School of Architecture & Urban Planning, Ethiopian Institute of Technology, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Gebremeskel Teweldemedhn Desta. (2019). Assessment of Structural and Conservation Practices on Vernacular Houses of Axum, Ethiopia. International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications, 5(1), 18-28. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13

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ACS Style

Gebremeskel Teweldemedhn Desta. Assessment of Structural and Conservation Practices on Vernacular Houses of Axum, Ethiopia. Int. J. Archit. Arts Appl. 2019, 5(1), 18-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13

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AMA Style

Gebremeskel Teweldemedhn Desta. Assessment of Structural and Conservation Practices on Vernacular Houses of Axum, Ethiopia. Int J Archit Arts Appl. 2019;5(1):18-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13,
  author = {Gebremeskel Teweldemedhn Desta},
  title = {Assessment of Structural and Conservation Practices on Vernacular Houses of Axum, Ethiopia},
  journal = {International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications},
  volume = {5},
  number = {1},
  pages = {18-28},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijaaa.20190501.13},
  abstract = {Historical buildings are one of the physical testimonies of early settlements and civilizations. The creativity of space, form and order of their houses, the techniques and technologies they have used, the methodologies of construction and building material selection is a mirror of the society’s knowledge and wisdom. But, those traditional houses that are heritages of Aksum are not documented yet. In order to document those traditional historical houses, identifying whether it is on its original fabric or transformed is a critical lesson. Therefore the main aim of this study is to investigate the physical condition of the selected vernacular houses and to assess their conservation practices. Using field visit, observations, structured and non-structured questionnaires and interviews, cross checking different data sources are used for qualitative data collections and the data has analyzed. From the selected case studies, most of them their physical structure is not at a good condition because of ownership issues and improper conservation practices due to need of modernization and urbanization like cement plastering, chemical paint, electricity installation and others that affect its original fabric. Responsible parties like governmental offices, universities, professional experts and stakeholders should document the vernacular houses and the conservation practices at different time and they should prepare conservation management plan or guidelines for the specific site to manage the conservation activities and practices. The responsible parties should work with the community in awareness creation to preserve those vernacular houses.},
 year = {2019}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Assessment of Structural and Conservation Practices on Vernacular Houses of Axum, Ethiopia
AU  - Gebremeskel Teweldemedhn Desta
Y1  - 2019/05/11
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13
T2  - International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications
JF  - International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications
JO  - International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications
SP  - 18
EP  - 28
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-1131
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaaa.20190501.13
AB  - Historical buildings are one of the physical testimonies of early settlements and civilizations. The creativity of space, form and order of their houses, the techniques and technologies they have used, the methodologies of construction and building material selection is a mirror of the society’s knowledge and wisdom. But, those traditional houses that are heritages of Aksum are not documented yet. In order to document those traditional historical houses, identifying whether it is on its original fabric or transformed is a critical lesson. Therefore the main aim of this study is to investigate the physical condition of the selected vernacular houses and to assess their conservation practices. Using field visit, observations, structured and non-structured questionnaires and interviews, cross checking different data sources are used for qualitative data collections and the data has analyzed. From the selected case studies, most of them their physical structure is not at a good condition because of ownership issues and improper conservation practices due to need of modernization and urbanization like cement plastering, chemical paint, electricity installation and others that affect its original fabric. Responsible parties like governmental offices, universities, professional experts and stakeholders should document the vernacular houses and the conservation practices at different time and they should prepare conservation management plan or guidelines for the specific site to manage the conservation activities and practices. The responsible parties should work with the community in awareness creation to preserve those vernacular houses.
VL  - 5
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download