ARCHITECTURES AND EARTHEN CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARMENIA: WHAT STRATEGIES?
Résumé
As part of an architecture thesis in co-supervision with UNACA,
As part of an architecture thesis in co-supervision with UNACA, the objective of this research is to raise awareness of the various actors of the society to the heritage of earthen architecture in Armenia, to the qualities of this primary building material and to its potential for sustainable territorial development. What strategies will transform the population's attitude; recognize this architectural "heritage" (in the meaning of legacy) as architectural "heritage" (with the meaning of patrimony) and this material as a new possibility in the development of eco-responsible architectures?
A first action research method involving Armenian and French university partners allowed for the beginning of an inventory of the many heritage of earthen architecture: archaeological remains and vernacular constructions. Regions rich in earthen habitats have been identified thanks to bibliographic sources and especially to interviews with inhabitants and heritage managers.
But if the first intention was, through this inventory, to demonstrate to decision-makers the importance of this architectural heritage and its environmental issues, I realized that this goal would take a long time, without guarantee of efficiency!
This awareness led me to shift my strategy upstream so that the concerned actors get involved, appropriate and value this inventory to reconsider this material, which is beginning to be recognized in Europe.
While questioning the epistemological basis of this approach, I sought the arguments for this strategy which combines theoretical research, societal transformation and the initiation of alternative solutions - on the basis of the "principle of responsibility" of H. Jonas [12], applied also to scientists; but also to better understand how to develop, maintain and disseminate the strategies for their continuation.
Based on different currents of thought - the pragmatic philosophies, the Chinese thought translated by F. Jullien and the creative approaches of T. Ingold, I will propose a new definition of this research's modality that engages particular social skills.
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