August 2, 2025 -18:50-19:20 – 2nd TALK (Giamila Quattrone and Pasquale Larosa)
Safeguarding Traditional Earth Building Crafts through Digitally Aided Knowledge Transfer
The intangible cultural heritage of M’Hamid, a historical oasis landscape in Southern Morocco, is threatened by social, economic and environmental change. Traditional earth building know-how, competencies and skills are at risk of loss due to climate- and poverty-induced migration, dwindling interest in traditional life, over-reliance on concrete construction and lack of formal training.
The talk presents a safeguarding project undertaken in M’Hamid Oasis by a team from the University of Liverpool’s ArCHIAM Centre, led by Dr Giamila Quattrone, with Terrachidia and Association Ouled Driss de développement et de préservation de patrimoine matériel et immatériel. Working with local practitioners, the team documented traditional earth building methods and developed Heres, an open-access, interactive, multimedia construction manual aimed to safeguard traditional earth building crafts by digitally aiding material knowledge transfer and application and to complement experiential learning. The goal is also to revive interest, revitalise craftsmanship, develop and enhance skills, while fostering deeper engagement with intangible cultural heritage education, particularly amongst the youth.
During the talk, participants will engage in an in-class navigation of Heres and an anonymous feedback questionnaire, through which they will record their views on the usefulness of digital information resources in aiding traditional material knowledge transmission.
SHORT BIO: GIAMILA QUATTRONE
Dr Giamila Quattrone is Senior Lecturer at Liverpool School of Architecture and Co-Director of ArCHIAM (Centre for the Study of Architecture and Cultural Heritage of India, Arabia and the Maghreb), which she co-founded in 2013. Giamila’s expertise lies in three main areas: Arabian and North African vernacular architecture, particularly in historical oasis settlements of Oman, Tunisia and Morocco; sustainable cultural heritage management and built heritage adaptive reuse; creative re-cycling of waste lands, buildings and materials.
At ArCHIAM she leads and co-leads cultural heritage projects ranging from urban and architectural research and documentation to master planning and development of historic sites, from digitization of archival collections to development of digital information platforms, resources and virtual experiences, from production of open-access pedagogic material for the public to community outreach, public engagement and capacity building initiatives.
Working with international government bodies, cultural and financial institutions and NGOs, Giamila undertakes documentation and research of heritage sites in marginal regions, with a focus on historical oasis settlements of Oman, Tunisia and Morocco, towards the integrated, participatory and sustainable management of their tangible and intangible heritage.
Giamila is Expert Member of ICOMOS International Scientific Committee of Vernacular Architecture and Member of ICOMOS-UK Digital Technology Committee.
Join us either in Vitsa, Zagori, or online, for an immersive series of workshops exploring the intersection of architecture, folklore, and intangible heritage.
Featuring distinguished speakers from Greece and abroad:
Scheduled Talks:
- July 31, 2025 – 18:00-18:15 – “Definitions and Perspectives of Intangible Cultural Heritage” – Spyridon St. Kogkas – Co-founder & CEO at Imagine Heritage
- July 31, 2025 – 18:15-18:30 – “Kalderimi – Accessible Road” – Eleni Gazi – Past President and CEO of ELIX for 35 years.
- August 1, 2025 – 18:00-18:40 – Pathways / Stone Paths / Roads – Experiencing their change through time. – Dr. Maria Balodimou -MSc. Conservation of Monuments and Sites – KUL, Belgium/Teaching Staff – School of Architecture NTUA / Researcher
- August 1, 2025 – 18:40-19:10 – “Participation of volunteers in actions related to the promotion and protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Greece” – Nicholas Raissis – Economist, IT Consultant, former Coordinator of the NGOs Campaign for the Constitution and Institutions, active member of the ARCHELON association
- Interactive Livestream Sessions by the University of Liverpool’s ArCHIAM Centre:
- August 2, 2025 -18:10-18:40 – “Intangible Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development” – Matina Vrettou – Research Assistant within ArCHIAM Centre
- August 2, 2025 -18:50-19:20 – “Safeguarding Traditional Earth Building Crafts through Digitally Aided Knowledge Transfer” – Dr. Giamila Quattrone – Senior Lecturer at Liverpool School of Architecture and Co-Director of ArCHIAM Centre and Pasquale Larosa – Research Assistant within ArCHIAM Centre.
These sessions will be open to local, national & international audiences, with live streaming and captioned recordings available via Imagine Heritage’s platform.
Don’t miss the chance to connect with heritage experts and participate in vibrant cultural dialogue!