Re-envisioning lost built cultural heritage: post-tsunami Aceh
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(Published version)
Date
2016
Authors
Nichols, J.
Fong, D.
Avey, S.
Editors
Arahman, N.
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Conference paper
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International conference on engineering and science for research and development (ICESReD) proceedings, 2016 / Arahman, N. (ed./s), pp.83-94
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International Conference on Engineering and Science for Research and Development (ICESReD) (25 Oct 2016 - 26 Oct 2016 : Banda Aceh, Indonesia)
Abstract
Post-tsunami Aceh, Indonesia, represents a contemporary example of lost built cultural heritage.Catastrophic events of 2004 resulted in the destruction of significant buildings, whole communities and archival materials. This paper examines the potential of reconsidering “the archive” as an interactive set of multi-modal representations. Analogue and digital modes are explored focusing specifically on re-envisioning lost heritage through disparate data collection. Data ranges from social and oral histories, newspapers, maps, surveys, and artworks to produce outcomes of graphic, narrative and interactive representations of cultural sites. This paper discusses using VERNADOC - a low cost, low technology documentation method involving detailed observation through measurement and hand-drawing to record built cultural heritage.This method produces detailed analogue representations through participant immersion in the built and natural environment facilitating critical situational and cross-cultural understandings of context. Without onsite interaction and experience, recording built heritage represents an intellectual exercise that is detached from “real” physical appreciation of socio-cultural conditions. A virtual representation has valid applications, however this paper argues that an immersive analogue methodology informs the digital enabling an enriching and critical processing re-envisioning lost cultural heritage. Drawing together stages of data collection, observation and analogue documentation, this paper also discusses the distributed sustainability of the archive. Extending the standard physical repository, the multi-modal archive sits in the digital ether with dissemination to a wider and interdisciplinary audience beyond community stakeholders for global access. The archive as a digitally, immersive virtual environment offers applications beyond a record-keeping mechanism. In addition, it may be considered a toolset to safeguard collective memories of built and urban environments by re–presenting historical data to reflect on the human condition for disaster relief situations. Re-envisioned archival material may assist healing through reflexive discussions around shared memories beyond affected communities of the lost built heritage to resonate and remain visible to global observers.
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Copyright 2016 ICESReD