About ISVS Home

This is the site of ISVS - International Seminar for Vernacular Settlements, a movement that makes a case for vernacular tradition in the built environment. The movement which started in Indonesia, has now  truly become an International one, with scholars, practitioners and students from different part of the world having shared the concerns on issue of vernacular architecture and settlements in the past seminars. The range of interest and depth is evidence from the papers that are archived in this site. We are still in the process of uploading more papers from the past seminar. But even now this site is a rich resource for any scholar interested in vernacular architecture in general.

The 4th ISVS recently concluded at CEPT University, Ahmedabad India attracted a total of 160 international delegates representing some 27 countries of the globe. Some 50 papers were presented in the seminar.

Resources at ISVS home

We have archived the published papers and will soon be uploading the presentations along with their video footage. Do join in as a member to download the papers, join the discussion at blog, see which are the featured research papers  and keep in touch with the various activities of ISVS.

Do you want to say something?

Get yourself heard, write an essay or contribute pictures for this website. This is a nice way to initiate discussions and debates on issues vernacular architecture. Read the instructions on how to contribute here

Do you wish to start a blog discussion on something related with the ISVS theme. Visit the blog page and participate in discussions on current or topics start a new topic

About ISVS

On August of 1999, the Department of Architecture of University of Indonesia held the first International Seminar on Vernacular Settlement, ISVS 1, at the Depok campus with the theme "The Role of Local Knowledge in Built Environment". There were participants from five countries, including Indonesia, who presented their papers. The second ISVS, also held at Depok, was titled "Resistance and Resilience of Local Knowledge in Built Environment", attracted participants of 13 countries presenting their papers in February 2002. After hosting two ISVS, Department of Architecture of University of Indonesia considered it important to expand the network and host this seminar across Asia. However, the disaster in Aceh struck, and the consequent international attention on issues specific Vernacular Architecture in Indonesia made it important for the seminar to be held in that country for one more time. Consequently, the Third ISVS was held at the Department of Architecture of Petra Christian University and the Department of Architecture of Parahyangan Catholic University, in Surabaya, Indonesia; in association with the Lembaga Sejarah Arsitektur Indonesia (Institute of Indonesian Architectural Historian). It attracted participants from the 13 countries who presented their papers in March, 2006.

The fourth international seminar on vernacular settlements was hosted by School of Architecture, CEPT at Ahmedabad, India in February 2008. The theme of the seminar is "Vernacular Settlements and Architecture in Transition".

The Seminars so far

Links to previous seminar

• The 4th ISVS held at CEPT University, Ahmedabad India - "Pace or Speed? Verncular Architecture in Transition"
• The 3rd ISVS held at Petra Christian, Surabaya Indonesia - "Rethinking Local Knowledge in Vernacular Settlement"
  
• The 2nd ISVS held at Depok, Indonesia - "Resistance and Resilience of Local Knowledge in Built Environment"
• The 1st ISVS held at University of Indonesia at Depok Campus, Indonesia - "The Role of Local Knowledge in Built Environment"
  

The next seminar will be held at Department of Architecture Nanjing University, China

Repository for papers, abstracts and presentations

We are in the process of making available all the papers and abstracts presented so far in all the four ISVS. Click on the link below

Papers and abstracts of the 4th ISVS held at CEPT University Ahmedabad, India on February 14-18, 2008