ArCHIAM Project

The Architecture and Cultural Heritage of India, Arabia and the Maghreb (ArCHIAM) Project has received funding support from the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, Sultanate of Oman to develop Heritage Management Plans for 4 oasis settlements in the Interior region, which includes the World Heritage Site of Bahla. This pioneering work involves developing appropriate policies and approaches towards sustainable documentation, management and renewal of priority heritage sites. Approaches established through an earlier pilot project were employed. It has instigated a full revision of the priority list of settlements requiring immediate attention.

ArCHIAM is also involved with PRIN 2013-16 RE-CYCLE Italy. New Life Cycles for Architecture and Infrastructure of City and Landscape, funded by MIUR (Italian Ministry of Education and Research). NTU is participant as an Associated Organization to the research area, Recycling Discarded Landscapes: Experimental Projects for Reggio Calabria Metropolitan City, carried out by the unit at Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria.

The ArCHIAM Project has recently received funding to contribute to the permanent collection of the National Museum of Oman. The work involves researching and representing the characteristic features of Oman's vernacular architectural heritage through textual and visual display, as well as through a virtual reality reconstruction of the World Heritage Site of Bahla Fort and Oasis.

Dr Marisela Mendoza's project, supported by the RIBA Research Trust Award, 2010 focuses on the architect Felix Candela. It is an investigation of his work and its legacy to the socio-cultural heritage and public identity of the contemporary society in Mexico and the UK.

Professor Bandyopadhyay has now taken on the role of Visiting Professor, previously Professor Bandyopadhyay contributed towards the academic leadership of the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment. He played a leading role in the development of the School's research culture by undertaking and supporting research, seeking research funding and supervising research students.

Professor Bandyopadhyay's teaching and research interests are focused on the historical, theoretical and contextual approaches to architectural design and the art and architecture of India and the Middle East. He undertakes advisory and consultancy work in urban development, regeneration, architectural and urban design and conservation.

Professor Bandyopadhyay's research on the settlements of the Muscat region of Oman is supported by the Muscat Municipality. The project aims to document and analyse the distinctive settlement type and architecture of this coastal area. An important dimension of this project is the capacity building component through which Omani technical graduates were trained to undertake fieldwork and drawn documentation.

Organisations:

• Heidelberg University
• Universita degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria
• The Historical Association of Oman
• Ministry of Heritage and Culture, Sultanate of Oman
• Muscat Municipality, Sultanate of Oman