THE VERNACULAR AND THE MULTICULTURAL DIALOGUE – RIMETEA, MAY 19-24, 2009

PREMISES:

The international Conference Series on Theoretical and Practical Issues on Built Heritage Conservation – TUSNAD was launched in 1992 as a specialist training course on built heritage conservation in Băile Tuşnad, then after 1993 it developed into a 6-8 days long scientific conference organised usually at spring.

Starting with the 12th issue, the organisers gave the conference series greater mobility and they have also shortened it.

The topics:

• 1992 – Built Heritage Conservation Training Course
• 1993 – Built Heritage Conference, General Approaches
• 1994 – Built Heritage Conference, General Approaches
• 1995 – The Change of Attitude towards Monument Protection from the Venice Charter to Present
• 1996 – Castles and Mansions from Eastern Europe
• 1997 – Ecclesiastical Built Heritage Conservation
• 1998 – Historic Towns
• 1999 – Vernacular Architecture
• 2000 – Built Heritage and Society
• 2001 – Integrated Built Heritage Conservation
• 2003 – Built Heritage Conservation, Compatibility Issues
• 2005 – Realistic Approach to Built Heritage Conservation (Baia Mare)
• 2007 – Global Protection of Historical Towns (Sibiu)
• 2009 – The Vernacular and the Multicultural Dialogue (Rimetea – Colţeşti)

The mobile and shortened international Conference Series on Theoretical and Practical Issues on Built Heritage Conservation – TUSNAD is one of the most prestigious multidisciplinary events in the field of built heritage conservation, both at national and international level. Stepping over its local character, which is partially due to the raised problems, it has grown, up to the present, into the most well known and of high quality events of its kind, with the participation of European specialists or future specialists, as well as of those from overseas.

THE VERNACULAR AND THE MULTICULTURAL DIALOGUE

The 14th issue of the International Conference Series on Theoretical and Practical Issues on Built Heritage Conservation – TUSNAD was held in Rimetea and Colţeşti (Alba County, Romania) between May 19-24, 2009. In 1999, the Rimetea Heritage Conservation Project won the Europa Nostra Medall, which was adjudged for the first time to a Romanian built heritage conservation programme. This year's topic of the internationally significant event was The Vernacular and the Multicultural Dialogue.

In an unconventional manner, the conference started with the documentary field-trip, having the topic of Multiculturalism, migration, globalization. The participants departed from Sibiu on May 20, 2009, the first stop was at Cisnădie, followed by Răşinari, Câlnic and Alba Iulia, where the participants were accommodated for the night. On the second day, May 21, 2009, they started from Alba Iulia in the direction of Roşia Montană; in the Ţara Moţilor Region they visited Ocoliş Village, after which, by passing through the Arieşului Valley, they have arrived to Rimetea. Following the arrival, our guests visited Rimetea Village and met with the resident population. With the occasion of the visit a wreath was laid at the memorial tablet of ROMÁN András, situated on the façade of house No. 15. Later Sergiu NISTOR, PhD. varnished the exhibition of the “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urbanism, entitled Vernacular Travelling Exhibition. Following this, the participants were welcomed in the “Kriza János” Cultural Centre by the exhibition of WAGNER Péter about the vernacular architecture of Sic, together with folk musicians and dancers from this village.

Participants of the symposium - Visiting Cisnădie locality.


Visiting Răşinari village, Sibiu.


The trip continues with the presentation of Câlnic village, where the participants are welcomed by Mr. Marius PORUMB.


Last stop before Rimetea: Rosia Montana, Alba county.


Visiting Rimetea village.


Meeting the inhabitants.


Garlanding the ROMÁN András memorial tablet on the facade of No 15.


Warnishing WAGNER Péter’s exhibition, with the subject: vernacular architecture from Sic

The conference was continued with lectures on May 22-23, 2009, in the course of which the most important representatives of the profession had the occasion of presenting their work, papers and researches in connection with the conference's topic. Parallel with the event, on May 22 the ICOMOS International Committee of Vernacular Architecture (ICOMOS – CIAV) held its annual meeting as well. A part of the presentations, compacted into two whole days, was organised in parallel modules, thus it was possible to have 41 lectures grouped into seven modules.

Images from the conference.

During the official opening, on May 22, the participants were greeted by Christoph MACHAT, PhD. (member of the ICOMOS Executive Committee ), Marc de CARAFFE, PhD.( the ICOMOS – CIAV president), SZŐCS Ferenc (the mayor of Rimetea), Sergiu NISTOR, PhD. (the ICOMOS Romanian National committee president) and SZABÓ Bálint, PhD. (president of the conference's Organising Committee). Following this, during Module II The Rimetea – Inlăceni Heritage Conservation Project, presided by FEJÉRDY Tamás, ROMÁN András, PhD. was commemorated, then FURU Árpád presented the Conservation Project of the Rural Heritage of Rimetea, respectively ALBERT HOMONNAI Márton presented that of Inlăceni, finally MÁTÉ Zsolt summed up the two programmes' conclusions.

During the afternoon modules III and IV were held parallel, the first one moderated by SERGIU Nistor, the second one by BENCZÉDI Sándor. In Module III discourses were held about the Protection of Vernacular Architecture in Rural Existence Conditions by POZSONY Ferenc (Vernacular Built Heritage in the Context of Preserving Tradition and Modernization), BALOGH Márton (Rural Development: Realities and Possibilities), Ioan HOSU (Cultural Heritage and Rural Development Processes) and MIKLÓS Zoltán (A Change in Lifestyle and Interior Furnishing in the Area of Sovata). The parallel Module IV had as a topic the Heritage Values of Vernacular Architecture, where Christoph MACHAT (The Inventory of Saxon Vernacular Architecture), BALASSA M. Iván (Inventory of the Vernacular Architecture Values), SEBESTYÉN József (The Documentation (Inventorying – Inventory of Values) of Architectural Heritage in Hungarian Settlements from Transylvania) and Virgil POP (On the Influence of Cultured Architecture on the Vernacular One) took the floor.

The parallel modules were continued with after the break, this time the chairman of Module III was POZSONY Ferenc, while that of Module IV was BALASSA M. Iván. The invited lecturers of the Protection of Vernacular Architecture in Rural Existence Conditions module were: SZABÓ Árpád Töhötöm (Using Domestic Buildings as an Economic and Social Adapting), SZŐCSNÉ GAZDA Enikő (Lifestyle in the Three Seats Region, as Reflected by the Inventories of a Family) and RODICS Gergely (Architectural Landscape Development). The parallel Heritage Values of Vernacular Architecture module was more populous, with 5 lecturers: BENKŐ Elek (The Role and Results of Archaeology in the Research of Vernacular Architecture), KERNER Gábor (The Architecture of the Lemko Community in Subcarpathia), FURU Árpád (The Ethnographic Distribution of the Transylvanian Vernacular Architecture), MIHÁLY Ferenc (Historical Joinery. Old Doors in Transylvania) and Ioana URDEA (The Protection of Built Heritage – Values of Rural Heritage).

At the end of the day a book and a journal presentation took place: Christoph MACHAT presented Ligia FULGA's recently published book, entitled Saşii despre ei înşişi (The Saxons about Themselves), then Liliana ROŞIU, member of the Editorial Committee of the Transsylvania Nostra Journal on Built Heritage Conservation, presented the journal's latest edition, in accordance with the conference's topic: vernacular architecture.

Saturday, May 23, the conference was continued with Module V, Multiculturality of Vernacular Heritage Values, presided by Ana BÂRCĂ and with 5 invited lecturers: Adriana STROE (Şaroş pe Târnave, a Classic Example of a Multi-ethnic Settlement in the Region Colonized by Saxons), Marc de CARAFFE (Gimme (ethnic) Shelter), DOBOSYNÉ ANTAL Anna (A Western European Building Technology in the Carpathian Basin. Fachwerk in Southern Transdanubia), Liliana ROŞIU (The Influence of the German Typology on the Urban Houses from the Banat Plain) and KINDA István (Dwellings and Interior Furnishing of Roma’s in the Three Seats Region).

Following the break, the idea of the parallel modules was adopted once again, with Marc de CARAFFE as the chairman of Module V, while in the other hall Călin HOINĂRESCU presided Module VI, Protection of Vernacular Architecture. Both modules proved to be populous, with 6-6 lecturers. In Module V Ana BÂRCĂ (The Restoration of Architecture in the National Open Air Museum), SISA Béla (Selection of My Works on Vernacular Architectural Rehabilitation), Hossam MAHDY (Preliminary Notes on the Vernacular Heritage in the Arab Region), MÁTÉ Zsolt (Csongrád-Center – Retrospection – The First Example of Territorial Protection of Vernacular Architecture in Hungary), Victorija ALADŽIČ (Ternary Rural Houses in Subotica) and SISA Béla jr. (Restored Windmills and the Ones under Restoration) held lectures, while in module VI Aurelian STROE (The Force of Example – The Vernacular Architecture of Şmig Village (Sibiu Co.)), Gerardo TORRES-ZÁRATE (Multi-Cultural Architecture in the Rural House in Tabasco, Mexico), Ligia FULGA (Vernacular Architecture in the Multicultural Space of Southern Transylvania: Codlea – Dwelling Models), Iozefina POSTĂVARU (The Historical Suburbs of Braşov – Ethnic Interferences in the Vernacular Architecture) and Kwangsik KIM (Best Preserved Historic Villages of Korea (Hahoe & Yangong)) presented the results of their researches. At the end of this module the poster exhibition of PATAKY Emőke was varnished with the title: Decorated Iron Crosses / Vállaj Swabian Village (Hungary), Ornamental Barns, Iron Crosses.

In the afternoon Module VI, Protection of Vernacular Architecture was continued with the presidency of SISA Béla, where the floor was taken by Călin HOINĂRESU (Applying the European Landscape Convention in Romania), Ana BÂRCĂ (Architectural Heritage – an Advantage for Local Development) and MÁNYI István (The Rehabilitation of Flood Damages from Bereg County – 2001).

The chairman of Module VII, the Closing Module, was SZABÓ Bálint, who presented the topic of the conference's following 15th issue: Fortifications – once again in use, which will probably be organised between May 18-21, 2011 at Alba Iulia, respectively Şimleu Silvaniei. In the framework of the closing module, the representatives of ICOMOS – CIAV officially signed the draft version of the so-called “Rimetea Declaration”, in which they drew the attention – both at national and international level, involving Hungary as well – upon the destruction of the vernacular architectural values, and launched a call towards the specialists to join forces in order to protect these. (See the attached detailed programme)

ASigning the Rimetea Declaration. From left to right: Marc DE CARAFFE, Christoph MACHAT, NAGY Gergely, SZABÓ Bálint, Sergiu NISTOR

As it turns out from the conference's realised programme, the conservation of villages and of the vernacular built heritage was not limited to the case of Rimetea, but we tried to involve all those localities from within or outside our country's borders, where at some point a professional rehabilitation program had been initiated. The number of participant countries at the conference has reached 14 (Canada, Mexico, Finland, Norway, Germany, Korea, Sweden, Egypt, Israel, Philippines, Japan, Serbia, Hungary and Romania), while the number of participants has exceeded 120.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE ORGANISING

Due to some organisational problems, we were forced to modify our original project. According to the original conception, the venue of the conference should have been the Kriza János Cultural Centre, but as it turned out later, the electric network would not have been able to support the connection of the simultaneous translation equipment and the hygienic conditions were also deficient. Because of these, the venue of the paper presentations was moved to the Székelykő Kúria (Conacul Secuiesc), located in the neighbouring Colţeşti, which was recently built from European funds. However, accommodation was provided both in Rimetea, in traditional houses and pensions, and in Colţeşti, in the Székelykő Kúria.

Even so, we did not neglect Rimetea either, since the meeting with its inhabitants took place, as well as the exhibition vanishings in the Mayor's Hall and the opening reception in the “Kriza János” Cultural Centre. A constant bus service was provided between the two settlements.

We have ensured simultaneous translation in three languages (Romanian, Hungarian and English) in the case of the parallel modules as well, the consequence of which was the hiring cost of two translation equipments, but by the means of these we were able to ensure the flux and exchange of information between participants of different nationalities.

The conference was financed by The National Cultural Fund (of Hungary) and the Communitas Foundation.

THE FUTURE

The conference's continuity is achieved by the organising, according to our plans, of the 15th issue of the scientific conference between May 18-21, 2011 at Alba Iulia and Şimleu Silvaniei, with the topic Fortifications – once again in use. Despite the decreasing funding opportunities, we wish to continue our work in organising the conference, because with every occasion we are confronted by the fact that in the scientific circles there is a need for such events. It fills us with pride, that along the numerous returning participants, newer and newer generations are interested in events of this kind.

Compiled by: TAKÁCS Enikő - Programme manager

May 29, 2009, Cluj-Napoca