Sangiin Dalai Monastery

South Gobi Aimaq, Republic of Mongolia

The heroic restoration of the eighteenth-century Buddhist monastery has revived an important Mongolian cultural centre in the south Gobi Desert and rekindled a tradition of vernacular craftsmanship. Converted in the 1930s into an army camp and later abandoned, the monastery complex has been brought back to life by local people who, through this project, have re-acquired long lost skills in architecture and the manufacture of traditional construction materials. A small factory to produce bricks and tiles has been established on site, providing jobs as well as materials needed for future restoration work here and at other derelict monasteries in the vicinity. Mentoring by Chinese master builders employed on the project has renewed historic cultural linkages, while the guidance of international experts has helped ensure that a rigorous methodology for documentation and conservation was followed. With the supervision of Buddhist monastic leaders, the project was undertaken with the support of the Mongolian authorities along with local and international charitable organizations. The newly-consecrated monastery stands as a compelling testament to the dedication and determination of the residents of Nomgon Soum in revitalizing their traditional cultural heritage.

Ali Gohar House   

Hunza, Pakistan

The restoration of Ali Gohar House has saved the former house of the village lord and retained its significance in the community by transforming it into a centre showcasing the living heritage of the historic settlement of Ganish. As a multi-purpose space housing a tourist information centre, a house museum, a centre for artists and artisans, and a community meeting hall, the social vitality and economic sustainability of the house is ensured. The conservation works were undertaken as part of a larger village-wide upgrade of the historic buildings and infrastructure, thus integrating this historically important showpiece building into the larger urban landscape. Through a combination of international conservation protocols and local building technologies, the building has been thoroughly documented and stabilized, and modern facilities inserted with sensitivity. The use of indigenous materials and the careful reuse of original building parts provide a noteworthy example of the continued effectiveness of traditional technologies, countering the growing fashion for imported construction materials and ofteninappropriate alien construction techniques. Spearheaded by the Ganish Khun Heritage Care and Social Welfare Society and undertaken with the active involvement of the villagers, the project has had a catalytic impact on the growing movement favouring community-led conservation of local heritage in northern Pakistan.

Hanok Regeneration in Bukchon

Seoul, Republic of Korea

The Hanok Regeneration project initiated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in cooperation with neighborhood stakeholders has brought about a striking change in people’s attitudes to the city’s traditional residential quarters.  With successful collaboration among the municipality, community members, academics and civil society, the large-scale project has raised awareness about the heritage value of the hanok and proven that they are viable as modern housing.  The formerly dilapidated Bukchon area has been revitalized through designation as an urban conservation district and comprehensive measures providing financial and technical support to homeowners in restoring the buildings.  Incompatible modern accretions have been removed and each house has been sensitively restored to its historic form.  By involving the community through all stages of the process, the project has secured local long-term commitment to safeguarding the hanok, thereby preserving an important traditional Korean architectural legacy  and inspiring  other cities around the country.

M24 Midget Submarine Wreck

Sydney, Australia

The M24 Midget Submarine Wreck site in Sydney Harbour presents an exemplary model for in situ conservation of underwater cultural heritage in the Asia-Pacific region. Following its discovery in 2006, a full disturbance survey, archival research and extensive dialogue with veterans and other stakeholders have provided the framework for fully understanding and protecting the multiple layers of meaning associated with the Second World War-era site. The physical remains of the largely-intact submarine have been protected by a sophisticated, non-invasive management system appropriate to the underwater environment, including the installation of a pioneering site surveillance system using a real-time camera feed. The historical and spiritual values associated with the site have been sensitively commemorated, notably through a formal ceremony to honour the war dead and the repatriation of votive sand from the wreck. Among the public at large, an active awareness campaign has ensured that the site and its associations with a significant chapter in history will be widely remembered. The project is to be commended for setting a new global benchmark in the application of heritage law and conservation practice to protect shipwreck sites and demonstrating best practice in the application of UNESCO’s guidelines for the protection of underwater cultural heritage.

Huai Hai Lu 796

Shanghai, China

The restoration of the twin neoclassical villas at Huai Hai Lu 796 has created a heritage oasis along one of Shanghai’s main commercial thoroughfares.  A rigorous process of building survey provided the necessary understanding for making the conservation decisions.  The high-quality 1920s architecture has been restored through a respectful approach, with excellent technical execution by local craftsmen and international conservation specialists.  Poor previous repair work has been removed and the original building fabric has been consolidated.  The conversion of the property into luxury boutiques provides a viable commercial reuse that will allow the building to be well-utilized and maintained in the future.

Samchuk Community and Old Market District

Suphanburi, Thailand

Once in serious socio-economic decline, the Samchuk Community and Old Market District has been successfully revitalized through the far-sighted vision and cooperation of the local residents.  The conservation work has been undertaken in a holistic way, including not only the heritage architecture, but also the living heritage of this historic commercial hub, thus contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the site’s value as a cultural heritage resource for the community.   The community has been the main driving force for the project at all levels, from setting policy to establishing urban design guidelines.  The full restoration of three major historic buildings into living museums and neighborhood centres provides a focal point for the urban district of wooden shophouses.  The project will have a major impact in raising awareness about grassroots heritage conservation and is an important model for empowering other historic communities in Thailand.

Waterworks Building

Auckland, New Zealand

The meticulous restoration of the Waterworks Building is a celebration of Victorian engineering technology and the history of early Auckland.  With support from dedicated volunteers, the beam engine has been returned to its fully functional state, and today is the centerpiece of the Museum of Transport and Technology.  The engine house itself and the associated engineer’s cottage have been appropriately conserved to retain its historic patina.  Historic construction materials and techniques and reversible modern interventions allow the building fabric to be conserved authentically.  The restoration has successfully revitalized an important part of the city’s past, enlivened the museum and captured the memory of the community.

Former Royal Air Force Officers’ Mess

Hong Kong SAR, China

The adaptation of the former Royal Air Force Officers’ Mess has transformed an abandoned colonial heritage landmark into the vibrant Academy of Visual Arts of Hong Kong Baptist University.  The restoration work has fully retained the building fabric and architectural character, displaying sensitivity to the original spatial configuration, various layers from the past and the hybrid tropical building typology which is common to the region.  The reuse of the complex as studios and galleries has been well-chosen, making optimal use of the spacious interior spaces and enlivening them with student activities.  The project sets a noteworthy model for recycling obsolete public buildings and demonstrates the viability of reusing historic military structures in a modern institutional context.

Heritage Buildings, Cicheng Historic Town

Zhejiang Province, China

Amid the rapid development of Ningbo, the conservation of key heritage buildings in Cicheng serves as a successful pilot for future restoration work in the historic urban core and in other towns around China.  The project has valorized ancient buildings as a source of continuity.  The conserved structures show a respect for original architectural details, technology and spatial layout.  As part of the holistic approach to conservation, local crafts traditions and construction skills have been revived.  The continuing use of public buildings demonstrates their ongoing significance to the local community, while the commercial adaptation of other buildings proves as their functional viability within a modern context.

Tang Family Chapel

Hoi An, Vietnam

The restoration of the Tang Family Chapel demonstrates the commendable commitment of private individuals to cooperate with local authorities in the conservation of a World Heritage property. As one of the key landmarks in Hoi An, the family chapel has been competently repaired by specialists and craftsmen who are knowledgeable about traditional construction techniques. The project has employed a minimum intervention approach that emphasizes respect for the historic building materials and finishes. The newly-refurbished chapel now stands out as a living landmark in the heritage town, serving clan members, the local population and visitors alike.

YWCA Lady Willingdon Hostel

Mumbai, India

The restoration of the YWCA Lady Willingdon Hostel has recovered the Neoclassical dignity of an important Victorian-era building in the heritage Fort precinct of Mumbai. The project has carefully reversed the deleterious effects of inappropriate past repairs and established protocols for proper conservation of the historic building fabric. Significant architectural details such as stained glass have been reinstated, thereby enhancing the architectural value of the hostel. Traditional construction materials and techniques have been revived and employed in the work. The judicious upgrade of building services allows this gracious edifice to continue to carry out its public mandate well into the future.

Maosi Ecological Demonstration Primary School

Gansu Province, China

The design of the Maosi Ecological Demonstration Primary School offers an attractive modern and locally-suitable alternative to the existing cave schools. It maintains continuity with long-standing local building traditions, in particular, by adapting the environmentally-sustainable aspects of vernacular earthen architecture. The careful selection of materials and techniques, combining mud brick with modern technology such as double glazing, has allowed the school to minimize its energy consumption. The school complex blends smoothly and fits comfortably into the surrounding landscape. The configuration of the buildings creates a liveable space at a human scale that is sensitive to this particular context of the Loess Plateau. Built in cooperation with the local villagers themselves, the project sends a strong message about the relevance of applying traditional wisdom to build in an ecological and socially sustainable manner.