Md. Mizanur Rashid

The Space of Citizenship: Drifting and Dwelling in “Imperial” Australia

Abstract Though rarely acknowledged, cheap labour sourced through inter-colonial networks originating in British India was instrumental to the “European” exploration and development of colonial Australia in the decades that followed the initial convict-transportation era. Among others, so-called “Afghan” cameleers left their most permanent legacy in Australia’s networks of transcontinental communication and transport, which they first charted and then instrumentally assisted in building between the 1860s and 1920s. Arguably, it was these same networks that ultimately enabled the Australian nation-state to be formed. Beyond those indelible infrastructural traces, however, this paper focuses in particular on the more enigmatic built evidence of these Muslim pioneers and their attempt to establish a foothold in Australia’s burgeoning towns and cities in the early twentieth century. We consider how this humble architectural fabric – built and projected – supported their comparatively vast commercial and communal networks, and how it also asserted the cameleer’s presumed right to citizenship within the emerging Australian Commonwealth. To build was both a practical and a political statement of the intention to dwell, we argue, in a space of opportunity and potential citizenship that was – from the cameleers’ purview as subjects of the greater British world-system – truly “imperial” in scale as well as scope for cultural diversity.

The architecture of Istana Jahar: apprehend the parameters of historical changes

This study aims to explore the unrevealed history of Istana Jahar, Kota Bharu, Malaysia, which has gone through numerous changes in terms of functions due to several reasons that give the impacts to its architecture. However, the discontinued historical narrative failed to provide reasons of these changes. This research will set and argue that certain parameters might be responsible for these changes and if identified, these parameters will provide a solid platform to understand the building and its architecture through ages. Hence, to capture the historical changes and its influences from the minimal sources, it is imperative to distinguish the nature of these parameters. This research will carry out the task to collect information for setting up the parameters which has significant to the changes of the in the architecture of Istana Jahar. The scope of this paper will be limited to focus on political and social parameters which have significant impacts in architectural changes of Istana Jahar. Istana Jahar is a royal testimonial that has its own prides and its architecture indeed played the significant roles to its socio-political changes in the society. By citing the case study of Istana Jahar, this research will argue on the current condition of Istana Jahar in relation to its original condition base on the political parameters to the architecture. This research will provide a research framework of the Istana Jahar and cultivate the eagerness to explore other possibilities in unveiling the architectural history in different ways. By combining layers of information, this research would provide a further platform to explore any others possibilities for the architectural historian to capture the information especially heritage buildings and help to foster a better architectural identity of Malaysia. Thus, this paper discusses for the need of apprehending the possible changes parameters of a historical building along with the proofs to capture a comprehensive data of historical building.

Virtual heritage rehabilitation and reclaiming the historical narrative - the 4D capturing of Adelaide Mosque, Adelaide, Australia

This contribution proposes a comparative analysis of the original and transformed domestic layout in recent renovations of late 18 and early 19 century housing in Lisbon’s baixa pombalina. We specifically look at modifications of room function and connections between spaces according to three main strategies: re-using alcoves for new bathrooms or storage; addressing the kitchen’s present role in domestic sociability; creating additional housing units through flat division. The aim is to identify solutions in contemporary interventions that take advantage of original typological features while simultaneously addressing changes in family life and new comfort demands. Renovation of this current historic housing is a necessity to avoid the loss of historic values, to address changes in family life and comfort demands, and to ensure building safety. Inhabitants increasingly value distinctive original features of buildings, while at the same time expecting the added comfort that comes with present-day infrastructure and insulation. Contemporary interventions have the potential to contribute to richer spaces by valuing the qualities of the original domestic spaces such as ceiling height, room dimension, and plaster or woodwork, while simultaneously responding to these new concerns. There are recurring issues that renovation projects frequently need to address. One of them is the addition of new domestic functions, such as the placing of one or more bathrooms, as well as the privacy of bathrooms and bedrooms. Nowadays, the almost systematic placing of bedrooms in rooms with windows next to the building façades also often calls for room function reorganisation. Moreover, the reduction or elimination of household staff, associated to the new role of the kitchen in the house’s social life, have led architects to rethink the previously hidden service spaces in relation to the rest of the house. An additional issue is the division of larger flats, often brought about for economic reasons and by the demand for more diversified housing in the city centre. When renovating, it is both a challenge and an opportunity to find design solutions that make use of the houses’ original layout features to address present-day housing programs. As we shall see, far from the possible and visible losses this patrimony has experienced, some interventions represent coherent examples of how to achieve solutions for compromise.