Research institute of ICHHTO (Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization) and France’s Grenoble School of Architecture will cooperate on earthen architecture, CHTN reported.
A memorandum of understanding was signed by the head of ICHHTO’s research institute Seyed Mohammad Beheshti and the head of CRAterre (International Centre on Earthen Architecture) at Grenoble School of Architecture, Thierry Geoffroy. Based on the memorandum, the two parties agreed to cooperate on educational, technological, and research grounds.
Through joint meetings and expert conferences, ICHHTO and CRAterre will share experience in conserving earthen building materials.
The two parties will proffer their expertise, including reinforcement of earthen architecture and improvement of earthen materials. Moreover, archaeological and anthropological knowledge concerning earthen architectures will be shared.
The ICHHTO and CRAterre will organize joint courses and workshops, training conservation methods applied on earthen heritage, particularly adobe structures.
Scientific, academic, and research documents, as well as other information, will be shared mutually to help conduct research and studies.
There is a clause in the MoU for joint operations and research activities aimed at developing new technological techniques and methods for applying earthen materials in Persian modern architecture.
The ICHHTO and CRAterre will exchange researchers to promote the conservation of earthen heritage.
On the basis of the memorandum, an international research center is to be established in Iran. The center will contribute to the conservation of earthen and adobe materials. The equipment required by the center are also taken into account for improvement of training, education, research, and implementation of joint projects.
As part of the agreement, the two parties will publish books and scientific articles on relevant topics.
CRAterre
CRAterre, which was founded in 1979, is a research laboratory on earthen architecture based within the National Superior School of Architecture in Grenoble (ENSAG), France. It has assembled a multidisciplinary team of researchers, professionals, lecturers and trainers to work on the dissemination of knowledge and know-how on raw earthen construction techniques in France and all over the world.
