# Place, Culture and Identity
**Source**: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/groups/place-culture-and-identity
**Parent**: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/engage-and-innovate/consultancy
Group Leader(s):
[Professor Aylin Orbasli](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/aylin-orbasli)
Contact:
[aorbasli@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:aorbasli@brookes.ac.uk)
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Showing all research info
About us
Research impact
Leadership
Membership
Projects
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[About us](#research-about)
[Research impact](#research-impact)
[Leadership](#research-leadership)
[Membership](#research-team)
[Projects](#research-projects)
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## About us
Space and architecture are shaped by the culture and the identities of communities as much as those communities are shaped by their perception and use of space and architecture.
Members of the group investigate this dynamic dialectical relationship from different disciplinary perspectives, including (interior) architecture, anthropology, urban conservation and history.
Focusing on different types and notions of place in various parts of the world and contexts, the aim of the Place, Culture and Identity group is to contribute to a better theoretical understanding of both the nature of the process of place-making and the way it relates to aspects of culture, identity, aesthetics, memory, tradition, representation and architectural practice. While focused on theory, much of this research is grounded in practice and the communities that it serves.
[More about our research themes](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/groups/place-culture-and-identity/#themes)
### Part of
- [School of Architecture](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/about-brookes/structure-and-governance/faculties-and-schools/architecture "School of Architecture")
### Related courses
- [Architecture (MPhil / PhD / PhD by Practice / PhD by Published Work / Research Degree involving Creative Work)](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/research/architecture)
- [Digital Craft in Architecture (MA / PGDip / PGCert)](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/digital-craft-in-architecture)
## Research impact
The research of the group makes a significant academic impact in a range of fields and disciplines, including architecture, vernacular architecture studies, urban conservation and regeneration, heritage studies, conservation and adaptive re-uses, architectural and urban history, biodiversity and food production within the built environment.
Group members are actively engaged in the dissemination of their research outcomes to wider audiences via exhibitions, social media platforms and open access databases.
Some research is specifically embedded in communities of interest through processes of engagement, empowerment, co-creation and knowledge transfer.
## Leadership
### Professor Aylin Orbasli
- [aorbasli@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:aorbasli@brookes.ac.uk)
Professor of Architectural and Urban Heritage
[View profile for Aylin Orbasli](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/aylin-orbasli)
## Membership
Staff members
- Staff
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### Staff
| Name | Role | Email |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Philip Baker](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/philip-baker) | Senior Lecturer in Architecture | [pbaker@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:pbaker@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Kisha Clarke](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/khisha-clarke) | Senior Lecturer | [khishaclarke@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:khishaclarke@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Ms Maria Faraone](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/maria-faraone) | Senior Lecturer in Architecture, RIBA Studio Programme Director | [MFaraone@Brookes.ac.uk](mailto:MFaraone@Brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Ms Melissa Kinnear](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/melissa-kinnear) | Associate Lecturer | [mkinnear@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:mkinnear@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Professor Aylin Orbasli](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/aylin-orbasli) | Professor of Architectural and Urban Heritage | [aorbasli@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:aorbasli@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Dr Francesco Proto](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/francesco-proto) | Senior Lecturer in Architecture | [fproto@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:fproto@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Dr Kelly Reed](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/kelly-reed) | Programme Manager Endangered Wooden Architecture Programme | [kellyreed@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:kellyreed@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Dr Emma Rowden](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/emma-rowden) | Senior Lecturer | [erowden@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:erowden@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Dr Mina Samangooei](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/mina-samangooei) | Senior Lecturer in Architecture | [m.samangooei@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:m.samangooei@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Orit Sarfatti](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/orit-sarfatti) | Senior Lecturer | [orit.sarfatti@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:orit.sarfatti@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Professor Marcel Vellinga](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/marcel-vellinga) | Professor of Anthropology of Architecture | [mvellinga@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:mvellinga@brookes.ac.uk) |
## Projects
Active projects
Completed projects
- Active projects
- Completed projects
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### Active projects
| Project title and description | Investigator(s) | Funder(s) | Dates |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **[Architectural Regeneration](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/architectural-regeneration)** | [Professor Aylin Orbasli](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/aylin-orbasli) | | |
| **[Erwin Anton Gutkind (1886-1968): Architect and Scholar](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/gutkind)** | [Professor Marcel Vellinga](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/marcel-vellinga) | [British Academy](https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/ "The British Academy"), [Leverhulme Trust](https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/ "Leverhulme Trust") | |
| **[Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/encyclopedia-of-vernacular-architecture)** A major development in the field of vernacular architecture studies, this new edition encyclopedia, with its expanded theoretical and geographical scope, will reflect the considerable growth in research in the field since the first edition. | [Professor Marcel Vellinga](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/marcel-vellinga) | | From: September 2015 Until: January 2023 |
| **[Communal Child Rearing on the Israeli Kibbutz Between the Years 1920-1960](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/communal-child-rearing-on-the-israeli-kibbutz)** | [Orit Sarfatti](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/orit-sarfatti) | | From: September 2015 |
| **[Urban and architectural forms of the 19th century Red Sea](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/urban-and-architectural-forms-of-the-19th-century)** | [Professor Aylin Orbasli](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/aylin-orbasli) | | |
| **[Architectural writings of Jean Baudrillard](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/architectural-writings-of-jean-baudrillard)** | [Dr Francesco Proto](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/francesco-proto) | | |
| **[Postmodernism Unbound](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/postmodernism-unbound)** | [Dr Francesco Proto](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/francesco-proto) | | |
| **[Narcissism and the City](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/narcissism-and-the-city)** | [Dr Francesco Proto](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/francesco-proto) | | |
| **[Tourism, heritage and identity](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/tourism-heritage-and-identity)** | [Professor Aylin Orbasli](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/aylin-orbasli) | | |
| **[Edible Streets](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/edible-streets)** | [Dr Mina Samangooei](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/mina-samangooei) | | |
| **[Black in Architecture](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/black-in-architecture)** | | | |
| **[Community participation and practices of engagement](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/community-participation-and-practices-of-engagemen)** | [Professor Aylin Orbasli](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/aylin-orbasli) | | |
| **[Public architecture: courthouse design, due process and dignity](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/public-architecture-courthouse-design-due-process)** | [Dr Emma Rowden](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/emma-rowden) | | |
| **[Biodiversity working group](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/biodiversity-working-group)** | [Dr Mina Samangooei](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/mina-samangooei) | | |
## Our research themes
### Anthropology of Architecture
Research and projects in the field of anthropology of architecture set out to provide an understanding of the social and cultural importance of architecture, as well as of the characteristics of an anthropological approach to its study. Special emphasis is placed on the study of vernacular architecture around the world.
[Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/encyclopedia-of-vernacular-architecture "Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World")
[Paul Oliver Vernacular Architecture Library](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/collections/special-collections/art-and-architecture/the-paul-oliver-vernacular-architecture-library "Paul Oliver Vernacular Architecture Library")
[Endangered Wooden Architecture Programme](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/endangered-wooden-architecture-programme "Endangered Wooden Architecture Programme")
### Histories of People and Places
Research being undertaken under this theme investigates the relationship between people and places from a variety of historical perspectives, focusing on the work of individual scholars as well as particular places and time periods, and their influences on theory.
[Erwin Anton Gutkind: architect and scholar](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/gutkind "Erwin Anton Gutkind: architect and scholar")
[Urban and architectural forms of the 19th century Red Sea](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/urban-and-architectural-forms-of-the-19th-century "Urban and architectural forms of the 19th century Red Sea")
[Architectural writings of Jean Baudrillard](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/architectural-writings-of-jean-baudrillard "Architectural writings of Jean Baudrillard")
[Postmodernism Unbound](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/postmodernism-unbound "Postmodernism Unbound")
[Communal child rearing on the Israeli Kibbutz](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/communal-child-rearing-on-the-israeli-kibbutz "Communal child rearing on the Israeli Kibbutz")
[Narcissism and the City](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/narcissism-and-the-city "Narcissism and the City")
### Urban Conservation and Regeneration
Research being undertaken in the urban conservation and regeneration field includes a range of projects on the conservation, adaptation, regeneration and management of the historic built environment in its multiple forms and communities. This theme also takes a more in-depth look at biodiversity and food production within the built environment, particularly from a physical and mental well-being perspective.
[Architectural Regeneration](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/Research/Units/TDE/Projects/Architectural-Regeneration/ "Architectural Regeneration")
[Tourism, heritage and identity](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/tourism-heritage-and-identity "Tourism, heritage and identity")
[Biodiversity working group](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/biodiversity-working-group "Biodiversity working group ")
[Edible Streets](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/edible-streets "Edible Streets")
### Cultures of Architecture and Space
Research in this area covers investigations into the various cultures of architecture and its attendant spaces. These range from investigations into public infrastructure (with a focus on courthouses as a particular case study), as well the cultural spaces of the education and practice of architects.
[Public architecture: courthouse design, due process and dignity](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/public-architecture-courthouse-design-due-process "Public architecture: courthouse design, due process and dignity")
[Black in Architecture](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/black-in-architecture "Black in Architecture")
[Community participation and practices of engagement](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/tde/projects/community-participation-and-practices-of-engagemen "Community participation and practices of engagement")
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