Professor Cordelia Osasona of the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, will be speaking on "The Renewal of 'Heritage' Architecture in Ile-Ife: Issues, Challenges and Outcomes". As she will stress, 'heritage' encompasses not only the historic values of traditional and vernacular buildings, but also the values of those who live in and work in them.

A specialist in the history of architecture and an active member of the CHN, Professor Osasona has taught and published widely on African traditional and vernacular architectural forms and practices, passionately championing the cause of conservation of imperiled architectural heritage: not least the important role it has to play in addressing climate change.

The first female Architect produced by the University of Ife, and a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, she is also the pioneer Head of Architecture at the University of Ibadan. Her present research and fieldwork centres on the restoration and renewal of Nigerian Brazilian houses, and revivalist experiments with vernacular building features.

Series Background

In the run-up to COP27 (which has been described as the Africa COP) in November, and in collaboration with the Climate Heritage Network (CHN), Historic England’s Building Climate Change Adaptation Team are launching a new and very special webinar series: Responding to the Climate Crisis: Lessons from the Global South.

Our colleagues in the Global South have retained practical knowledge of what a built environment looks like when it is not utterly dependent on fossil fuels for either construction or operation. This is knowledge that we in the Global North have largely lost - especially outside the world of building conservation. Are we missing vital tools that we will need both to limit climate change, and to deal with its effects?

Each webinar will feature an invited specialist from the Global South. Our guest will present their work and then discuss their knowledge and experience with us, as we seek to draw out practical lessons for the Global North. We will be covering a wide range of vital topics, including vernacular architecture as continuing practice (not least its adaptation to a changing climate), the traditional operation of buildings for usability and comfort in extreme weather, and ways of managing change and loss.

This event is part of Climate Wednesdays: Climate Change and Cultural Heritage Webinar Series, hosted by Historic England in collaboration with the Climate Heritage Network. This series provides delegates with an in-depth look at a range of topics related to climate change and cultural heritage presented by international experts in heritage and climate change research, policy and practice.