August 15 - September 11, 2009
Sponsored by the University of Oregon Historic Preservation Program, School of Architecture & Allied Arts, and the Ministry of Culture, Trogir, Croatia
Overview
The Croatia Summer Field School offers a unique look at the vernacular building culture of Croatia's Central Dalmatian Coast. Students will explore 17th an 18th century villages while learning the history of the area, documenting and analyzing important structures and participating in a hands-on building project. Although this is the first field school at this location, previous international field schools sponsored by the Historic Preservation Program have attracted a range of participants from practicing cultural resource professionals to graduate and undergraduate students. The Field School in Croatia adds an exiting international element to the UO's Historic Preservation Program and Pacific Northwest Field School specializing in the conservation of vernacular settings.
Contents
Site Information: Drvenik Veli, Trogir and the Dalmatian Coast
Course Description
Course Requirements
Field School Instructors
Program Facilities
Program Schedule
Program Cost for Students
Getting There
Join Us! - Application Information
Health Information for Travelers
Site Information: Drvenik Veli, Trogir and the Dalmatian Coast
The field school will take place on Drvenik Veli, a small island in the vicinity of Trogir, Croatia, that was first inhabited in the 16th century. Though many of its villages have been abandoned, the island retains numerous limestone architectural features and a well-preserved cultural landscape. The aim of the field school will be to prepare relevant documentation for the protection of those remaining elements that represent the cultural identity of the island. The nearby City of Trogir is itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from Roman times, though much of its architectural expression evokes the medeival period, with winding streets and towering limestone facades. The field school is ideally situated in a heritage-rich region of the Dalmatian Coast and is surrounded by multiple World Heritage Sites, such as Diocletian's Palace in Split to the south, and the Cathedral of St. James in Sibenik to the north.
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Course Descriptions
The Croatia Field School will offer (9) credits in three separate class offerings (listed below). The program is open to both Undergraduate and Graduate students from University of Oregon's Architecture and Allied Arts programs, and to students from outside the University of Oregon. Acceptance to the program is subject to committee approval of the application form, in which the applicant is asked to state the relevance of this field experience to his or her academic or professional goals. The credits earned can be applied toward either electives or concentration credits in Historic Preservation, or "subject area electives" in Architecture.
Graduate Students in Historic Preservation will have an additional research project to undertake following the four week field school as partial fulfillment of their Internship/ Field Practicum requirement in our program that requires a 180 hour minimum internship investment. [Note: This requirement does not apply to students from outside the UO Historic Preservation Graduate Program]. Students from outside the disciplines of Architecture and Allied Arts will work in a collaborative learning environment to acquire the skills necessary to contribute to the educational experience.
An open truss in the village Brdaci
Photo by Jasna Dasovic
Historic Preservation AAAP 408/508
Preservation Field Practicum: Building Restoration and Revitalization Efforts of Traditional Stone Environments on the Island of Drevnik Veli
Credits: 3
Students will work alongside University of Oregon faculty and local professionals of traditional practice to begin various phases of a rural revitalization project for the island of Drevnik Veli, just off the Dalmatian Coast in the Adriatic Sea. The course will cover the fundamentals of masonry and wood construction in a hands-on format: from mixing mortar and methods of laying stone, to wood preservation techniques in the context of traditional Croatian practices. This summer, a limestone roof will be replaced on a presently abandoned structure owned by the local church authorities in an effort to return the facility to usefulness.
For graduate students, full participatory involvement in the hands-on field exercise, as well as expansive field notes, graphic and photo documentation of the stone roof replacement on the church primary school will be expected. The graduate student is expected to offer a high level of written analysis and criticality in documenting the field exercise. Reference to craft explications, formal lectures, and assigned readings on traditional stone construction methods should be given complete attributions in the form of full footnote and bibliographic notation. [There will be a course reader and reserve readings at the lodging facility for your reference.]
Undergraduates, in concert with their experiential involvement, will be expected to account for their practicum in the form of a daily journal using English and Croatian technical construction terms to explain craft processes.
This hands - on class also expects both 400/500 level students to develop a high level of graphic competency. Different from the graphic content of the village recordation project (that stresses planning and form-type analysis, patterns of use, and cultural/environmental determinants), this separate field exercise stresses building science and building pathology issues. Structural diagrams, construction analysis, and written documentation will be carried out under the direction of Professor Rob Thallon, while Ivan Kovacic, a Croatian master stonemason born on the Island of Brac, will instruct on the stone masonry craft of dry laid roofing methods.
Eremitic monastery 'Blaca' on the Island of Brac
Photo by Radoslav Buzancic
Historic Preservation AAAP 410/510
International Conservation Principles and Methodology
Credits: 3
Discussion groups and application models, directed by the academic instructors, will focus on heritage conservation issues, heritage protection policies, and architectural documentation requirements – comparing practices in the U.S. with those in Croatia. The history of urbanism and planning practices in the region will provide a framework for policy and preservation practice discussions.
Both graduate and undergraduate students will be expected to chronicle the history of urbanism and planning practices in the region surrounding Trogir through well-organized and articulate lecture notes resulting from several field trips and guest lectures. Graduate students, however, will have to frame these notations as part of comparative conservation policies and practices between the United States and Croatia/European Union.
In addition, the Ministry of Culture’s Office has expressed the desire for this summer’s program to undertake the completion of a UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination of a 15th century monastery and astronomy laboratory near Trogir: the Eremitic monastary "Blanca" on the Island of Brac. This rare opportunity to designate an internationally significant historic site will be a collaborative effort, but graduate students are expected to take the lead in structuring and developing the content of this document.
Onsight direction from Radoslav Buzancic, Head of the Conservation Department of Trogir, will compliment discussion and hands-on exercises by both the University of Oregon and Ministry of Culture's staff.
Village Brdaci, in the hinterlands of Trogir
Photo by Jasna Dasovic
Historic Preservation AAAP 410/510
Field Recording Methods and Site Documentation
Credits: 3
This course will train students in basic fieldwork recordation and analysis techniques, resulting in documentation such as architectural plans, textual descriptions, photographs, and interpretative drawings. Preparing for the publication project will afford students the opportunity to explore a wide range of construction techniques and form/plan types through a series of case studies. In addition, students will collect ethnographic data and descriptions of certain objects and their uses, such as kitchen utensils or historic farming and milling equipment.
Graduate students will be expected to produce record drawings of the village setting; complete additional readings beyond what is required of the undergraduate; submit professional quality writing in their building analyses; and offer mentoring to less experienced students in the Field Recording class.
Undergraduates will be expected to produce well-developed field notes (in lieu of record drawings) with complete graphic measurements. Well-written journal entries related to the field experiences are expected, and will be turned into the instructors for evaluation at two week intervals as part of the studio critique.
Field lecture notes, interpretive sketches, and photo documentation of treatment issues are expected of both 400 and 500 level students. A studio space with design materials will be provided by the host Ministry of Culture, Croatia at the Drevenik Veli field site.
To place the recordation exercises in context, Cultural Landscape analysis and documentation methods will be offered under the direction of Jasna Dasovic, Conservator of the Conservation Department of Trogir, and Dr. Kingston Heath, Graduate Program Director in Historic Preservation at the University of Oregon.
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Course Requirements
In addition to the coursework and activities described above, each student is expected to keep an illustrated journal with entries summarizing daily activities with notes and observations. The journal is meant to record all aspects of the work project – coursework, field trip lecture notes, personal observations, and field drawings. The academic instructors will review the journals and hold recordation pinups in meetings with the students at the mid point and at the conclusion of the course. Students are required to turn in a copy of the journal and all drawings for grading. Full participation in safety orientations and all work sessions is required. Notify the director of the program of any physical concerns or limitations you have so that accommodations can be made. There will be a course reader and required texts. Graduate students in the Historic Preservation Program are required to conduct an additional two week research project (approved by the Director) to fulfull the 120 hour internship requirement.
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Field School Instructors
Dr. Kingston Heath is the Director of the University of Oregon's Graduate Program in Historic Preservation. 2009 will mark his fifth consecutive year teaching in an international field school. He has authored two books on Vernacular Architecture theory and practice, and will be assisting in the publication of "The Preservation of Rural Architecture of Trogir and its Surroundings."
Dr. Radoslav Buzancic heads the Conservation Department of Trogir, a division of the Croatian Ministry of Culture. He has worked as a heritage conservationist for over 20 years, supervising and completing a number of complex restoration tasks on monuments across Dalmatia ranging from Roman architecture and Early Christian churches, to Renaissance and Baroque palaces. In 1997, together with colleagues, he successfully enrolled the town of Trogir, Croatia on UNESCO's World Heritage List. He has received a number of national awards, including the Europa Nostra Award for the restoration of the Renaissance chapel of St. John of Trogir. As an architect, who also holds a Ph.D. in Art History, he actively participates in international exhibitions and scientific conferences, as well as lectures at the Universities of Split and Dubrovnik.
Jasna Dasovic is a conservator for the Conservation Department of Trogir, Croatia, where she engages in restoration projects in Trogir and the surrounding area. She also conducts preservation studies that serve as the basis for rural settlement restoration and development plans, as well as urban development plans for the town of Trogir and its municipalities. She is a specialist in Croatian ethnography.
Rob Thallon, a registered Architect, is an Associate Professor at the University of Oregon where he teaches courses on design and building construction. He has authored two books on wood frame construction and is a skilled carpenter, having built many of his designs with his own hands. His teaching emphasizes the benefits of hands-on experience. He is Associate Dean of the College of Architecture and Allied Arts.
Ivan Kovacic is a Croatian master stonemason born on the Island of Brac. He is one of the last remaining masons who still possess the knowledge of producing stone slabs as well as of the technique of making dry-stone roofs. He has participated in many restorations along the coast of Middle Dalmatia, covering the roofs of buildings ranging from 9th – 11th century churches, the Renaissance palaces Gospodnetic in Dol and Radojkovic in Skrip, the monastery Blaca, and many small houses in rural areas of Dalmatia.
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Program Facilities
Students will be staying at the MIA Apartments, a small bed and breakfast on the harbor of Drvenik Veli. The apartments are equipped with air conditioning, TV, and internet access. The harbor has a grocery store, post office, bakery and a few cafes. See www.apartmani-mia.com for more information.
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Program Schedule
The field school will take place in two sessions from August 15 (student arrival) through September 11, 2009 (departure). Programmed activities are from August 17 through September 10, 2009. (Most U.S. flights depart one day prior to the arrival date).
There will be a four day mid-session break from August 27-30, 2009. During the four day break, students will be encouraged to visit important sites of the area according to their interests. Some off-site exploration might include: visiting the many World Heritage Sites on the Dalmatian Coast, such as the landscape of Stari Grad Plain on the island of Hvar or the cathedrals and palaces in the Old City of Dubrovnik; exploring limestone formations and cave systems at Plitvice Lakes National Park; or experiencing the many museums, theaters, and art galleries of the Croatian capital, Zagreb.
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Program Cost for Students
Program fees will include all course activities and tuition; housing for the period beginning August 16 and ending September 11, 2009, all meals during scheduled days (except for days off), and tour transportation. Students will be responsible for air and ground transportation to and from Trogir and expenses away from the program. The program cost for the full session will be approximately $4200.
Financial Aid
Financial Aid applications for summer term will be available online by April 1, 2009. University of Oregon students should complete the summer aid application as soon as possible. Once registered for the summer courses in May, the refund should become available to make the final tuition payment in June. Make sure to sign up for direct deposit to ensure the money is in your account before leaving for the summer holiday.
See http://financialaid.uoregon.edu/summer_aid for more information.
Students from other institutions should contact the financial aid office at their home university for information on obtaining aid for the summer session.
Unfortunately, there are currently no scholarships or grants specifically associated with this field school. It is recommended that students seek additional funding through travel grants and other scholarship funds.
Please see http://orsa.uoregon.edu/index.cfm?topLevCat=resources#FundingOpportunities for additional funding ideas and opportunities.
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Application Information
Application Deadline Extended to March 30, 2009
Participants can earn graduate or undergraduate level credits from the University of Oregon. Historic Preservation Program students may use these credits to fulfill the internship/practicum requirement, upon approval by the Director. Please send completed applications and $50 application fee to:
Kingston Heath, Professor and Director
Historic Preservation Program
School of Architecture & Allied Arts
5233 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-5233
PH: 541-346-2115
FAX: 541-346-3626
EMAIL: kwheath@uoregon.edu
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Getting There
The Split Airport (http://www.split-airport.hr/Split_aerodrom_en.htm) is the closest airport to Trogir and Drvenik Veli. To get there, it is easiest to fly to a major European hub such as Amsterdam, Munich, or Paris, and then take Croatia Airlines (www.croatiaairlines.com) into the country. While many travel agents and websites will book you all the way through from the U.S., it is also worthwhile to investigate booking your international flight and your continental European flight separately, as there are many budget airlines operating out of smaller European airports.
An alternative route that is leisurely and scenic, but not necessarily less expensive, is to fly into Rome or Milan in Italy, take a train to the city of Ancona on Italy’s east coast, and then take a ferry directly to Split. See http://trenitalia.com/ or http://www.raileurope.com for train information, and http://www.croatiatraveller.com/ferries/AnconaSplit.htm for ferry information.
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Health Information for Travelers
There are few health risks associated with travelling to Eastern European countries such as Croatia. However, students must have updated and current vaccination information available for application and travel purposes. Please visit the University of Oregon Travel Clinic at http://www.uoregon.edu/~uoshc/travel/ or the Center for Disease Control website at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/ for more information.
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