I am a registered architect (ARB), accredited conservation professional (IHBC), and Senior Lecturer in Architecture at the Manchester School of Architecture (FHEA). My research is broadly concerned with the theory, methods, and practice of architectural conservation and adaptive reuse, with a specific focus on critical heritage studies, intangible heritage, and authenticity. I have published widely on the dynamic between architectural conservation and critical heritage theory.

I am currently the BA3 Lead for the Continuity Atelier. Rooted in Contextualism, the atelier teaches an approach to architecture and urbanism that uses the process of analysing and understanding the nature and the qualities of historic places to develop new elements.

Before joining the Manchester School of Architecture, I worked for nearly ten years in architectural practice on both new build and conservation/reuse projects (Grade II and II*). The majority of my experience in practice involved the preparation of planning, tender and construction documentation for listed buildings, including on-site coordination/delivery (RIBA Stages 3-6).

Academic and professional qualifications

  • 2021  PhD, Manchester School of Architecture
  • 2020  PGCert, Learning & Teaching in HE, MMU
  • 2018  MSc, Building Conservation & Adaptation, UCLan
  • 2011  Advanced Diploma in Professional Practice, RIBA NW
  • 2010  B.Arch Bachelor of Architecture, MSA
  • 2009  MA, Architecture & Urbanism, MSA
  • 2007  BA(hons) Architecture, MSA

Previous Employment

  • 2021  Associate Lecturer, Manchester School of Architecture
  • 2018  Senior Architect, Sheppard Robson
  • 2014  Architect, Sixtwo Architects
  • 2013  Architect, SimpsonHaugh
  • 2011  Part II Architectural Assistant, SimpsonHaugh
  • 2008  Part I Architect Assistant, Owen Ellis Architects

Membership of professional associations

  • 2021  Core Member, Manchester School of Art Research Centre
  • 2020  Member, Association of Critical Heritage Studies
  • 2020  Fellow, Higher Education Academy
  • 2018  Accredited Member, Institute of Historic Building Conservation
  • 2016  Conservation Registrant (CR), RIBA
  • 2014  Chartered Architect, RIBA
  • 2011  Registered Architect, ARB

Projects Gallery

Projects Gallery

Books and Proceedings I have written, edited, or contributed a chapter to.

Research

Research Interests

My AHRC funded PhD thesis and peer-reviewed outputs focus on a critical deconstruction of traditional architectural conservation theory and practice, by reinterpreting architectural heritage, conservation and adaptive reuse, as inherently social, dynamic and intangible processes.

By engaging with critical themes in heritage and conservation studies, my research proposes contemporary pluralistic issues concerning social equity, equality, and mental access to heritage, can be resolved by encouraging built heritage practitioners to see themselves as narrators of intangible heritage as well as custodians of physical heritage.

My research has attracted invited talks to established architectural practices, the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC), and the RIBA Advanced Conservation Course, where I regularly lecture as an RIBA Academy Panellist on intangible heritage and its relationship to historic buildings.

Grants

2022  AHRC Innovation Scholars Secondment Grant £45,173

2018  AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (Full Award) £44,331

Exhibitions

Djabarouti, J., 2010. Sound-Map City, Xuzhou Art Museum, Jiangsu, China, 14/5/2010 - 14/7/2010.

Artefacts

Djabarouti, J., 2019. 'Material Clues: decoding our past to understand our present', Manchester Metropolitan University, Grosvenor Gallery, Manchester.

Books

Djabarouti, J., 2023. 'Critical Built Heritage Practice and Conservation Evolving Perspectives'.

Book Chapters

Djabarouti, J., 2024. 'A socio-material outlook'. In Critical Built Heritage Practice and Conservation, pp. 190-222, Routledge.

Djabarouti, J., 2024. 'Antiquity and anxiety'. In Critical Built Heritage Practice and Conservation, pp. 25-46, Routledge.

Djabarouti, J., 2024. 'Conclusion'. In Critical Built Heritage Practice and Conservation, pp. 223-230, Routledge.

Djabarouti, J., 2024. 'Deconstructing communal value'. In Critical Built Heritage Practice and Conservation, pp. 125-139, Routledge.

Djabarouti, J., 2024. 'Evolving perspectives on authenticity'. In Critical Built Heritage Practice and Conservation, pp. 62-78, Routledge.

Djabarouti, J., 2024. 'Immaterial manifestations of culture'. In Critical Built Heritage Practice and Conservation, pp. 81-103, Routledge.

Djabarouti, J., 2024. 'Immateriality and change in policy and guidance'. In Critical Built Heritage Practice and Conservation, pp. 104-124, Routledge.

Djabarouti, J., 2024. 'Introduction'. In Critical Built Heritage Practice and Conservation, pp. 1-21, Routledge.

Djabarouti, J., 2024. 'Participatory problems'. In Critical Built Heritage Practice and Conservation, pp. 174-189, Routledge.

Djabarouti, J., 2024. 'Symbolism and spirituality'. In Critical Built Heritage Practice and Conservation, pp. 140-154, Routledge.

Djabarouti, J., 2024. 'The postmodern heritage turn'. In Critical Built Heritage Practice and Conservation, pp. 47-61, Routledge.

Djabarouti, J., 2023. 'Negotiating the spirit of place: towards a performative authenticity of historic buildings'. In Heřmanová, M., Skey, M., Thurnell-Read, T. (eds.) Cultures of Authenticity, pp. 29-42, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Journal Articles

Djabarouti, J., 2024. 'Critical Built Heritage Practice and Conservation'.

Ren, Y., Djabarouti, J., 2023. 'Towards a holistic narration of place: conserving natural and built heritage at the Humble Administrator’s Garden, China', Architecture, 3 (3), pp. 446-460.

Djabarouti, J., 2023. 'Walk slowly, listen carefully, tread softly: enhancing participation in architectural conservation practice', International Journal of Heritage Studies, pp. 1-16.

Djabarouti, J., 2022. 'Imitation and intangibility: postmodern perspectives on restoration and authenticity at the Hill House Box, Scotland', International Journal of Heritage Studies, 28 (1), pp. 109-126.

Djabarouti, J., 2022. 'Translating Change: A Continuity of Craft Heritage at Coventry Cathedral, UK', Journal of Heritage Management, 7(2), pp. 167-185.

Djabarouti, J., 2021. 'Practice barriers towards intangible heritage within the UK built heritage sector', International Journal of Heritage Studies, 27 (11), pp. 1101-1116.

Djabarouti, J., 2021. 'Stories of feelings and things: intangible heritage from within the built heritage paradigm in the UK', International Journal of Heritage Studies, 27 (4), pp. 391-406.

Djabarouti, J., O'Flaherty, C., 2020. 'Architect and craftsperson: project perceptions, relationships and craft', Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, 14 (3), pp. 423-438.

Djabarouti, J., 2020. 'Listed Buildings as Socio-material Hybrids: Assessing Tangible and Intangible Heritage Using Social Network Analysis', Journal of Heritage Management, 5 (2), pp. 169-190.

Djabarouti, J., O'Flaherty, C., 2019. 'Experiential learning with building craft in the architectural design studio: A pilot study exploring its implications for built heritage in the UK', Thinking Skills and Creativity, 32, pp. 102-113.

Non-Peer Reviewed Articles

Djabarouti, J., 2023. 'From materials to meanings: an evolution of architectural conservation practice', ICOMOS-UK Summer Bulletin, Summer 2023 Bulletin.

Conference Papers

Djabarouti, J., 2021. 'Building conservation as memory making practice', The Place of Memory and the Memory of Place International Conference, London Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, London, 19/6/2021 - 20/6/2021, pp. 157-173.

Djabarouti, J., 2020. 'Between feelings and things: intangible heritage from within the built heritage paradigm', Association of Critical heritage Studies 5th Biennial Conference: ACHS FUTURES 2020, University College London, UK, 26/8/2020 - 30/8/2020.

Djabarouti, J., 2020. 'Dynamic interpretations of preservation: the case (encasement) of the Hill House', Cultures of Authenticity 2020, Centre for Research in Communications and Culture, Loughborough, 5/11/2020 - 5/11/2020.

Djabarouti, J., 2020. '‘The lively development of tradition’: Edgar Wood, restoration and intangible heritage', 8/7/2020 - 10/7/2020, in Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Heritage and Sustainable Development (HERITAGE 2020), 01.

Djabarouti, J., 2019. 'Understanding the Intangible Heritage of Buildings', AHRC NWCDTP Annual Conference 2019: Meeting of Minds: Collaborative Research in the Arts and Humanities, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK, 28/10/2019 - 29/10/2019.

Presentations

Djabarouti, J., 2021. ''Intangible heritage and its relationship to historic buildings'. A presentation to candidates at the biannual RIBA Advanced Conservation Course, UK.'.

Djabarouti, J., 2021. ''The impact of "intangible heritage" on built heritage practice'. A presentation to the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) North West Branch'.

Djabarouti, J., 2021. ''The impact of intangible heritage on architectural and building conservation practices in the UK: a socio-material outlook'. Presented at the 'Researching Heritage Symposium', Manchester Metropolitan University.'.

Djabarouti, J., 2019. 'The impact of intangible heritage on architectural and building conservation practices in the UK: a socio-material outlook'.

Theses and Dissertations

Djabarouti, J., 2021. 'The impact of intangible heritage on architectural and building conservation practices in the UK: a socio-material outlook', Canniffe, E., Stone, S., Robertson, J..

Djabarouti, J., 2018. 'Conservation Education: Examining the impact of a pedagogic interface between the practical and theoretical aspects of building conservation'.

Research project details