Wikimedia Heritage User Group Nigeria/Projects
2024 Campaign: No Extinction
In 2024, the Heritage Conservation Integration launched a compelling campaign named No Extinction. This initiative is a crucial component of the organization's broader strategy to combat the extinction of architectural heritage, including drawings, building parts, and entire structures. The core objective is to emphasize the importance of preserving these rare and valuable pieces of architecture, ensuring they endure for future generations to appreciate, learn from, and draw inspiration from.
From this campaign, we have digitized over 1,331 heritage archives. You can find some of these drawings on Commons here.
Curate, digitize and archive architectural drawings
Curating, digitizing, and archiving architectural drawings and pieces is a crucial endeavour in the realm of heritage conservation. This multifaceted process involves the careful selection, preservation, and conversion of physical artefacts to digital formats, ensuring their accessibility and longevity for future generations.
Selection criteria: Curating architectural drawings and pieces involves identifying items of significant historical, cultural, or artistic value. These could include blueprints, sketches, design iterations, and even individual building components with unique features.
Cultural significance: Consideration is given to the cultural context, architectural movements, and the impact of the architect or era in which the drawings and pieces originated. Items that contribute to a diverse representation of architectural history are prioritized.
Diversity and inclusivity: Efforts are made to curate a collection that reflects the diversity of architectural styles, regions, and socio-cultural influences, ensuring a comprehensive representation of global architectural heritage.
High-quality imaging: State-of-the-art scanning and imaging technologies are employed to capture the finest details of architectural drawings and pieces. High-resolution scans ensure the digital versions retain the nuances of the original artefacts.
Metadata integration: Each digital file is enriched with metadata, including details about the architect, historical context, construction materials, and relevant anecdotes, enhancing the educational and research value of the digitized content.
3D digitization (if applicable): For architectural pieces, especially intricate building components, 3D scanning techniques may be used to create immersive digital replicas, preserving visual detail while allowing interactive exploration.
Digital preservation standards: Robust digital preservation standards ensure the longevity of the archived content. Multiple copies are stored in secure, climate-controlled environments, with regular checks to mitigate the risk of data degradation.
Open access and collaboration: To maximize the impact of the archive, considerations are made for open-access platforms. Collaboration with educational institutions, museums, and other heritage organizations fosters a shared commitment to preserving architectural history.
Educational initiatives: The archive serves as a valuable educational resource. Initiatives to integrate the digitized content into educational programs, online platforms, and exhibitions contribute to a broader understanding and appreciation of architectural heritage.
By curating, digitizing, and archiving architectural drawings and pieces, we not only safeguard our cultural legacy against physical deterioration but also democratize access to these treasures.
2023 Project (First Generation): Partnership with the Canadian Centre for Architecture
The collaborative campaign with the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA), The First Generations, launched in 2023, continues to gain momentum at Heritage Conservation Integration. This ongoing effort seeks to curate and digitize the architectural drawings of first-generation architects, celebrating their foundational contributions to the architectural landscape.
In the current phase, our focus has shifted to the uploading stage, with meticulously curated drawings representing diverse styles, innovations, and historical contexts, digitized in high resolution and actively uploaded to Wikimedia Commons for global access, research, and education.
We invite everyone to explore the growing collection of first-generation architects' drawings on Wikimedia Commons, including the archives of Chief Architect Onafowokan Michael Olutusen, here.
The CCA First Generations campaign is not just a project; it is a testament to our enduring commitment to heritage conservation. Stay tuned for updates as we continue to illuminate the legacy of architectural pioneers.
Digitization projects
- First Generation, 2023
- No Extinction, 2024
- Living Papers, 2025
- Legacy Records, 2026