British Academy Conferences bring together scholars and specialists from around the world to consider and evaluate new research in the humanities and social sciences.

Vernacular architecture refers to locally specific forms of architecture, which are rooted in community, place and tradition, and that have been made without the involvement of architects. The international and interdisciplinary field of vernacular architecture studies aims to document, safeguard, apply or advocate for the knowledge embodied in the vernacular traditions of the world. This conference reflects on the current state of play: to critically question what we think we know about the subject, how we got where we are, and the methods and concepts we use; to identify shortcomings, gaps and biases in our studies, and to identify new areas of research and new ways of engaging with vernacular architecture; and to explore ways to make the knowledge embodied in vernacular traditions more widely available beyond academia.