aerial photography of islet

Cultural Heritage and Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

An ongoing sociological research line exploring how architecture, tradition, and innovation shape cultural identity and everyday life in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Initiated through PhD research in social anthropology at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, this line of inquiry has expanded into a broader investigation of how the built environment mediates domestic life, social behavior, and cultural continuity in regions marked by geographic isolation, environmental vulnerability, and postcolonial legacies.

The research focuses on the interplay between vernacular and modern architecture in both rural and urban island settings, examining how communities adapt to pressures such as tourism, globalization, and climate change. Through fieldwork, spatial analysis, and cultural theory, it explores how traditional knowledge systems intersect with contemporary planning, design, and policy—particularly when grounded in place-based values and community resilience.

By linking architectural form to questions of sustainability, identity, and development, this ongoing work contributes to a deeper understanding of how small island societies negotiate transformation while maintaining cultural integrity.