Architecture and Belonging: Migration, Re-Territorialisation and Self-Identity

School of Built Environment Architecture and Belonging: Migration, Re-territorialisation and Self-Identity Tanja Glusac This thesis is presented for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Curtin University June 2015 Declaration To the best of my knowledge and belief this thesis contains no material previously published by any other person except where due acknowledgement has been made. This thesis contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university. Signature: Date: 10th June 2015 Deserted House, island of Korcula, Croatia (Glusac 2007). iii Table of Contents Page Abstract viii Acknowledgements ix Introduction 1 Problematising the role of architecture in the construction of identity and belonging 1 Significance of architecture in constructing self-identity and belonging 7 Methodological frameworks exploring the role of architecture in constructing self-identity and belonging 11 Theoretical enquiry 11 Fieldwork data—population, field trip, interviews and observations 13 Thesis overview 19 PART I Establishing the general parameters: Architecture, the built environment and the construction of self-identity 23 Chapter 1 Constructing self-identity 27 Identity formation 28 Identity as a story 35 Performativity and reiteration of norms 39 Other ways of constructing self-identity 42 Chapter 2 Architecture, the built environment and self-identity 51 Sense of place, sense of belonging 52 Habitus and self-identity 65 Memory and self-identity 75 PART II De-territorialisation: Challenging the general parameters through migration 84 Chapter 3 History and theory of migration: Brief overview 89 Community: Defining aspects and migration 90 Types of and reasons for migration 95 Settlement strategies, challenges and benefits of migration 98 Australian Federation and the White Australia policy 99 Settlement strategies and the challenges they impose 105 Benefits of migration 109 Chapter 4 Migration stories: Uprootedness, resettlement and the built environment 112 Examples of displaced communities 113 New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina 113 The Three Gorges Dam, China 116 Greek immigration in Australia 123 iv Challenging the notion of belonging: Personal stories 126 Returning home 127 Rejecting the change: ‘The Vancouver Monster House’ 133 PART III Re-territorialisation: Redefining self-identity in a new built environment through architecture 137 Chapter 5 Practices of re-territorialisation 143 Performativity, reiteration of norms and the built environment 144 Architecture as an expression of the familiar and known 146 Settlement patterns and institutions 153 Other habitus-informed aspects that assist in perpetuating self-identity in the new context 159 Objects 159 Ethnic gardens and cuisine 162 Working practices 169 Chapter 6 Historical and contemporaneous examples of migrants’ re- territorialisation 173 Colonial architecture of Rome and Britain 174 Latinos and Korculani cross-community migration 188 Mexican and Latino cross-community migrants living in Los Angeles 189 Korculani re-territorialisation in the southern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia 197 PART IV A critique of the architectural discipline with regard to self-identity and belonging 226 Chapter 7 Artificial identities: Globalisation, heritage and the architectural discipline's response to questions of cultural and personal identity 227 Cultural responsiveness, or the unbridled individualistic expression of the architect’s self—the objective of architectural design? 229 Globalisation and the architectural discipline's role in homogenising places 239 Heritage and traditional architecture—expressions of national and cultural identity, or generation of an artificial identity from times gone by? 246 Conclusion 257 Bibliography 262 v List of Figures Deserted House, island of Korcula, Croatia (Glusac 2007). iii Figure 1. Lion statues at the entrance to some Italian homes (Glusac 2009). 5 Figure 2. Classical portico entries decorating the entrance of homes belonging to some South-European migrants (Glusac 2009). 5 Figure 3. A frontyard featuring edible fruit and vegetables (Glusac 2009). 94 Figure 4. Appropriating the council verge by planting fruit and vegetables (Glusac 2009). 94 Figure 5. Entry gate to Perth’s China Town (Glusac 2014). 169 Figure 6. Perth’s China Town (Glusac 2014). 169 Figure 7. Dalmatian cabbage in Matthew’s garden (Glusac 2009). 199 Figure 8. Anna’s Dalmatian garden (Glusac 2009). 199 Figure 9. Philip’s wine cellar located underneath the property he is currently renting out (Glusac 2009). 203 Figure 10. John’s wine press, which although no longer in use, he kept to remind him of the old days (Glusac 2009). 203 Figure 11. Komin in a house in Blato (John’s private collection). 205 Figure 12. Komin in Matthew’s shed (Glusac 2009). 205 Figure 13. Komin in Dennis’ second kitchen (Glusac 2009). 207 Figure 14. Komin in Richard’s second kitchen (Glusac 2009). 207 Figure 15. Traditional stone fizul located in one of the streets within the town of Korcula, Croatia (Glusac 2007). 208 Figure 16. Tables and chairs are used nowadays in front of houses that do not have fizuls. Town of Korcula, Croatia (Glusac 2007) 208 Figure 17. Dennis’ fizul located at the main entrance (Glusac 2009). 209 Figure 18. Matthew’s fizul overlooking the courtyard (Glusac 2009). 209 Figure 19. A Croatian house featuring blue gutters (Glusac 2009). 210 Figure 20. Stone walls in Anna’s garden (Glusac 2009). 210 Figure 21. Walls and street pavement made out of stone. A street in the town of Korcula, Croatia (Glusac 2007). 211 Figure 22. Retaining walls, streets and houses made out of stone. A street on the outskirts of the town of Korcula, Croatia (Glusac 2007). 211 Figure 23. A street in Korcula, Croatia (Glusac 2007). 212 Figure 24. Anna’s storage space built to resemble a tunnel (Glusac 2009). 212 vi Figure 25. Replica of Blato’s loggia located within the Dalmatinac Club, Spearwood (Glusac 2009). 213 Figure 26. Stone from Dalmatia built into the loggia (Glusac 2009). 213 Figure 27. Blato’s campanile. A photograph found in the majority of homes of the Blacani respondents during this research (Glusac 2009) 221 Figure 28. Objects that Paul and his wife brought from ‘home’ during their visits to Blato. These are exhibited on the komin he built in his second kitchen (Glusac 2009) 221 Figure 29. Ethno Village Stanišići in Bijeljina features both examples of original vernacular barns and houses transported to the site and more recent imitations of vernacular architecture (Glusac 2007). 248 Figure 30. Ethno Village Stanišići Bijeljina. An example of a traditional house transported to Ethno Village Stanišići and the replica of the mediaeval palace (Glusac 2007). 248 vii Abstract This thesis is an investigation into the connections between architecture, culture, memory and habitus and the role architecture and the built environment play in defining and perpetuating self-identity and belonging. It uses migration and migrants as a vehicle to examine and illustrate the importance of the built environment and architecture in structuring individuals’ understanding of who they are and where they belong. As well as the overall theoretical enquiry conducted throughout this study, Bourdieu’s notion of habitus, which outlines the way any system of dispositions is socially and culturally conditioned, is used as the main theoretical framework. This thesis maintains that it is habitus, which in conjunction with culture and memories of built surroundings, defines and forms lasting connections with places and architecture that more closely inform personal identity and belonging. Together with the investigation into identity construction, place, culture, memory and migration, this research offers a comprehensive overview and analysis of the complex phenomenon that comprise identity, and the role of architecture and the built environment in structuring and restructuring it. The highly unstable nature of self-identity that is constantly being defined and redefined due to external pressures such as migration is examined in this study. Central to this investigation is the exploration into feelings of longing and anguish that arise because of leaving behind known and familiar places, and of confusion and alienation that many migrants feel during their re-territorialisation process when they are settling in a new built environment. By analysing and exploring the role of architecture in defining identity and belonging within the context of migrants and migration, this thesis establishes that connections between architecture, culture, memory and habitus do exist, and argues that they play a vital role in defining people’s expectations and their sense of who they are. Ultimately, the knowledge gained from this analysis is used to form a critique of the architectural discourse and practice and its failure to genuinely acknowledge and respond to the issues concerning architecture’s role in informing identity and belonging that the findings of this research suggest. viii Acknowledgements My sincerest thanks go to my two supervisors, Dr Steve Basson and Dr Nonja Peters, who have provided me with invaluable expertise, guidance and encouragement. I am forever grateful for the time and effort you have kindly donated to reading my drafts and giving me the confidence required to complete my PhD. Very special thanks go to Dr Basson, whose enthusiasm and exceptional thirst for knowledge have awakened a researcher in me. Thank you, Steve, for not only being my supervisor but also being my

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