Architectural History and Practices

When: May 2-4, 2012
What: Conference
Where: Gothenburg University

Architectural history has since long played an important role in architectural and antiquarian practices. In the 1970s an“architectural history turn”occurred as a reaction to the extensive city transformations of late modernism and brought a revived interest for history. It left its mark with an increased number of doctoral dissertations in architectural history and a large number of new and expanded architectural museums all over the world. The architectural history as a repertoire of solutions gained a stronger position in architectural practice as well as education. Conversion and urban renewal became important in a decelerated economy and required antiquarian competence and new education in conservation.

Architectural history became a selfevident knowledge base for both architectural and conservation practices. But the arouse interest
could not be taken for granted as something lasting forever, that would be unhistorical. There are signs now suggesting that the
subject is no longer as selfevident and that its institutional ground has weakened, concerning research in architectural history and the
position of the subject in education as well as its role within practice. At the same time is transformation of existing buildings a growing task and related questions are topical, not least regarding aspects of sustainability.

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