On Theory and Method 4: Material Conditions

Material Conditions examines the contemporary significance of architecture as a material agent for social transformative change. In the wake of current global challenges it has become urgent to develop theories and methods that in a direct and detailed manner can address and critically analyze the role of architecture in spatial and temporal production. Phenomenological approaches intended to describe and to understand architectural effects and situations have consciously resisted far-reaching systematization, while space syntax theory, as a well-known systematic effort represents the opposite. Important research approaches both from inside and outside architecture further include, for example, actor-network theory, performativity theory, non-representational theory, material semiotics, posthumanity, new materialisms, building typology studies, theories of urban design and territorology.

The symposium welcomes all contributions dealing with theoretical or methodological issues within the area of Material conditions. The invited lectures will, however, focus especially on the theme of Materialities and everyday life.

Invited international guests are Ben Highmore, Professor in Cultural Studies at the University of Sussex, Brighton, and Filipa Matos Wunderlich, Lecturer in Urban Design at the Bartlett School of Planning, University College, London

The program begins in the afternoon at 4 pm on Thursday, April 23rd, with opening lectures/presentations. Next day, Friday, April 24th, the seminars will takes place between 9 am and 4.30 pm. Lunch, as well as tea and coffee, will be served in connection to the workshop venue.

Researchers are welcome to register or to send in abstracts discussing the theoretical framework and methodology used in on-going research, related to material conditions. Registrations or abstracts (100–200 words) should be submitted by March 20th, Mattias Kärrholm, mattias.karrholm(@)arkitektur.lth.se