XII. Networks of (Ex)Change, Global Disseminations of Architectural KnowledgeXII. Networks of (Ex)Change, Global Disseminations of Architectural Knowledge

In 1928, a group of innovative architects from around the world founded the Congrès Internationaux d’Architecture Moderne (CIAM) to discuss key issues and challenges in urban planning and architecture. Now this year’s conference will feature 20 contributions from researchers from around the world, reflecting on historical examples of international knowledge exchange in architecture and urban planning.

As part of the run-up to the CIAM centenary in 2028, this event marks the beginning of a series of events organised by the Jaap Bakema Study Centre and the gta Archive of ETH Zurich, focusing on international knowledge exchange.

The past two decades have seen architects actively engaging in rethinking the role of archives, donating fonds to collecting institutions, and setting up foundations. In her keynote The Orbits of Archiving: A Pragmatist Perspective Albena Yaneva pays attention to the situated practices of compiling living archives with the aim to investigate the specific connections between archival manipulation and the flow of information in design firms. Unpacking how two leading Foundations work—the Fondazione Renzo Piano and the Norman Foster Foundation—she analysed how their material and social practices feed back into the design workflow. Scrutinizing the archival strategies of active design firms related to the Foundations, Yaneva argues that the living archives gain the agency to shape versatile networks between architectural studios and archival institutions that speak about the current conditions of design practice.

The 12th annual Jaap Bakema Study Centre conference will take place on 26 and 27 November at the Nieuwe Instituut and TU Delft respectively. Registration for the conference is free, and can be done via the 'RSVP' button below. A livestream of the event will be made available.

The full programme for both days of the conference can be found here.

A special word of thanks goes out to the Van Eesteren & Fluck-Van Lohuizen Foundation, which generously supports some of the conference participants in their travel costs.