Call for papers for International Conference on Architectural Criticism

This conference seeks papers that define the purposes and methods of architectural criticism.

From Wilfred Wang, Professor of Architecture at the University of Texas:

On the Duty and Power of Architectural Criticism
Online conference on 9 - 10 and 16 - 17 October 2021

Should architectural criticism be enlightening? Should it help in the creation of a better built environment? Is there a factual basis to it? Does it have a duty to present evidence in the evaluation of a building? Or should it take on what architectural professionals say about their designs?

In the context of a flat internet, should architectural criticism be able to define best practices? Does it wield the power over who is in and who is out?

Architectural criticism, like all human endeavours, is at a crucial juncture. While serious architecture struggles for recognition, much so-called architectural criticism is merely a poorly paid, decorative legitimation for hyperbolic practice. Incisive architectural criticism is rare, while the definition of criticism itself has become opaque.

This conference seeks papers that define the purposes and methods of architectural criticism. What should the ethical basis be of architectural criticism? Can it be objective in the context of paid content? Should it outline ideal practices? Or what should it do?

Abstracts
Abstracts (max. 250 words) should address either the duty or the power of architectural criticism, in both cases offering the outline of one analysis of an existing building. Submit to [email protected] by 30 April 2021.

Conference
Subject to acceptance, abstracts will be completed by their authors for presentation with four keynote lectures during the online conference on 9 - 10 and 16 - 17 October 2021, hosted by the School of Architecture, The University of Texas at Austin.

Conference format
The online format of the two-day conference will allow active debate between audience and lecturers. Presentations will be concentrated to allow for ample discussion time. Besides the four keynotes, there will be a maximum of 16 short papers. The entire conference will be recorded and placed on YouTube. The conference language will be English. Registration for free audience places (max. 300) will open 2 July via [email protected]

For more information, visit soa.utexas.edu/icac2021

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