Recent historiographies of modern architecture aim to show the connection between the writing of architectural history and the redefinition of the architectural field. This symposium will be about the operativity of George Kubler’s work more specifically in the Portuguese architectural realm after the publication of his work Portuguese Plain Architecture [PPA] (1972).

Recent historiographies of modern architecture aim to show the connection between the writing of architectural history and the redefinition of the architectural field. This symposium will be about the operativity of George Kubler’s work more specifically in the Portuguese architectural realm after the publication of his work Portuguese Plain Architecture  [PPA] (1972).

Since the publication of PPA (1972, 40 years ago) portuguese architectural practices and studies have been nudged by its impact. In The Shape of Time (1962, 50 years ago) Kubler’s philosophy of art history implied that ‘closed sequences’  could be opened by several reasons, and in this case  Kubler’s PPA catalysed the reemergence of some of the ‘form classes’ to reappear in  Portuguese architecture. Partly, the connection of PPA with the ideological attributes of early modernism and the political context of the time catalysed the reemergence of a new order of Portuguese Plain.  

Proposals

Proposals for papers featuring the following subjects are welcome:

• George Kubler: His work within the context of art and architecture practice, history and historiography.
• Operative histories: The interaction between theory and practice.The relationship between the writing of architectural history and the development of the architectural field
• Plain Architecture: The reception of Kubler’s work in Portuguese scholarship and architectural practice. The internationalization of the term.
• Plain Style: Aesthetics of poverty, art and architecture produced in times of scarcity.
  

To submit a proposal please send it to the following email address: systemshistory@ces.uc.pt

Presentation proposals must include: paper title, abstract (500 words max.); contact information (name, academic degree, position title,  email); a short bio (max 200 words). Presentation proposals must be submitted by e-mail no later than April 30th 2012.

SPEAKERS

Thomas DaCosta Kaufmann

Is the “Frederick Marquand Professor of Art and Archaeology” at Princeton University where he teaches courses on art and architecture of the sixteenth to the eighteenth century in Europe and its relations with other parts of the world. He has authored Toward a Geohistory of Art (2005) and most recently Arcimboldo: Visual Jokes, Natural History and Still Life Painting (2010). He has received numerous awards including the degree of Doctor philosophiae honoris causa by the Technische Universität, Dresden in 2010. CV: http://www.princeton.edu/artandarchaeology/faculty/kaufmann/kaufmanncv.pdf

Thomas F. Reese

Is the Executive Director of the Stone Center of Latin American Studies and a Professor at Tulane University, where he teaches courses in art history. His scholarship and publications include the edition of Studies in Ancient and European Art: The Collected Essays of George Kubler (1985). His most recent research focuses on images and identity in turn of the century Argentina and Mexico, and he is presently completing a book on George Kubler’s work. CV: http://www.thomasreese.org/about

Alexandre Alves Costa

Is a Professor at Porto University (FAUP) and Invited Professor at University of Coimbra (DARQ), teaching since courses of Architecture Studio and History of Architecture. He was part of the Coordinating Comission of SAAL/Norte. He is also a practicing architect, his projects include the Interpretative Center of Santa Clara a Velha Monastery in Coimbra.

Conception

Eliana Sousa Santos

Is an architect educated at FA University of Lisbon, holds a master in architecture of University of Coimbra and a PhD from the London Consortium, University of London. As a practicing architect she has worked at West 8 and Sousa Santos Arquitectos. She is an educator at ECATI/ULHT where she teaches architecture studio. She is a post-doctoral researcher at CES, Universidade de Coimbra with the project "George Kubler’s Shape of Time: The Historiographical effect of Portuguese Plain Architecture in Post-revolutionary Portugal."

Adviser

Paulo Varela Gomes

Is a Professor at the Universidade de Coimbra and a visiting lecturer at several Portuguese and non-Portuguese Universities. He was the resident representative of Fundação Oriente in India (Goa) in 1996-1998 and 2007-2009. He authored some books and many papers in his areas of expertise, including Whitewash, Red Stone. A history of church architecture in Goa, New Delhi, Yoda Press,